ACT 235 Patrol Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When conducting a vehicle stop under Act 235 authority, what is the first priority after stopping the vehicle?
- Approach the driver immediately
- Establish a safe position and assess threats (Correct answer)
- Call for backup before doing anything
- Check the vehicle registration
Correct answer: Establish a safe position and assess threats
Establishing a safe position and assessing threats is the first priority to protect the officer before any contact is made.
Question 2: During a building search, an Act 235 officer encounters an unlocked room with the door ajar. What is the correct procedure?
- Enter quickly to clear the room
- Bypass the room and continue searching
- Use a pieing technique to clear angles before entry (Correct answer)
- Wait for law enforcement to handle the room
Correct answer: Use a pieing technique to clear angles before entry
Pieing the door angles before entry allows the officer to observe potential threats while minimizing exposure.
Question 3: An Act 235 officer observes a suspicious individual loitering near a secured entrance at 2:00 AM. What should the officer do first?
- Detain the individual immediately
- Observe and gather information before approaching (Correct answer)
- Ignore the individual unless a crime occurs
- Discharge a warning shot
Correct answer: Observe and gather information before approaching
Observing and gathering information first allows the officer to make an informed decision and ensures a safer approach.
Question 4: Which patrol pattern is most effective for maintaining unpredictable coverage of a large property?
- Fixed post rotation
- Random interval patrol (Correct answer)
- Clockwise perimeter patrol only
- Single linear sweep
Correct answer: Random interval patrol
Random interval patrols prevent potential criminals from predicting officer locations and timing.
Question 5: Under Act 235, when must an officer document use of force during a patrol?
- Only when a firearm is discharged
- Immediately after every use of force incident (Correct answer)
- Within 72 hours of the incident
- Only if a subject is injured
Correct answer: Immediately after every use of force incident
Use of force must be documented immediately after every incident to ensure accountability and legal compliance.
Question 6: A patrol officer receives a report of a domestic disturbance inside a residence on the property. What is the appropriate response?
- Enter the residence alone to stop the disturbance
- Secure the perimeter and notify law enforcement immediately (Correct answer)
- Knock and announce entry, then enter
- Ignore the incident as it is inside a private residence
Correct answer: Secure the perimeter and notify law enforcement immediately
Act 235 officers should secure the perimeter and notify law enforcement, as domestic disturbances carry high danger and require police authority.
Question 7: When an Act 235 officer completes a patrol shift, what is a critical step before the officer relieves?
- Submit a verbal report to the next officer only
- Conduct a formal written turnover and brief incoming officer on incidents (Correct answer)
- Leave notes on the patrol vehicle dashboard
- Contact the supervisor only if there were incidents
Correct answer: Conduct a formal written turnover and brief incoming officer on incidents
A formal written turnover ensures continuity of security and documents all incidents for legal and operational purposes.
ACT 235 Patrol Procedures 2
When conducting a vehicle stop under Act 235 authority, what is the first priority after stopping the vehicle?