California POST Test Deductive Reasoning 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: All officers who work the night shift must complete a shift log. Officer Rivera works the night shift. Which of the following must be true?
- Officer Rivera may skip the shift log on slow nights.
- Officer Rivera must complete a shift log. (Correct answer)
- Officer Rivera completes a shift log only if a supervisor requests it.
- Officer Rivera's shift log is optional.
Correct answer: Officer Rivera must complete a shift log.
Because all night-shift officers must complete a log and Officer Rivera works nights, she must complete a shift log.
Question 2: Department policy states: 'If a suspect resists arrest, officers are authorized to use control holds.' Officer Davis encounters a suspect who complies immediately. Based solely on this policy, which conclusion is valid?
- Officer Davis is authorized to use control holds.
- Officer Davis is not authorized to use control holds in this situation. (Correct answer)
- Control holds are always authorized regardless of resistance.
- Officer Davis must request supervisor approval before proceeding.
Correct answer: Officer Davis is not authorized to use control holds in this situation.
The policy only authorizes control holds when a suspect resists; since the suspect complied, the condition is not met.
Question 3: A police report form must be completed within 24 hours of an incident. Officer Chen responded to a burglary on Monday at 10:00 AM. By when must the report be completed?
- Tuesday at 10:00 PM
- Tuesday at 10:00 AM (Correct answer)
- Wednesday at 10:00 AM
- Monday at 11:59 PM
Correct answer: Tuesday at 10:00 AM
24 hours after 10:00 AM Monday is 10:00 AM Tuesday.
Question 4: All felony arrests require booking. All bookings require a fingerprint scan. Officer Park arrests a suspect for grand theft, which is a felony. Which of the following must occur?
- The suspect must be released on citation.
- A fingerprint scan must be taken. (Correct answer)
- The supervisor must approve the arrest before booking.
- The suspect may choose between booking and a citation.
Correct answer: A fingerprint scan must be taken.
Grand theft is a felony → requires booking → booking requires a fingerprint scan; therefore a scan must occur.
Question 5: Policy: 'Marked patrol vehicles must have their emergency lights tested before each shift.' Officer Gomez is assigned a marked patrol vehicle tonight. Which conclusion follows?
- Officer Gomez should test the lights if time permits.
- Officer Gomez must test the emergency lights before the shift. (Correct answer)
- Only sergeants are required to test lights on marked vehicles.
- Officer Gomez must test the lights at the end of the shift.
Correct answer: Officer Gomez must test the emergency lights before the shift.
The policy applies to all marked patrol vehicles; Officer Gomez's assignment triggers the mandatory pre-shift test.
Question 6: No officer may leave the patrol area without notifying dispatch. Officer Lee is responding to an emergency outside the patrol area. Which of the following must be true for Officer Lee to respond?
- Officer Lee may respond without notification because it is an emergency.
- Officer Lee must notify dispatch before leaving the patrol area. (Correct answer)
- Officer Lee cannot respond to calls outside the patrol area under any circumstances.
- Officer Lee only needs to notify dispatch if the shift supervisor is unavailable.
Correct answer: Officer Lee must notify dispatch before leaving the patrol area.
The rule contains no emergency exception; therefore Officer Lee must notify dispatch before leaving the patrol area.
Question 7: Whenever evidence is collected at a crime scene, it must be tagged and logged in the evidence management system. Officer White collects a knife at a robbery scene. What must happen next?
- The knife must be returned to the scene until a detective arrives.
- The knife must be tagged and logged in the evidence management system. (Correct answer)
- The knife may be logged at the end of the shift to save time.
- The knife only requires logging if it is confirmed as the weapon used.
Correct answer: The knife must be tagged and logged in the evidence management system.
Evidence collected at any crime scene must be tagged and logged; the knife qualifies as collected evidence.
California POST Test Deductive Reasoning 1
All officers who work the night shift must complete a shift log.
Officer Rivera works the night shift.
Which of the following must be true?