MPOETC Incident Investigation & Reporting 2

Question 1

When responding to a domestic disturbance, an officer observes fresh bruising on the victim's arm. The victim denies any assault occurred. What should the officer do?

Accepted Answer

Document the observed injuries in the incident report regardless of the victim's denial

Answer

Officers must document all observed evidence including injuries in their reports, independent of what the victim claims, as physical evidence is objective documentation.

Question 2

Which of the following best describes the purpose of the 'chain of custody' in evidence handling?

Accepted Answer

To establish a documented record of everyone who handled evidence from collection to court

Answer

Chain of custody documents every person who handled evidence to ensure its integrity and admissibility in court.

Question 3

An officer arrives at a burglary scene where the homeowner has already rearranged items to assess what was taken. What is the officer's priority?

Accepted Answer

Document the current scene conditions and note that the scene was altered before police arrival

Answer

Officers must document the scene as found upon arrival and note in the report that the scene was altered prior to their response.

Question 4

When writing an incident report, the term 'proximate cause' refers to:

Accepted Answer

The direct cause that produced the incident or injury

Answer

Proximate cause is the direct or primary cause that sets in motion a chain of events leading to an incident or injury.

Question 5

During a vehicle crash investigation, skid marks are discovered at the scene. These marks are best documented by:

Accepted Answer

Photographing and measuring their length and direction in relation to fixed landmarks

Answer

Skid marks must be photographed and precisely measured, with location referenced to fixed landmarks, to reconstruct vehicle speed and pre-crash behavior.

MPOETC - ACT 120 Certified Police Officer Practice Test

MPOETC - ACT 120 Certified Police Officer Practice Test

MPOETC Incident Investigation & Reporting 2