MTA Community Policing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A neighborhood association complains that drug activity is increasing near a local park. Under a community policing approach, what is the BEST first step?
- Increase random patrol car visibility in the area
- Meet with residents and the association to identify specific problem locations and times (Correct answer)
- Set up a surveillance camera without notifying residents
- Issue citations to anyone loitering near the park
Correct answer: Meet with residents and the association to identify specific problem locations and times
Community policing requires collaborative problem identification with residents before taking enforcement action.
Question 2: Which of the following BEST describes the role of a 'community liaison officer'?
- An officer who only handles domestic violence calls
- An officer who serves as the primary contact between the police department and specific community groups (Correct answer)
- An officer who supervises all patrol units in a district
- An officer assigned exclusively to school resource duties
Correct answer: An officer who serves as the primary contact between the police department and specific community groups
A community liaison officer builds relationships and serves as a bridge between the department and community organizations.
Question 3: A community policing officer learns that elderly residents fear riding the subway after dark. The MOST appropriate response is to:
- Tell residents the subway is statistically safe and no action is needed
- Work with transit officials and community groups to develop escort programs or improved lighting (Correct answer)
- Assign an officer to ride every subway train after 10 PM indefinitely
- Refer all complaints to the transit authority only
Correct answer: Work with transit officials and community groups to develop escort programs or improved lighting
Community policing addresses fear of crime through collaborative solutions involving multiple stakeholders.
Question 4: Under the SARA problem-solving model, the 'Assessment' phase involves:
- Identifying the people, places, and conditions involved in a problem
- Brainstorming and implementing potential solutions
- Evaluating whether the response reduced or eliminated the problem (Correct answer)
- Scanning for patterns of repeat incidents
Correct answer: Evaluating whether the response reduced or eliminated the problem
Assessment is the final SARA phase where officers measure whether the implemented response was effective.
Question 5: An officer is assigned to a fixed foot patrol beat in a commercial district. A key advantage of foot patrol over motorized patrol in community policing is:
- Officers can respond faster to emergency calls citywide
- Officers develop personal relationships with business owners and residents (Correct answer)
- Officers can cover a larger geographic area per shift
- Officers are better protected from physical confrontations
Correct answer: Officers develop personal relationships with business owners and residents
Foot patrol allows officers to interact directly with community members and build trust through personal contact.
Question 6: When gathering community input for problem-solving, which method is MOST likely to capture the concerns of residents who do not attend public meetings?
- Reviewing only crime reports filed at the precinct
- Conducting door-to-door surveys or canvassing in the neighborhood (Correct answer)
- Relying on feedback from elected officials only
- Posting a notice at the precinct bulletin board
Correct answer: Conducting door-to-door surveys or canvassing in the neighborhood
Door-to-door canvassing reaches residents who may be unable or unwilling to attend formal meetings.
Question 7: Which outcome is a primary indicator that a community policing initiative has been SUCCESSFUL?
- The number of arrests made in the target area increases significantly
- Residents report increased fear of crime in surveys
- The number of repeat calls for service to the same location decreases (Correct answer)
- The precinct receives fewer civilian complaints about officers
Correct answer: The number of repeat calls for service to the same location decreases
A reduction in repeat calls for service to problem locations indicates that the underlying problem has been effectively addressed.
MTA Community Policing 2
A neighborhood association complains that drug activity is increasing near a local park.
Under a community policing approach, what is the BEST first step?