LEAB Written Comprehension Skills 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read the following excerpt from a department procedure manual: "Evidence collected at a crime scene must be logged, tagged, and sealed before transport. Each item receives a unique evidence number. Chain of custody documentation must accompany all evidence at all times." Which step in this procedure occurs LAST before transport?
- Logging the evidence
- Tagging the evidence
- Sealing the evidence (Correct answer)
- Assigning an evidence number
Correct answer: Sealing the evidence
The procedure lists the steps as 'logged, tagged, and sealed,' making sealing the final step before transport.
Question 2: Choose the correctly punctuated sentence:
- The suspect who had a prior record was detained immediately.
- The suspect, who had a prior record was detained immediately.
- The suspect who had a prior record, was detained immediately.
- The suspect, who had a prior record, was detained immediately. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The suspect, who had a prior record, was detained immediately.
A nonrestrictive relative clause ('who had a prior record') must be set off by commas on both sides.
Question 3: A report states: "The complainant alleged that the respondent had been harassing her via electronic communications over a period of six weeks prior to the date of the complaint." For how long was the alleged harassment occurring?
- Six days
- Six months
- Six weeks (Correct answer)
- The report does not specify
Correct answer: Six weeks
The report explicitly states 'a period of six weeks prior to the date of the complaint.'
Question 4: What does the word "corroborate" mean as used in law enforcement reports?
- To contradict or disprove
- To confirm or support with additional evidence (Correct answer)
- To arrest or detain
- To file an official complaint
Correct answer: To confirm or support with additional evidence
To corroborate means to confirm or support a statement or theory with additional evidence or information.
Question 5: Read the following passage: "Officers shall not use profanity, degrading language, or inflammatory remarks when interacting with members of the public, regardless of the conduct of the person being addressed." What does this policy suggest about an officer's language standards?
- Officers may use informal language if the situation warrants it.
- Professional language must be maintained even if the other person is hostile. (Correct answer)
- Officers should match the communication style of the person they are addressing.
- Profanity is only prohibited during formal arrests.
Correct answer: Professional language must be maintained even if the other person is hostile.
The phrase 'regardless of the conduct of the person being addressed' means professional standards apply even when dealing with hostile individuals.
Question 6: Which sentence is written most clearly and concisely for an official police report?
- I, the undersigned officer, did at that time in question proceed to the location that was referenced.
- At 1430 hours, I responded to 214 Elm Street. (Correct answer)
- The officer who is me went to the place that was called in.
- Responding was done by myself to the reported location.
Correct answer: At 1430 hours, I responded to 214 Elm Street.
Effective police report writing uses first person, active voice, and specific details—'At 1430 hours, I responded to 214 Elm Street' exemplifies all three.
Question 7: A memo states: "All personnel are required to complete the updated use-of-force training by the end of the third quarter. Failure to comply may result in administrative action." What is the consequence of not completing the training on time?
- Immediate termination
- Suspension without pay
- Possible administrative action (Correct answer)
- Mandatory overtime
Correct answer: Possible administrative action
The memo states that non-compliance 'may result in administrative action,' indicating it is a possible but not guaranteed consequence.
LEAB Written Comprehension Skills 3
Read the following excerpt from a department procedure manual:
"Evidence collected at a crime scene must be logged, tagged, and sealed before transport.
Each item receives a unique evidence number.
Chain of custody documentation must accompany all evidence at all times."
Which step in this procedure occurs LAST before transport?