Necessity of Officers
Police officers protect life and property, enforce laws, prevent/investigate crimes, maintain peace, assist the public, patrol, make arrests, and respond to calls while building community relations.  To promote officer oversight and effectiveness within a jurisdiction, officers converse with locals to gain insight.  The act of law enforcement is a matter of teamwork between citizens and officers that involves public trust.

Wis Stat 19.45 Standards of conduct; state public officials.

(1) The legislature hereby reaffirms that a state public official holds his or her position as a public trust.

Officers put their lives on the line to complete position responsibilities according to state guidelines.  An event could take place at any moment to beckon the enforcer, who without hesitation, must face the issue regardless of danger involved.  Laws are upheld and public rights are maintained.

Source of Lawful Authority
Lawful authority stems from state constitutions, laws passed by legislatures, rules from executive agencies, case law and popular sovereignty.  Lawful action of officers must involve evidence produced by suspects that substantiates a law was broken or may be broken.  A mere hunch does not qualify as evidence. 

An on-duty police officer passively observes property and actions of people within jurisdiction until provided evidence required for lawful action.  Lawful commands cannot be made without an officer having justifying evidence.  

The concepts of “open view” and “passive investigation” apply since both rely on analyzing readily available, existing, or voluntarily provided information.  Officers cannot intercede upon another’s personal activity by stopping or arresting a person, or entering private property until after obtaining evidence granting the right to exude lawful authority.  

Law enforcers can begin conversations without lawful intent, to maintain relations with locals.  Be aware a friendly conversation may result in an officer obtaining evidence that justifies lawful action.  

Wisconsin Statute 968.24 explains a minimum type and amount of evidence an officer is required to obtain prior to making lawful commands toward a citizen.  A stop for questioning requires only reasonable suspicion; evidence that satisfies the lowest bar necessary for lawful action.

Compliance
Officers often see circumstances through a filter of training.  When an officer shows commitment to perform lawful action, it’s beneficial to let the event take place without resistance.  Expect no words will alter the officer’s behavior.  Let the event conclude as peacefully as possible.  Do not give physical resistance or show verbal aggression.  Comply with officer orders lawful or unlawful.  If not guilty of officer claims, contest the matter in court on a later day with collected evidence.

It’s often beneficial that actions of officers are not contested during a lawful or unlawful interaction.  Instead oblige the officer and prepare to contest the issue in a court of law afterward.  Do not respond by breaking a law.  A judge may forgo an officer acting unlawfully if there’s evidence the suspect broke a law during the encounter.  Fleeing an officer counts as possibly criminal evidence.