MTA Police Written 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Officer Kim is on patrol when she hears a radio call for a robbery suspect fleeing on foot toward the subway. She spots a person matching the description entering the station. She should:
- Wait for the original responding officer before taking action
- Pursue and attempt to apprehend the suspect, broadcasting her location (Correct answer)
- Seal the station exit but not pursue inside
- Notify station agents and let them handle it
Correct answer: Pursue and attempt to apprehend the suspect, broadcasting her location
Officers may and should act on active radio calls within their jurisdiction; broadcasting location during a foot pursuit is critical for backup coordination.
Question 2: The standard for convicting a person of a crime in court is:
- Reasonable suspicion
- Probable cause
- Preponderance of the evidence
- Beyond a reasonable doubt (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Beyond a reasonable doubt
The criminal conviction standard is 'beyond a reasonable doubt,' the highest evidentiary standard in the legal system.
Question 3: A person is found unconscious on a subway bench with drug paraphernalia visible. What should the officer do FIRST?
- Collect the paraphernalia as evidence before touching the person
- Assess the person's medical condition and call for EMS immediately (Correct answer)
- Wake the person by shaking them vigorously
- Arrest the person for possession before rendering aid
Correct answer: Assess the person's medical condition and call for EMS immediately
Life safety always takes priority; EMS must be called and a medical assessment begun before addressing the criminal aspect.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of INDIRECT evidence (circumstantial evidence)?
- A victim who directly identifies the suspect in a lineup
- Surveillance video showing the suspect committing the act
- Muddy footprints matching the suspect's shoe size found at the scene (Correct answer)
- A signed confession from the suspect
Correct answer: Muddy footprints matching the suspect's shoe size found at the scene
Circumstantial evidence requires an inference to connect it to a conclusion; footprints matching a shoe size require the inference that the suspect made them.
Question 5: When an officer is involved in a use-of-force incident, the FIRST obligation after the scene is safe is to:
- Call a union representative before doing anything else
- Ensure any injured parties receive medical attention and notify a supervisor (Correct answer)
- Write the report before speaking to anyone
- Secure the scene and wait for Internal Affairs to arrive
Correct answer: Ensure any injured parties receive medical attention and notify a supervisor
Medical care for the injured and supervisor notification are the immediate post-incident obligations after the scene is secured.
Question 6: An officer stops a man based on reasonable suspicion. The man refuses to identify himself. In New York, the officer can:
- Arrest him immediately for obstruction
- Detain him briefly while the investigation continues but may not arrest solely for refusing to identify (Correct answer)
- Force him to provide ID by searching his person
- Release him immediately since he has no legal obligation to speak
Correct answer: Detain him briefly while the investigation continues but may not arrest solely for refusing to identify
New York is not a 'stop and identify' state; a person is not required by law to provide ID during an investigative stop, though the officer may continue the brief detention.
Question 7: Proper officer safety when approaching a parked vehicle during a traffic stop includes:
- Approaching quickly from the driver's side door to minimize exposure time
- Standing behind the B-pillar on the driver's side to observe occupants while remaining partially shielded (Correct answer)
- Standing directly in front of the vehicle to observe all occupants at once
- Approaching from the passenger side only when a partner is present
Correct answer: Standing behind the B-pillar on the driver's side to observe occupants while remaining partially shielded
Standing at the B-pillar provides a view of the driver while offering partial cover and avoiding the line of fire from the vehicle.
MTA Police Written 5
Officer Kim is on patrol when she hears a radio call for a robbery suspect fleeing on foot toward the subway.
She spots a person matching the description entering the station.
She should: