Mixed Deck — All LAPD Topics Flashcards

Which muscle groups should be prioritized when training specifically for the sit-up event?

Answer: Abdominals and hip flexors

Sit-ups primarily engage the rectus abdominis and hip flexors, so direct training of these muscles improves repetition count.

Which of the following statements is written in the preferred active voice for a police report?

Answer: Officer Chen apprehended the suspect at 1430 hours.

This sentence is in the active voice, where the subject ('Officer Chen') performs the action ('apprehended'). This is the preferred style for police reports as it clearly identifies who performed the action. The other options are in the passive voice, which can be less clear.

An officer observes: 'Whenever it rains, traffic incidents on the 101 increase.' There are no increased traffic incidents today. What is the most logical conclusion?

Answer: It is not raining today

If rain caused incidents and there are no extra incidents, rain has not occurred — contrapositive reasoning.

The PEACE model of investigative interviewing is best described as:

Answer: A non-coercive, structured framework focused on information gathering

PEACE (Preparation, Engage/Explain, Account, Closure, Evaluation) is a non-confrontational, information-gathering approach that avoids coercive tactics.

A crime report includes: 'The victim reported the theft occurred between 0800 and 1400 hours. A neighbor observed an unfamiliar vehicle parked in the driveway at approximately 1100 hours.' What can be logically inferred from this information?

Answer: The unfamiliar vehicle may be connected to the theft

The unfamiliar vehicle was present during the theft window, making it a reasonable lead to investigate.

______________ are metal devices that are put around the wrists to immobilize the hands.

Answer: Handcuffs

Handcuffs are metal devices designed to be placed around a person's wrists to immobilize their hands. They are a common tool used by law enforcement to temporarily restrain individuals, typically during arrest or transport, ensuring officer safety and preventing the individual from resisting or causing harm.

A police report states: 'The suspect fled northbound on Main Street, turned east on 5th Avenue, and was last seen entering a gray building with a red awning.' Which direction was the suspect traveling when last seen?

Answer: Eastbound

The suspect turned east on 5th Avenue and was last seen entering a building, so they were last traveling eastbound.

What is 'vicarious liability' in the context of law enforcement agencies?

Answer: Legal responsibility an agency may bear for the actions of its officers acting within the scope of employment

Vicarious liability holds an employer, such as LAPD, potentially responsible for unlawful acts committed by employees during their official duties.

An interview panel asks a candidate, "Describe a significant professional failure and what you learned from it." What is the primary purpose of this question?

Answer: To assess the candidate's honesty, self-awareness, and capacity for growth and learning.

Interviewers ask about failures not to dwell on the mistake itself, but to evaluate the candidate's response to it. They are looking for individuals who can take accountability, demonstrate that they have learned a valuable lesson, and explain how they have improved as a result, which indicates maturity and integrity.

In LAPD radio communications, what does the term "Code 4" signify?

Answer: No further assistance is needed; the scene is secure.

"Code 4" is a standard and crucial radio code used by LAPD officers to indicate that a situation is under control and no more responding units are necessary. This prevents unnecessary responses and frees up resources for other calls.

During a 12-hour shift, Officer Reyes spent 3 hours on traffic stops, 2.5 hours on report writing, and 4 hours on patrol. What percentage of the shift was spent on patrol?

Answer: 331/3%

4 hours ÷ 12 hours = 1/3 = 33.33%, which is 33⅓%.

A witness to a drive-by shooting says they 'definitely' saw three occupants in the vehicle. Research on eyewitness confidence shows:

Answer: Confidence and accuracy are poorly correlated, especially in high-stress events

Studies consistently show that eyewitness confidence does not reliably predict accuracy, particularly in high-stress situations like a shooting.

A robbery suspect is described as having a 'medium build.' As a follow-up interviewer, the BEST clarifying question is:

Answer: 'Can you compare the suspect's build to someone present right now, and estimate height and weight?'

Using a comparison anchor in the environment and capturing height/weight estimates converts subjective terms into more concrete, useful descriptors.

An officer is interviewing a witness immediately after a violent armed robbery. The witness is having difficulty recalling the suspect's facial features but can describe the handgun used in great detail. This phenomenon, where a witness's focus on a weapon impairs their memory of other details, is known as what?

Answer: The Weapon Focus Effect

The Weapon Focus Effect is a well-documented psychological phenomenon where the presence of a weapon draws a witness's attention, causing them to remember fewer details about the assailant or the surrounding environment.

You respond to a domestic disturbance and the victim, after calming down, insists she does not want her partner arrested and refuses to cooperate. What should guide your decision to arrest?

Answer: Probable cause and California law, which may mandate arrest regardless of victim preference

California law and LAPD policy on domestic violence require officers to make arrest decisions based on probable cause, not solely on victim cooperation.

While on patrol, you are dispatched to a scene. The report states the suspect is the alleged ________ of the crime. Which word correctly identifies the person believed to have committed the offense?

Answer: Perpetrator

A 'perpetrator' is a person who carries out a harmful, illegal, or immoral act. The other options are incorrect: a plaintiff is a person who brings a case against another in a court, a coroner is an official who investigates violent or sudden deaths, and a deterrent is something that discourages someone from doing something.

To _________ someone is to legally accuse them of committing a certain crime.

Answer: charge

To charge someone, in a legal context, means to formally accuse them of committing a certain crime. This typically involves a prosecutor or grand jury presenting evidence and filing formal documents that outline the specific offenses an individual is alleged to have committed, initiating the legal process.

Every time burglaries increase in Sector 7, foot patrols are doubled. Foot patrols in Sector 7 are currently at normal levels. What can be concluded?

Answer: Burglaries in Sector 7 have not increased

Contrapositive: if patrols are not doubled, burglaries have not increased.

A witness says: 'The car was definitely blue — or maybe dark green. It was nighttime so I couldn't really tell.' How should an officer record this in a report?

Answer: Vehicle color: blue or dark green (witness uncertain due to low lighting)

The report should accurately capture the witness's uncertainty and the reason for it, rather than oversimplifying or discarding the information.

The cognitive interview technique is primarily designed to:

Answer: Enhance witness memory through mental context reinstatement

Cognitive interviewing uses mental context reinstatement and other memory-enhancing strategies to help witnesses retrieve more complete and accurate information.