In police shorthand, what is a fugitive?

• A. a wanted person
• B. a missing vehicle
• C. a decoy suspect
• D. a suspended warrant

Answer: (A)

A fugitive is a person actively sought by police—someone who is on the run or has an outstanding arrest warrant. In policing shorthand, this term flags the individual as the focus of pursuit, rather than a vehicle or a non-criminal situation. That’s why the best description is a wanted person: the emphasis is on the person’s status as someone law enforcement needs to locate and apprehend.

The other options don’t fit this term. A missing vehicle describes a vehicle, not a person. A decoy suspect refers to an investigative tactic used to induce a suspect’s actions, not the status of someone being hunted. A suspended warrant describes the legal status of a warrant, not the person who is being pursued.