MTA Police Reading Comprehension 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read the following passage and answer the question. "Officers responding to a mental health crisis should attempt to de-escalate the situation through calm, non-threatening communication. Physical force should be used only as a last resort when the individual poses an imminent danger to themselves or others. Officers should request a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officer or a mental health professional when available. Handcuffing should be avoided unless the individual poses a safety risk, as restraint can increase agitation in someone experiencing a psychiatric episode." When should physical force be used in a mental health crisis response?
- Whenever the individual is uncooperative
- Only as a last resort when there is imminent danger to self or others (Correct answer)
- As soon as the individual begins showing signs of agitation
- Only after a mental health professional approves its use
Correct answer: Only as a last resort when there is imminent danger to self or others
The passage states that physical force should be used only as a last resort when the individual poses an imminent danger to themselves or others.
Question 2: Read the following passage and answer the question. "A lineup identification procedure is used to present a witness or victim with a group of individuals to determine if they can identify the perpetrator. Photo arrays and live lineups must include the suspect and several fillers who do not match the description of the perpetrator. Lineups should be administered by an officer who does not know which person in the lineup is the suspect, to avoid inadvertent cues. The witness's level of certainty at the time of identification should be documented before any feedback is given." Why should a lineup be administered by an officer who does not know which person is the suspect?
- To ensure the lineup is completed faster
- To reduce the number of officers needed for the procedure
- To avoid inadvertent cues that might influence the witness (Correct answer)
- To maintain confidentiality of the suspect's identity
Correct answer: To avoid inadvertent cues that might influence the witness
The passage states that using a non-knowing administrator avoids inadvertent cues that might influence the witness.
Question 3: Read the following passage and answer the question. "Officers must complete a property voucher for all property that is taken into custody, whether as evidence, found property, or property belonging to an arrested person. The voucher must list each item separately, including a description, condition, and estimated value where applicable. Property must be submitted to the property clerk within the officer's tour of duty. Failure to properly voucher property may result in disciplinary charges and compromise evidentiary value." What is the deadline for submitting property to the property clerk?
- Within 24 hours of seizure
- Within 48 hours of the arrest
- Within the officer's tour of duty (Correct answer)
- Before the officer's next scheduled shift
Correct answer: Within the officer's tour of duty
The passage states that property must be submitted to the property clerk within the officer's tour of duty.
Question 4: Read the following passage and answer the question. "Eyewitness testimony, while often compelling to juries, is one of the leading contributors to wrongful convictions. Studies show that memory is reconstructive and can be influenced by post-event information, stress, and leading questions. Cross-racial identifications tend to be less accurate than same-race identifications. Officers should never confirm or deny a witness's identification immediately after a lineup, as this can artificially inflate the witness's confidence in an incorrect identification." Why should officers not confirm or deny an identification immediately after a lineup?
- It violates the suspect's right to privacy
- It could artificially inflate confidence in an incorrect identification (Correct answer)
- It may cause the witness to recant their testimony
- It is against department policy to speak to witnesses post-lineup
Correct answer: It could artificially inflate confidence in an incorrect identification
The passage states that confirming or denying an identification can artificially inflate the witness's confidence in an incorrect identification.
Question 5: Read the following passage and answer the question. "Officers are prohibited from making arrests based solely on an anonymous tip unless the tip is corroborated by independent police observation. An anonymous tip can provide reasonable suspicion to investigate but does not alone rise to the level of probable cause. If officers observe conduct consistent with the information in the tip upon arrival, those observations may be combined with the tip to establish probable cause. Officers must document what they personally observed that corroborated the tip." What must happen before an anonymous tip can contribute to probable cause for an arrest?
- The tip must be repeated by a second anonymous caller
- The tip must be approved by a supervisor
- The tip must be corroborated by independent police observation (Correct answer)
- The tip must be recorded and submitted to the district attorney
Correct answer: The tip must be corroborated by independent police observation
The passage states that an anonymous tip must be corroborated by independent police observation before it can contribute to probable cause.
Question 6: Read the following passage and answer the question. "Officer Smith is dispatched to a report of a stolen bicycle. Upon arrival, she interviews the complainant, who states his bicycle was taken from in front of a store twenty minutes ago by a male wearing a red jacket. A nearby store owner says she saw the incident and gives Smith the same description. While taking the report, Smith sees a male in a red jacket riding a bicycle one block away." Based on the passage, which combination of factors provides Officer Smith with the strongest basis to stop the male on the bicycle?
- The store owner's statement alone is sufficient for an arrest
- The complainant's statement, the corroborating witness statement, and Smith's own observation of a matching suspect (Correct answer)
- Smith's observation of the red jacket alone establishes probable cause
- The two witness statements alone are sufficient without Smith's own observation
Correct answer: The complainant's statement, the corroborating witness statement, and Smith's own observation of a matching suspect
The combination of the complainant's statement, corroborating witness account, and Smith's own observation of a matching suspect provides the strongest basis to stop.
Question 7: Read the following passage and answer the question. "Obstruction of justice occurs when a person intentionally interferes with the official administration of law, including the investigation, prosecution, or administration of a legal proceeding. Common forms include lying to investigators, destroying evidence, threatening witnesses, and bribing officials. An officer who discovers that a witness has recanted due to threats from a third party should document the original statement, secure the witness, and report the situation to a supervisor immediately." If a witness recants their statement because they were threatened, what should an officer do first?
- Dismiss the case due to lack of witness cooperation
- Accept the recantation and update the report accordingly
- Document the original statement, secure the witness, and report to a supervisor (Correct answer)
- Interview the suspect about the alleged threat
Correct answer: Document the original statement, secure the witness, and report to a supervisor
The passage states the officer should document the original statement, secure the witness, and report to a supervisor immediately.
MTA Police Reading Comprehension 5
Read the following passage and answer the question.
"Officers responding to a mental health crisis should attempt to de-escalate the situation through calm, non-threatening communication.
Physical force should be used only as a last resort when the individual poses an imminent danger to themselves or others.
Officers should request a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officer or a mental health professional when available.
Handcuffing should be avoided unless the individual poses a safety risk, as restraint can increase agitation in someone experiencing a psychiatric episode."
When should physical force be used in a mental health crisis response?