APCAT - Alberta Police Cognitive Ability Information Recall from Text Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read the following passage and answer the question below. **Passage:** "Community-Oriented Policing (COP) is a strategy that focuses on building ties and working closely with members of the community. The primary philosophy is that police and the public should be partners in the effort to control crime and maintain order. A key element of COP is the decentralization of police command, allowing officers to become familiar with their assigned neighborhoods and the residents within them. This approach contrasts with traditional policing models, which are often reactive and incident-driven. Instead of just responding to calls for service, COP officers are encouraged to engage in proactive problem-solving to address the root causes of crime and social disorder." Which of the following is a core principle of Community-Oriented Policing according to the text?
- Centralized command structure for efficient response.
- A reactive, incident-driven approach to crime.
- Partnership between the police and the public. (Correct answer)
- Minimizing officer familiarity with specific neighborhoods.
Correct answer: Partnership between the police and the public.
The passage explicitly states, 'The primary philosophy is that police and the public should be partners in the effort to control crime and maintain order.' This identifies the partnership as a core principle. The other options describe traditional policing models or are in direct contradiction to the text.
Question 2: Read the following passage and answer the question below. **Passage:** "When securing a crime scene, the first responding officer's initial responsibility is to ensure the safety of all individuals present and to provide medical assistance to anyone injured. Once the scene is safe, the officer must establish a perimeter to prevent unauthorized access. This is crucial for preserving physical evidence, which can be easily contaminated or destroyed. A detailed log must be maintained, documenting every person who enters or leaves the secured area. This log, often called a 'crime scene entry log,' is a critical piece of documentation for maintaining the chain of custody." Based on the passage, what is the first action an officer should take upon arriving at a crime scene?
- Establish a secure perimeter around the area.
- Immediately begin collecting physical evidence.
- Start a detailed crime scene entry log.
- Ensure the safety of individuals and provide medical aid. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Ensure the safety of individuals and provide medical aid.
The text clearly states that 'the first responding officer's initial responsibility is to ensure the safety of all individuals present and to provide medical assistance to anyone injured.' The other actions, such as establishing a perimeter and starting a log, are important but follow this primary duty.
Question 3: Read the following passage and answer the question below. **Passage:** "Section 487 of the Criminal Code of Canada outlines the general provisions for obtaining a search warrant. An officer must submit an 'Information to Obtain' to a justice of the peace. This document must swear under oath that there are reasonable grounds to believe that an offense has been committed and that evidence of this offense is likely to be found at the location to be searched. The warrant must specify the address or place to be searched and the specific items that are being sought. Warrants are generally required to be executed during daylight hours unless otherwise authorized by the justice." According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a required element for obtaining a search warrant?
- Specification of the items being sought.
- The signature of a witness to the alleged crime. (Correct answer)
- Reasonable grounds to believe an offense occurred.
- Identification of the specific place to be searched.
Correct answer: The signature of a witness to the alleged crime.
The passage lists several requirements for obtaining a search warrant: an 'Information to Obtain' document, reasonable grounds, specification of the location, and a list of items to be seized. It makes no mention of requiring a witness's signature.
Question 4: Read the following passage and answer the question below. **Passage:** "An officer is dispatched to a minor traffic collision in a residential area. Upon arrival, she observes two vehicles with minimal damage. Driver A claims Driver B failed to stop at a stop sign, while Driver B insists that Driver A was speeding. There are no independent witnesses. The officer's report must objectively document the damage to both vehicles, the road conditions, the exact statements from each driver, and a diagram of the final resting positions of the cars. The officer is not to assign fault in the report but must record all available facts." In the described scenario, what should the officer's report primarily focus on?
- Determining which driver was at fault for the collision.
- Interviewing neighbors to find potential witnesses.
- Objectively documenting all factual details of the scene. (Correct answer)
- Estimating the monetary cost of the vehicle damage.
Correct answer: Objectively documenting all factual details of the scene.
The passage explicitly states, 'The officer is not to assign fault in the report but must record all available facts.' It then lists the factual details that must be documented, such as damage, statements, and road conditions. The other options are either contradicted by the text or not mentioned as the primary focus.
Question 5: Read the following passage and answer the question below. **Passage:** "The use of force by police officers is governed by a 'continuum' model, which provides a framework for officers to use an appropriate level of force based on a subject's resistance. The levels typically range from officer presence and verbal commands at the low end, to empty-hand controls, intermediate weapons (like batons or tasers), and finally, lethal force. The principle of proportionality is paramount; the force used must be reasonable and necessary in relation to the threat posed by the subject. An officer's assessment of the situation is continuous, and they must de-escalate the level of force as soon as a subject complies or the threat is neutralized." What is the guiding principle of the use-of-force continuum described in the passage?
- Applying the maximum force possible to ensure compliance.
- Using a level of force proportional to the subject's resistance. (Correct answer)
- Exclusively using non-lethal methods in all situations.
- Maintaining the same level of force throughout an encounter.
Correct answer: Using a level of force proportional to the subject's resistance.
The passage highlights that 'the principle of proportionality is paramount; the force used must be reasonable and necessary in relation to the threat posed by the subject.' This directly supports the idea of using force proportional to resistance.
Question 6: Read the following passage and answer the question below. **Passage:** "During an investigation, officers must be meticulous in handling evidence to maintain the 'chain of custody.' This refers to the chronological documentation showing the seizure, custody, control, transfer, analysis, and disposition of physical or electronic evidence. Each person who handles the evidence must sign a log, noting the date and time they received it and the purpose for which they had it. A break in the chain of custody can render the evidence inadmissible in court, as its integrity can no longer be guaranteed. Proper labeling, secure storage, and detailed record-keeping are essential components of this process." Which of the following would most likely compromise the chain of custody?
- An evidence bag being transported directly to the lab by the seizing officer.
- A forensic analyst signing the log before examining an item.
- An unlogged and undocumented transfer of evidence between two officers. (Correct answer)
- Storing all evidence from a single case in the same secure locker.
Correct answer: An unlogged and undocumented transfer of evidence between two officers.
The passage emphasizes that the chain of custody is a 'chronological documentation' and that 'each person who handles the evidence must sign a log.' An unlogged and undocumented transfer directly violates this core requirement, creating a break in the chain and compromising the evidence's integrity.
APCAT - Alberta Police Cognitive Ability Information Recall from Text Questions and Answers
Read the following passage and answer the question below.
**Passage:** "Community-Oriented Policing (COP) is a strategy that focuses on building ties and working closely with members of the community.
The primary philosophy is that police and the public should be partners in the effort to control crime and maintain order.
A key element of COP is the decentralization of police command, allowing officers to become familiar with their assigned neighborhoods and the residents within them.
This approach contrasts with traditional policing models, which are often reactive and incident-driven.
Instead of just responding to calls for service, COP officers are encouraged to engage in proactive problem-solving to address the root causes of crime and social disorder."
Which of the following is a core principle of Community-Oriented Policing according to the text?
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Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy
- gppolice.com — Eligibility, retake policy, score validity · verified Oct 2026
- joineps.ca — Exam format, passing score · verified Oct 2026