What is a protective sweep primarily designed to ensure?

A protective sweep is primarily designed to ensure the safety of police officers who are engaging in a law enforcement action, such as serving a warrant or responding to a call. This procedure allows officers to quickly assess a premises for potential threats. During a protective sweep, officers may look for individuals who could pose a threat to their safety, such as armed suspects or individuals who may attempt to ambush them.

The focus is not on finding evidence of a crime, apprehending every suspect present, or searching specifically for illegal substances—though those may be secondary concerns during a broader investigation. The primary goal remains the protection of the officers involved in the operation, ensuring they can conduct their duties without facing undue risk from potentially hostile individuals in the premises.