MTA Police Written 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under New York law, what is the time limit within which a person arrested without a warrant must be brought before a judge?
- 12 hours
- 24 hours (Correct answer)
- 48 hours
- 72 hours
Correct answer: 24 hours
New York law generally requires that a person arrested without a warrant be arraigned within 24 hours.
Question 2: An MTA officer observes a passenger who appears to be experiencing a medical emergency on a train. The FIRST action should be:
- Wait for EMS since medical care is not the officer's responsibility
- Call for EMS and render first aid within the officer's training level (Correct answer)
- Remove the passenger from the train at the next stop
- Ask other passengers if any are medical professionals
Correct answer: Call for EMS and render first aid within the officer's training level
Officers have a duty to render first aid within their training while simultaneously summoning professional medical help.
Question 3: Which of the following situations requires a written use-of-force report?
- Issuing a summons to a fare evader
- Drawing a firearm even if it is not discharged (Correct answer)
- Questioning a witness at a crime scene
- Handcuffing a compliant prisoner during transport
Correct answer: Drawing a firearm even if it is not discharged
Many departments require documentation any time a firearm is unholstered, as it constitutes a level of force.
Question 4: The term 'exigent circumstances' in law enforcement refers to:
- Special duty assignments outside normal patrol
- Emergency situations that justify immediate action without a warrant (Correct answer)
- Circumstances requiring civilian cooperation
- Situations in which an officer must request a supervisor
Correct answer: Emergency situations that justify immediate action without a warrant
Exigent circumstances are emergencies such as hot pursuit or imminent danger that allow officers to act without obtaining a warrant first.
Question 5: A commuter complains that her wallet was stolen 30 minutes ago on the 6 train. She does not know the suspect's identity but can describe what the person was wearing. The officer should:
- Tell her to file a report online since no suspect is known
- Take a full complaint report, gather the detailed description, and transmit the description over the radio (Correct answer)
- Advise her to check with the lost and found
- Refer her to the NYPD since wallets are not MTA matters
Correct answer: Take a full complaint report, gather the detailed description, and transmit the description over the radio
A theft on MTA property is within MTA Police jurisdiction; a complaint report and suspect description broadcast are the proper responses.
Question 6: Which of the following best defines 'reasonable suspicion' as a legal standard?
- A hunch or gut feeling by an experienced officer
- Articulable facts and circumstances that suggest criminal activity may be occurring (Correct answer)
- Enough evidence to convict a suspect beyond a reasonable doubt
- A formal statement from an eyewitness to a crime
Correct answer: Articulable facts and circumstances that suggest criminal activity may be occurring
Reasonable suspicion requires specific, articulable facts — not just a hunch — that criminal activity is afoot, and is the standard for a brief investigative stop.
Question 7: An officer is asked by a journalist about an ongoing investigation. The officer should:
- Share any information that is not classified
- Decline to comment and direct the journalist to the department's public information officer (Correct answer)
- Confirm basic facts to build goodwill with the media
- Provide the journalist with the suspect's name if known
Correct answer: Decline to comment and direct the journalist to the department's public information officer
Officers are not authorized to speak to the media about active investigations; all media inquiries must go through the public information officer.
MTA Police Written 4
Under New York law, what is the time limit within which a person arrested without a warrant must be brought before a judge?