NTN Police Observation and Recall 2

Question 1

A witness to a robbery describes the suspect as wearing a gray hoodie, black cargo pants, white sneakers, and a blue baseball cap.
The witness also says the suspect had a tattoo on the left forearm.
Which detail is most useful for identifying the suspect if they changed clothes?

Accepted Answer

The tattoo on the left forearm

Answer

The gray hoodie

Answer

The blue baseball cap

Answer

The black cargo pants

Question 2

Officers are trained to use HENRY or similar classification systems for fingerprints. What is the primary reason fingerprints are such a reliable identification method?

Accepted Answer

No two individuals have identical fingerprint patterns

Answer

They can be taken from any surface

Answer

They remain unchanged even in extreme heat

Answer

They are easier to collect than DNA

Question 3

During a briefing, officers are shown a mug shot of a wanted suspect. The suspect has short brown hair, a beard, and a prominent scar above the right eyebrow. Which of these features should officers prioritize when scanning a crowd?

Accepted Answer

The scar above the right eyebrow, since it is permanent and cannot be quickly altered

Answer

Hair color, since it is the most visible feature

Answer

The beard, since it is distinctive

Answer

The combination of hair color and beard

Question 4

You drive past a convenience store and see a man run out followed by the clerk yelling 'Stop, he's got my money!' You continue past before stopping. What is the most critical information to recall?

Accepted Answer

A detailed description of the man: clothing, direction of flight, height, build, and any distinguishing features

Answer

The store's business hours

Answer

The make and model of nearby parked cars

Answer

The name of the store

Question 5

A patrol officer notices that a parked car has been in the same location for three days with a parking violation notice on the windshield. The car's plates come back as reported stolen. What pieces of information were important for the officer to have remembered from prior patrols?

Accepted Answer

The car's make, model, color, and location from previous observations

Answer

The color of the parking notice

Answer

The names of neighbors living near where the car is parked

Answer

The weather on the days the car was observed

Question 6

You are a first responder to a hit-and-run collision. A witness says the vehicle was 'big and dark.' What follow-up questions would elicit the most useful information?

Accepted Answer

'What type of vehicle was it — car, truck, or SUV? What shade of dark — black, dark blue, dark green? Did you see any distinctive markings, damage, or logos?'

Answer

'Are you sure it was dark?'

Answer

'Do you know what direction it went?'

Answer

'Have you seen this vehicle before?'