MTA Police 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An officer responds to a robbery call. The victim describes the suspect as wearing a red jacket heading north. The officer should broadcast:
- Only the direction of travel
- A complete description including clothing, direction, and any other identifying details (Correct answer)
- Just the general area to avoid alarming civilians
- Nothing until a suspect is in custody
Correct answer: A complete description including clothing, direction, and any other identifying details
Broadcasting a complete and accurate suspect description maximizes the chance of locating the suspect quickly.
Question 2: Which of the following is an example of a misdemeanor offense?
- Armed robbery
- First-degree murder
- Petty theft of items under a statutory threshold (Correct answer)
- Aggravated assault with a weapon
Correct answer: Petty theft of items under a statutory threshold
Petty theft below the statutory dollar threshold is typically classified as a misdemeanor in most jurisdictions.
Question 3: What should an officer do when they discover a conflict of interest in a case?
- Proceed with the investigation since they are professionals
- Disclose the conflict to a supervisor and recuse themselves if necessary (Correct answer)
- Keep the conflict private to avoid embarrassment
- Complete the case and report the conflict afterward
Correct answer: Disclose the conflict to a supervisor and recuse themselves if necessary
Officers must disclose conflicts of interest to supervisors to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Question 4: When an officer is arresting a subject and the subject goes limp (passive resistance), the appropriate response is:
- Use strikes to gain compliance
- Use a come-along technique or lift carry appropriate to the resistance level (Correct answer)
- Leave the suspect and call for a canine unit
- Use a Taser immediately
Correct answer: Use a come-along technique or lift carry appropriate to the resistance level
Passive resistance calls for control techniques proportionate to the level of resistance, such as come-along holds.
Question 5: An officer observes a parked vehicle with the engine running and a driver slumped over the wheel. The officer should FIRST:
- Write a parking ticket
- Approach and check the welfare of the driver (Correct answer)
- Run the license plate before approaching
- Wait for an ambulance before taking action
Correct answer: Approach and check the welfare of the driver
A welfare check takes priority because the driver may be experiencing a medical emergency.
Question 6: Which of the following accurately describes the 'duty to intervene'?
- Officers must intervene in all civil disputes
- Officers must stop fellow officers from using excessive force (Correct answer)
- Officers must intervene in crimes only when off duty
- Officers must intervene only when directly ordered by a supervisor
Correct answer: Officers must stop fellow officers from using excessive force
Officers have a legal and ethical duty to intervene when they witness a fellow officer using clearly excessive force.
Question 7: A person is found unconscious and unresponsive in a public park. After calling for EMS, the officer should:
- Search the person for contraband before EMS arrives
- Render first aid within the officer's training level while awaiting EMS (Correct answer)
- Leave the scene since it is a medical matter
- Arrest the person for public intoxication immediately
Correct answer: Render first aid within the officer's training level while awaiting EMS
Officers are trained in basic first aid and should render assistance to preserve life while EMS is en route.
MTA Police 5
An officer responds to a robbery call.
The victim describes the suspect as wearing a red jacket heading north.
The officer should broadcast: