CLEET Community Policing & Communication 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An officer receives a call from a resident who is hard of hearing. To communicate effectively, the officer should FIRST:
- Speak very loudly into the phone
- Ask the resident their preferred communication method and accommodate it (Correct answer)
- Send a patrol car without attempting phone contact
- Document that contact could not be made
Correct answer: Ask the resident their preferred communication method and accommodate it
Asking about and accommodating preferred communication methods ensures effective contact and complies with ADA requirements for equal access.
Question 2: Which of the following is the MOST accurate description of 'legitimacy' in community policing?
- The legal authority granted by a badge and commission
- The belief by the public that police authority is just, fair, and worthy of compliance (Correct answer)
- The number of arrests an officer makes
- Compliance with all state statutes
Correct answer: The belief by the public that police authority is just, fair, and worthy of compliance
Legitimacy refers to the community's perception that police exercise authority fairly and ethically, which drives voluntary compliance and cooperation.
Question 3: A community policing officer who attends local civic events and service organization meetings is MOST directly building:
- An informant network
- Informal social ties that increase community trust and information sharing (Correct answer)
- An alibi for off-duty hours
- Evidence for administrative reports
Correct answer: Informal social ties that increase community trust and information sharing
Attending community events builds informal relationships that increase goodwill, trust, and the likelihood that residents will share information with officers.
Question 4: When documenting a community concern that does not constitute a crime, an officer should:
- Discard the information as non-evidentiary
- Record it in a community intelligence log or similar tracking system (Correct answer)
- Only report it verbally to a supervisor
- Refer the person to a non-emergency website without follow-up
Correct answer: Record it in a community intelligence log or similar tracking system
Non-criminal community concerns logged in a tracking system allow for pattern recognition and follow-up, key functions of community-oriented policing.
Question 5: The concept of 'procedural justice' in community policing MOST emphasizes:
- Strict enforcement of every law regardless of context
- Treating people with dignity, voice, neutrality, and respect during police encounters (Correct answer)
- Maximizing the speed of case prosecution
- Ensuring all offenders receive the maximum legal penalty
Correct answer: Treating people with dignity, voice, neutrality, and respect during police encounters
Procedural justice focuses on HOW police interact with people—fair, respectful, neutral processes build trust regardless of the outcome.
Question 6: A successful community policing program should be evaluated PRIMARILY by:
- The number of arrests made per officer
- Reductions in crime, improved community satisfaction, and quality of life indicators (Correct answer)
- Average response times to 911 calls
- The amount of equipment purchased by the department
Correct answer: Reductions in crime, improved community satisfaction, and quality of life indicators
Community policing effectiveness is measured through crime reduction, community satisfaction surveys, and quality-of-life outcomes—not enforcement activity alone.
Question 7: During a de-escalation encounter with an agitated individual, an officer should AVOID:
- Maintaining a calm tone of voice
- Displaying empathy for the person's situation
- Using threatening language or ultimatums early in the encounter (Correct answer)
- Giving the person time and space to calm down
Correct answer: Using threatening language or ultimatums early in the encounter
Threatening language or early ultimatums escalate rather than reduce tension and undermine the trust-building goals of community-oriented interactions.
CLEET Community Policing & Communication 5
An officer receives a call from a resident who is hard of hearing.
To communicate effectively, the officer should FIRST: