NTN POLICE Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield NTN POLICE facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What does 'writing in the third person' mean in the context of police reports? → Referring to yourself as 'the officer' or 'this officer' rather than 'I'
2. You are asked to recall a scene you observed 30 minutes ago. Which memory strategy is MOST effective for accurately recalling specific details of a crime scene? → Write down everything immediately after leaving the scene
3. An officer drives 12 miles to a call at an average speed of 48 mph (with emergency lights). How many minutes does the response take? → 15 minutes
4. A witness describes a getaway car as 'dark colored, maybe black or dark blue, four-door, with a loud exhaust.' An officer should record this description as: → A dark-colored four-door vehicle, possibly black or dark blue, with a loud exhaust
5. An officer on patrol notices a known gang member standing on a corner. This observation alone: → Does not justify a stop without additional articulable facts
6. A police officer earns a base salary of $52,000 per year with a 6.5% annual raise. What will be the officer's salary after the raise? → $55,380
7. What is impartiality? → Treat everyone fairly
8. During a shift briefing, you hear information from another unit that contradicts what you are about to do in the field. What is the appropriate action? → Bring the contradiction to your supervisor's attention before proceeding
9. Which of the following is NOT a recognized exception to the warrant requirement? → Officer curiosity or general investigation
10. A department seized 3.5 pounds of marijuana during a search. There are 453.6 grams in one pound. Approximately how many grams of marijuana were seized? → 1,588 grams
11. The crime of 'burglary' traditionally requires which key element? → Unlawful entry into a structure with intent to commit a crime inside
12. Which of the following sentences demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement? → The captain, along with the two lieutenants, is reviewing the case file.
13. A driver is stopped at a DUI checkpoint and refuses a preliminary breath test (PBT). Under implied consent laws, what is the most appropriate officer action? → Arrest the driver solely for the PBT refusal where permitted by state law
14. Which of the following is the primary reason for writing an incident report in chronological order? → To create a clear and logical sequence of events that is easy for others to understand.
15. Under the Fifth Amendment's Double Jeopardy Clause, a person cannot be: → Tried twice for the same offense by the same sovereign
16. When conducting a traffic stop on a high-speed roadway, the officer should position the patrol vehicle: → Approximately 15–20 feet behind and slightly offset to the traffic side
17. Under 'use of force' law, the reasonableness of an officer's force is judged from whose perspective? → A reasonable officer on the scene at the time of the incident
18. Which offense is typically classified as a felony rather than a misdemeanor? → Aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury
19. Which of the following is spelled correctly in the context of a criminal case? → Perpetrator
20. During a routine patrol, you observe a pedestrian jaywalking. Under which circumstance would a formal citation most likely be warranted over a warning? → The pedestrian darted into heavy traffic creating an immediate hazard
21. A officer responds to a noise complaint at 11:45 PM and clears the scene at 12:30 AM the next day. How long was the officer on scene? → 45 minutes
22. What is the purpose of a 'felony traffic stop' (high-risk stop) procedure? → To safely control a vehicle stop when the occupants are believed to be armed or dangerous
23. Which of the following is a run-on sentence? → The witness refused to cooperate, he claimed he saw nothing.
24. An officer is writing a report about a domestic disturbance where no arrest was made. What should still be included? → Names of all parties, observations, statements, and any visible injuries or damage
25. What should you do when encountering an unfamiliar word? → Use context clues
26. During a DUI investigation, what is the purpose of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs)? → To provide observable clues of impairment that establish probable cause for a DUI arrest
27. What should you do if you see a coworker violate protocol? → Report using procedure
28. What is 'double jeopardy' and what does it prohibit? → Being tried twice for the same offense after acquittal or conviction
29. Identify the grammatical error in the following sentence: 'Neither the officer nor the witnesses was able to identify the vehicle.' → 'was' should be 'were'
30. During a vehicle pursuit, a supervisor orders the officer to terminate the chase. The officer should: → Immediately comply and discontinue the pursuit