MTA Law Enforcement Procedures 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An officer arrests a suspect who invokes their right to remain silent after Miranda warnings. The officer should:
- Continue questioning on a different topic
- Cease all interrogation immediately (Correct answer)
- Wait 30 minutes and then resume questioning
- Allow a different officer to continue the interrogation
Correct answer: Cease all interrogation immediately
Once a suspect invokes the right to silence, all custodial interrogation must stop immediately under the ruling in Michigan v. Mosley.
Question 2: When completing a use-of-force report, an officer must document:
- Only the injuries sustained by the suspect
- The specific actions and behaviors that necessitated the use of force (Correct answer)
- Only the level of force used and nothing more
- A general description of the incident without specific details
Correct answer: The specific actions and behaviors that necessitated the use of force
Use-of-force reports require specific documentation of the subject's actions and the officer's reasonable perception to justify the force applied.
Question 3: An officer receives a call to assist an emotionally disturbed person (EDP) who is threatening to harm themselves. The FIRST priority should be:
- Arresting the person for disorderly conduct
- Containing the situation and preventing harm to the person and others (Correct answer)
- Calling the person's family before taking any action
- Leaving the scene and calling a mental health professional
Correct answer: Containing the situation and preventing harm to the person and others
Crisis intervention principles prioritize scene containment and de-escalation to prevent harm before pursuing any enforcement action.
Question 4: Under what condition can an officer search a parolee's residence without a warrant?
- At any time, for any reason, without any suspicion
- When the parole agreement includes a search condition and there is reasonable suspicion of a violation (Correct answer)
- Only when another agency requests the search
- Never — parolees retain full Fourth Amendment protections
Correct answer: When the parole agreement includes a search condition and there is reasonable suspicion of a violation
Parolees with search conditions in their parole agreements have reduced Fourth Amendment expectations, but reasonable suspicion of a violation is still required in most jurisdictions.
Question 5: An officer stops a vehicle for a broken tail light and smells fresh marijuana. What authority does this give the officer?
- Authority to immediately arrest all occupants
- Probable cause to search the vehicle for marijuana and related evidence (Correct answer)
- Permission to tow the vehicle without further investigation
- No additional authority beyond issuing a traffic citation
Correct answer: Probable cause to search the vehicle for marijuana and related evidence
The odor of marijuana provides probable cause under the automobile exception to search the vehicle without a warrant.
Question 6: When an officer takes a crime report and later discovers information that significantly changes the nature of the incident, the officer should:
- Ignore the new information if the report is already filed
- File a supplemental report documenting the new information (Correct answer)
- Delete and rewrite the original report entirely
- Verbally notify the supervisor but make no written record
Correct answer: File a supplemental report documenting the new information
Supplemental reports are the proper mechanism to add or correct information after an initial report is filed without altering original documentation.
Question 7: During a high-speed pursuit, the officer's supervisor orders the pursuit terminated. The officer must:
- Continue the pursuit until the suspect stops or crashes
- Immediately discontinue the pursuit and acknowledge the order (Correct answer)
- Reduce speed but maintain visual contact with the suspect
- Request a second opinion from another supervisor before stopping
Correct answer: Immediately discontinue the pursuit and acknowledge the order
Supervisors have authority to terminate pursuits for safety reasons, and officers must comply immediately with such orders.
MTA Law Enforcement Procedures 3
An officer arrests a suspect who invokes their right to remain silent after Miranda warnings.
The officer should: