NPOST Police Test Police Vocabulary and Terminology Questions and Answers

Question 1

An officer collects a firearm at a crime scene.
They place it in an evidence bag, seal it, and sign the seal.
They then transport it to the evidence locker where the evidence technician logs it and stores it.
This entire process of documenting the handling and location of the evidence is known as what?

Accepted Answer

Chain of Custody

Answer

Booking Procedure

Answer

Scene Canvass

Answer

Initial Complaint

Question 2

A dispatcher broadcasts a message to all patrol units with the description of a suspect who just fled a crime scene. What is the common acronym for this type of broadcast?

Accepted Answer

BOLO

Answer

SWAT

Answer

FTO

Answer

M.O.

Question 3

In law enforcement, what is the best definition of 'probable cause'?

Accepted Answer

A reasonable belief, based on specific facts and circumstances, that a crime has been, is being, or is about to be committed.

Answer

A general feeling or hunch that something is wrong.

Answer

The initial act of detaining a person for questioning.

Answer

Absolute certainty, supported by irrefutable evidence, that a person is guilty.

Question 4

Which of the following scenarios best describes the crime of 'robbery'?

Accepted Answer

A suspect confronts a victim on the street, threatens them with a knife, and takes their wallet.

Answer

A suspect breaks into an unoccupied house at night and steals a television.

Answer

A suspect sees a laptop left unattended on a coffee shop table and takes it when no one is looking.

Answer

A suspect uses a company credit card for unauthorized personal purchases.

Question 5

An officer is patrolling a residential area late at night, a location which has experienced a recent string of burglaries. The officer observes an individual dressed in all black, carrying a crowbar and a backpack, peering into the windows of a closed business. The legal standard that allows the officer to lawfully detain and question this individual is known as:

Accepted Answer

Reasonable Suspicion

Answer

A Mere Hunch

Answer

Probable Cause

Answer

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

Question 6

During an investigation, a detective discovers evidence that supports the suspect's alibi and suggests they could not have committed the crime. Under legal and ethical obligations, this type of evidence, which tends to prove a defendant's innocence, is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Exculpatory evidence

Answer

Inculpatory evidence

Answer

Circumstantial evidence

Answer

Corroborating evidence