CPD Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CPD facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which CPD strategy involves officers being regularly assigned to specific geographic beats to build long-term community relationships? → Beat integrity
2. What is the recommended minimum number of days per week for cardiovascular exercise to maintain police fitness standards? → 3 days
3. When a CPD officer uses social media, they must be aware that posts made on personal accounts can be subject to discipline if they: → Undermine public trust, reveal confidential information, or violate department policy
4. Illinois defines 'robbery' as taking property from a person by the use of: → Force or by threatening the imminent use of force
5. Which independent body has primary jurisdiction to investigate complaints of CPD officer misconduct involving use of force and constitutional violations? → Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA)
6. Which medication are CPD officers trained and authorized to administer for suspected opioid overdose? → Naloxone (Narcan)
7. What is the purpose of the Illinois State Police (ISP) LEADS system as used by CPD officers? → To access statewide criminal history, driver's license, and vehicle registration records
8. Under CPD General Order G03-08, strip searches conducted at a CPD facility must be performed by: → An officer of the same gender as the person being searched
9. According to CPD ethics standards, 'de-policing'—deliberately avoiding enforcement activity to evade accountability—is considered: → A violation of an officer's duty and oath of office
10. Which CPD standard requires officers to provide their name and badge number to any person who requests it during a non-enforcement contact? → General Order G06-01 on Professional Conduct
11. When an officer is selected to become a Field Training Officer (FTO), which additional qualification is typically required beyond patrol experience? → Successful completion of a CPD-approved FTO training course
12. Under Illinois law, which offense is committed when a person communicates a threat to another with the intent to place them in reasonable apprehension of harm? → Intimidation
13. What is the proper field treatment for a victim with a suspected broken arm? → Immobilize the arm in the position found and apply a splint
14. Which standard of proof does COPA use when determining whether officer misconduct occurred? → Preponderance of the evidence
15. What is the correct order of steps when collecting physical evidence at a crime scene? → Document, photograph, collect, package, and label
16. An officer conducting a custodial interrogation must advise a suspect of Miranda rights because: → The Fifth Amendment protects against compelled self-incrimination
17. What is the primary purpose of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS)? → To build partnerships between police and community to solve recurring problems
18. Which Illinois statute governs the offense of 'stalking' and requires that the conduct cause a reasonable person to suffer emotional distress? → 720 ILCS 5/12-7.3
19. According to CPD's professional development framework, how often must all sworn officers complete mandatory in-service training? → Annually
20. Which of the following BEST describes 'circumstantial evidence'? → Evidence that requires an inference to connect it to a conclusion of fact
21. Which of the following is a sign of overtraining in a law enforcement officer? → Persistent fatigue, decreased performance, and increased injury frequency
22. Under Illinois law, a person commits 'obstruction of justice' when they: → Knowingly furnish false information to destroy evidence or mislead investigators
23. Which of the following best describes the role of the CPD's Office of Constitutional Policing and Reform? → It oversees reforms, training standards, and consent decree compliance initiatives
24. What is the 'Golden Hour' concept in trauma care as it applies to officer first response? → The first 60 minutes after traumatic injury when prompt treatment is critical to survival
25. When an officer successfully completes a CPD leadership development course, this achievement is most likely reflected in their: → Personnel file and career development record
26. What is the first priority for a CPD officer arriving at an active shooter scene? → Stop the killing by locating and neutralizing the threat
27. A CPD officer seeking to transfer into a specialized unit such as the Detective Division should expect to: → Apply through a competitive process including testing and supervisor recommendation
28. An officer is instructed by a supervisor to write a report in a way that omits a key fact that would weaken the department's case. The officer should: → Refuse to omit the fact and accurately document all relevant information in the report
29. Under CPD's language access plan, when a non-English-speaking victim requests an interpreter during a report, the officer must: → Use a department-approved interpreter service or bilingual officer
30. Which of the following scenarios triggers a mandatory CPD Critical Incident Notification to the chain of command? → An officer-involved shooting regardless of injury