NTN Police Map Reading and Spatial Orientation 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: While on patrol, an officer drives south for 3 blocks, turns right, drives 2 blocks, then turns right again and drives 3 blocks. In what direction is the officer now facing?
- South
- East
- North (Correct answer)
- West
Correct answer: North
Starting south, turning right faces west, then turning right again faces north — the officer is now heading north.
Question 2: On a topographic map used in patrol planning, closely spaced contour lines indicate:
- A flat, open area
- A steep slope or elevation change (Correct answer)
- A body of water
- A heavily forested region
Correct answer: A steep slope or elevation change
Closely spaced contour lines mean elevation is changing rapidly over a short distance, indicating a steep slope.
Question 3: An officer is dispatched to a call at the intersection of the third street north of Central Ave and the second street east of Main St. On a standard grid map, the officer should go to:
- 3rd Ave North and 2nd St East (Correct answer)
- North 3rd St and East 2nd Ave
- Central 3rd and Main 2nd
- The third block east and second block north of downtown
Correct answer: 3rd Ave North and 2nd St East
The description 'third street north' and 'second street east' translates to 3rd Ave North and 2nd St East on a standard numbered grid.
Question 4: A map shows a shaded area labeled 'restricted zone' around a courthouse. An officer on foot patrol who enters this zone without authorization is:
- In a tactically advantageous position
- Potentially violating a security perimeter or protocol (Correct answer)
- In the best location to observe foot traffic
- Following standard patrol procedures
Correct answer: Potentially violating a security perimeter or protocol
Restricted zones on law enforcement maps indicate areas with limited access that require authorization to enter.
Question 5: An officer needs to establish a perimeter around a building. The building occupies one full city block. How many different street segments must be covered to fully surround it?
- 2
- 3
- 4 (Correct answer)
- 8
Correct answer: 4
A standard city block has four sides, so four street segments (one per side) must be covered to establish a complete perimeter.
Question 6: On a police dispatch map, a call is marked at coordinates N40°, W74°. If another call comes in at N41°, W74°, the second call is located:
- Directly east of the first call
- Directly west of the first call
- Directly north of the first call (Correct answer)
- Directly south of the first call
Correct answer: Directly north of the first call
Increasing latitude (N40° to N41°) while longitude remains the same means the second location is directly north of the first.
Question 7: An officer is told a suspect was last seen 'three blocks southeast' of the police station. If the station is at the center of the map, in which quadrant should the officer search?
- Upper-left quadrant
- Upper-right quadrant
- Lower-left quadrant
- Lower-right quadrant (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Lower-right quadrant
Southeast corresponds to the lower-right on a standard north-up map, as south is down and east is right.
NTN Police Map Reading and Spatial Orientation 5
While on patrol, an officer drives south for 3 blocks, turns right, drives 2 blocks, then turns right again and drives 3 blocks.
In what direction is the officer now facing?