MCOLES Communication Proficiency 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An officer is dispatched to a call involving a person who is deaf. What is the MOST effective initial communication approach?
- Speak loudly and clearly so the person can lip-read
- Write notes back and forth or request an ASL interpreter (Correct answer)
- Use hand signals developed on the spot
- Ask a hearing bystander to speak for the person
Correct answer: Write notes back and forth or request an ASL interpreter
Writing notes is an immediate, effective option while a qualified ASL interpreter ensures full and accurate communication for a Deaf individual.
Question 2: What is the main risk of an officer making promises to a witness in exchange for their cooperation?
- It violates departmental overtime policies
- Promises can constitute coercion and make statements inadmissible (Correct answer)
- It creates unnecessary paperwork
- Witnesses will demand more significant promises in the future
Correct answer: Promises can constitute coercion and make statements inadmissible
Making unauthorized promises to witnesses can be viewed as coercive or deceptive, potentially making statements inadmissible and exposing the officer to misconduct complaints.
Question 3: During a press briefing, a sergeant shares the name of a juvenile suspect with the media. What is the likely legal and ethical problem?
- The media may misquote the sergeant
- Juveniles are typically protected by confidentiality laws and releasing their names violates those protections (Correct answer)
- The briefing should have been led by a lieutenant, not a sergeant
- Press briefings should not include suspect information of any kind
Correct answer: Juveniles are typically protected by confidentiality laws and releasing their names violates those protections
Michigan and federal law generally protect the identity of juvenile suspects; releasing their names violates confidentiality laws and exposes the department to legal liability.
Question 4: What is the purpose of using the phonetic alphabet (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie...) in radio communications?
- To encrypt sensitive information from the public
- To prevent misunderstandings of letters that sound similar over radio (Correct answer)
- To communicate faster during high-priority calls
- To comply with FCC regulations for police radio use
Correct answer: To prevent misunderstandings of letters that sound similar over radio
The NATO phonetic alphabet prevents confusion between letters that sound alike (like B and D, or M and N) when transmitted over radio with potential interference.
Question 5: An officer's report uses the phrase 'I believe the suspect was lying.' What is the problem with this statement?
- It uses first-person, which is not allowed in reports
- It is an opinion/conclusion rather than a documented fact or observation (Correct answer)
- It is too short and needs more detail
- It should specify which lie the suspect told
Correct answer: It is an opinion/conclusion rather than a documented fact or observation
Officers should document specific observable indicators (inconsistent statements, nervousness, contradictory physical evidence) rather than conclusions about truthfulness.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the communication technique of 'mirroring' during an interview?
- Wearing clothing similar to the subject to build rapport
- Subtly repeating the last few words a subject says to encourage them to continue speaking (Correct answer)
- Matching the subject's emotional state to seem relatable
- Placing a recording device visibly to remind the subject of accountability
Correct answer: Subtly repeating the last few words a subject says to encourage them to continue speaking
Mirroring in interviews involves repeating the last few words the subject said, which encourages elaboration without leading the subject toward a particular answer.
Question 7: A supervisor reviews an incident report and finds that the officer documented hearsay without identifying it as such. Why is this a problem?
- Hearsay is never admissible and should never appear in reports
- Unidentified hearsay can be mistaken for first-hand observation, distorting the factual record (Correct answer)
- The supervisor should have caught it before the officer wrote it
- Hearsay must always be documented using quotation marks only
Correct answer: Unidentified hearsay can be mistaken for first-hand observation, distorting the factual record
Hearsay must be clearly attributed (e.g., 'Witness Smith told me that...') so readers can distinguish what the officer personally observed from what others reported.
MCOLES Communication Proficiency 5
An officer is dispatched to a call involving a person who is deaf.
What is the MOST effective initial communication approach?