LAPD Observation and Memory Recall 2

Question 1

While on patrol, you observe a vehicle parked illegally. Which detail is MOST important to record for accurate recall later?

Accepted Answer

License plate number, make, model, color, and any distinguishing features

Answer

Comprehensive vehicle identification details — plate, make, model, color, and unique features — are essential for accurate reporting and follow-up.

Question 2

You witness a suspect fleeing on foot after a purse snatching. Which physical descriptor is most useful for broadcasting to other units?

Accepted Answer

A distinctive tattoo visible on the suspect's neck

Answer

Distinctive permanent features like visible tattoos provide the most reliable identification that persists across time and distances.

Question 3

An officer is interviewing a witness who claims to have seen the suspect's face for only two seconds. How should the officer treat this identification?

Accepted Answer

Record it but note the brief exposure time and any stress factors that may affect accuracy

Answer

Brief exposure time is a known factor that can reduce eyewitness accuracy, so it must be documented to properly evaluate the identification's reliability.

Question 4

You are dispatched to a burglary scene and told the suspect drove a 'dark-colored SUV.' This description is problematic because:

Accepted Answer

It lacks specifics such as make, model, shade of dark, and plate information

Answer

Vague descriptors like 'dark-colored' cover many vehicles and are insufficient without additional identifying details to narrow the search.

Question 5

A robbery victim describes the suspect as wearing a 'blue hoodie.' As the responding officer, what follow-up question is MOST important?

Accepted Answer

'What shade of blue — light, dark, or navy — and did it have any logos or writing?'

Answer

Clarifying the exact shade and any identifying markings like logos narrows the search significantly and aids other officers in identification.

(LAPD) Los Angeles Police Department Practice Test

(LAPD) Los Angeles Police Department Practice Test

LAPD Observation and Memory Recall 2