LEAB Situational Judgment 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: You are on patrol and observe a driver run a red light but immediately pull over safely. The driver explains their spouse just called to say their child stopped breathing. What is the most appropriate first action?
- Issue a citation and then offer directions to the hospital
- Call for backup before approaching the vehicle
- Assess the situation, verify the emergency, and escort or assist the family if legitimate (Correct answer)
- Detain the driver until the story can be confirmed
Correct answer: Assess the situation, verify the emergency, and escort or assist the family if legitimate
Verifying the emergency and providing appropriate assistance balances enforcement with the immediate public safety concern.
Question 2: A fellow officer asks you to falsify a minor detail in an arrest report to ensure a conviction for someone both of you believe is guilty. What should you do?
- Agree, since the suspect is likely guilty anyway
- Refuse and report the request to a supervisor (Correct answer)
- Refuse but keep the conversation private to protect your colleague
- Ask a senior officer for guidance before deciding
Correct answer: Refuse and report the request to a supervisor
Falsifying reports is illegal and unethical; reporting the request upholds integrity and departmental policy.
Question 3: You respond to a domestic disturbance call. Upon arrival, both parties are calm and deny any incident occurred. A neighbor insists she heard screaming. What is the best course of action?
- Leave immediately since both parties appear calm
- Arrest both parties to sort it out at the station
- Speak separately with each party, look for signs of injury, and document the neighbor's account (Correct answer)
- Take only the neighbor's statement and file a report
Correct answer: Speak separately with each party, look for signs of injury, and document the neighbor's account
Separating parties and conducting thorough interviews helps uncover the truth even when victims are reluctant to speak in front of an abuser.
Question 4: While writing a report in your patrol car, you notice a man matching the description of a robbery suspect walking nearby. Your shift ends in five minutes. What should you do?
- Finish the report and leave since the shift is over
- Immediately detain the man and call for a cover unit
- Observe the individual, radio dispatch, and follow department protocol for suspect contact (Correct answer)
- Drive away to avoid overtime paperwork
Correct answer: Observe the individual, radio dispatch, and follow department protocol for suspect contact
Officer safety and proper protocol require calling for backup and following procedure when approaching a potential robbery suspect.
Question 5: A citizen approaches you off-duty in uniform to complain about a noisy neighbor. You are not in your jurisdiction. What is the most appropriate response?
- Handle the complaint since you are in uniform
- Advise the citizen to contact the local police and provide the non-emergency number (Correct answer)
- Ignore the complaint because you are off-duty
- Call your department to transfer jurisdiction
Correct answer: Advise the citizen to contact the local police and provide the non-emergency number
Directing the citizen to the correct jurisdiction ensures the complaint is handled properly and avoids acting outside your legal authority.
Question 6: You stop a vehicle for speeding and smell alcohol on the driver's breath. The driver says they only had one drink hours ago. What is your next step?
- Issue a speeding ticket only and release the driver
- Immediately arrest the driver for DUI without further assessment
- Administer field sobriety tests and follow standard DUI investigation protocol (Correct answer)
- Call the driver's family to pick them up
Correct answer: Administer field sobriety tests and follow standard DUI investigation protocol
Field sobriety tests provide objective evidence to determine impairment before making an arrest decision.
Question 7: During a foot pursuit of a fleeing shoplifting suspect, you realize the suspect has dropped into a crowded playground area. What should you do?
- Continue the chase at full speed regardless of bystanders
- Discontinue the foot pursuit and coordinate containment with other units (Correct answer)
- Fire a warning shot to stop the suspect
- Wait at the perimeter and hope the suspect surrenders
Correct answer: Discontinue the foot pursuit and coordinate containment with other units
Officer safety training dictates that foot pursuits should be discontinued when bystander safety cannot be guaranteed, especially for minor offenses.
LEAB Situational Judgment 1
You are on patrol and observe a driver run a red light but immediately pull over safely.
The driver explains their spouse just called to say their child stopped breathing.
What is the most appropriate first action?