Is it true or false that an officer may run a call without using emergency lights if they have probable cause?

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An officer can indeed approach a situation without activating emergency lights if they have probable cause. Probable cause allows officers to take necessary actions based on the evidence or circumstances they have encountered that suggest a crime may be occurring or has occurred.

In situations where the officer needs to maintain a low profile—such as when trying to avoid alerting a suspect—running the call without emergency lights can be appropriate. It's essential for officers to evaluate the specific context; however, the key factor is that having probable cause supports their decision to engage with a situation without lights, aligning with the need for both legal protocol and tactical considerations.

Situational judgment comes into play, as sometimes an officer might opt for lights to ensure their safety or that of others, or to signal to a suspect that they are being observed. Nonetheless, the ability to proceed without lights stems from the concept that probable cause empowers officers to act decisively based on their assessment of the situation.

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