Make Sound Judgments Regarding Police Scenarios

Another type of problem you will encounter on the exam is one where you will need to make a judgment based on a situation. While certainly rooted in the law, these problems tend to resemble what you might think of as common-sense scenarios. Read the question carefully to make sure you completely understand the presented situation and use your judgment—trust yourself!

Let us consider several examples.

  1. A school principal has been receiving emails and phone calls from parents about bullying in the school yard before the school bell rings in the morning. She asks the yard monitors to keep a close eye on student interaction prior to the first bell of the day. Which of the following situations should be reported by the yard monitors?

    1. Four boys are playing two-on-two basketball and are discussing a potential foul.
    2. Three kids are sitting in a group, engaged in a multiplayer online video game, jokingly heckling each other, sometimes using colorful language.
    3. A young bespectacled girl sits in a corner playing with her iPhone and does not interact with any peers.
    4. A taller girl seems to be in possession of a less popular, smaller girl’s notebook, and the smaller girl seems distraught.

Choices (A) and (B) constitute normal child behavior. Choice (C) is arguably concerning, but it is not obvious that it is the result of bullying in the school yard. Choice (D) is the most apparent act of bullying of those listed.

  1. The police department selects a particular sidearm as its department-issued weapon. Which of the following is the most logical reason for this?

    1. The department does not want to waste time training officers on the use of more than one weapon.
    2. The department selects the least expensive weapon available and orders it in bulk.
    3. The manufacturer pays for the privilege of making the selected weapon.
    4. The department selects the most efficient and accurate weapon available.

Choices (A) and (B) imply that saving money is more important than safety, efficiency, and accuracy, which is simply not true. Choice (C) is not a logical choice because police departments do not use weapons as a means of endorsing them, and manufacturers do not pay for the privilege. Choice (D) is the most sensible choice of those listed because it exemplifies a top priority of the police department.

  1. Officer Bradford is told to focus her attention on drug dealing in her patrol area. Of the following, about which location should she be least concerned?

    1. A bridge underpass where local teens often gather
    2. An abandoned factory warehouse where drug arrests have been made in the past five years
    3. A 24-hour community center staffed by social workers and medical staff
    4. A back alley where prostitutes occasionally gather

Choice (C) is the best choice here because it is unlikely someone would deal drugs in an active location full of people - both visitors and staff. Choices (A), (B), and (D) are all out-of-the-way places where few people would hang out.

  1. Officers Leeman and Rucko were dispatched to investigate a report of aggravated assault. They obtained the following information on scene:

    Date: May 20, 2018

    Victim: Bill Pincket

    Suspect: Samantha Downing, the victim’s landlord

    Disposition: Suspect arrested

    Which of the following is an incorrect assumption based on the information obtained?

    1. Samantha Downing and Bill Pincket are dating.
    2. Samantha Downing assaulted Bill Pincket on May 20, 2018.
    3. Samantha Downing is the landlord of Bill Pincket.
    4. Samantha Downing was arrested.

To answer this type of question, study the given information carefully. Nowhere does it explicitly mention that Samantha Downing and Bill Pincket were dating. While this might very well be the case, it cannot be inferred from the given information, while all three of the other choices can be. So, Choice (A) is an incorrect assumption.

  1. On February 15, 2017, several jewelry store robberies were committed at different locations. Based on the descriptions provided by various eyewitnesses, it seems likely that the same person is responsible for all these robberies. Officers were given the following description of the suspect:

    The suspect is a Latino male, partially bald with short black hair, weighing approximately 140 pounds and about 5 feet 6 inches tall, a dragon tattoo on his neck, and wearing a red hooded sweatshirt.

    Officer Adamson has stopped five Latino males for questioning. Which of the following pieces of information should the officer consider the most useful in identifying the correct suspect?

    1. The suspect is wearing a red hooded sweatshirt.
    2. The suspect is partially bald with black hair.
    3. The suspect has a dragon tattoo on his neck.
    4. The suspect weighs 140 pounds and is about 5 feet 6 inches tall.

To answer this question, think to yourself, “Which of these pieces of information is the most unique and so, the least likely to appear on multiple suspects?” Choice (A) can be immediately discarded since such sweatshirts are very common. Choice (B) is not particularly unique, and the weight-height combination presented in Choice (D) is common. That leaves Choice (C), which is the most unique of those listed and would be impossible to hide or change in a short period of time.

Some problems, like the one below, require that you arrange a collection of actions in the most appropriate order.

  1. While on patrol at 2:00 a.m., Officer Kammen sees smoke coming off the bushes along the side of a house. As he pulls up to the house, he sees two teenagers bolt out of the yard and down the street. Which of the following is the best order of actions the officer should take?

    1. Alert the people in the house, assist with evacuating the house, radio for the fire department, radio the suspects’ descriptions
    2. Radio the suspects’ descriptions, assist with evacuating the house, alert the people in the house, radio for the fire department
    3. Radio for the fire department, alert the people in the house, assist with evacuating the house, radio the suspects’ descriptions
    4. Alert the people in the house, radio the suspects’ descriptions, assist with evacuating the house, radio for the fire department

The primary concern is the safety of the people in the house and the surrounding neighbors. So, Choice (B) can be eliminated. Likewise, once the officer has alerted people in the house as to the situation, it wouldn’t be sensible for him to then change gears, radio headquarters, and then return to assist with the evacuation. So, Choice (D) can be eliminated. So, it’s between Choices (A) and (C). This choice is tricky, but with the primary concern being the safety of people in the house, every second counts. So, Choice (A) is preferable over Choice (C).