What action does a police officer take during an investigatory stop?

During an investigatory stop, a police officer takes the action of temporarily detaining an individual. This is a brief stop that allows law enforcement to ask questions and gather information based on reasonable suspicion that the person is involved in criminal activity. The primary goal is to confirm or dispel the officer's suspicion without extending the stop into an arrest unless further evidence warrants such action.

This temporary detention is not as extensive as an arrest and does not require probable cause, which is necessary for making an arrest. The officer's ability to conduct this stop stems from the need to ensure public safety and investigate potential criminal behavior while balancing the individual's rights.

In this context, a full search of the vehicle or placing the individual under arrest would go beyond the limited scope of an investigatory stop and would typically require probable cause or a warrant, which is not the case during a preliminary investigation. Leaving the scene would not fulfill the officer's responsibility to investigate the situation at hand.