NTN Police Situational Judgment & Problem Solving 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: You arrive at a domestic disturbance call and find a husband and wife arguing loudly. Neither appears injured, but both are extremely agitated. What is your first priority?
- Immediately arrest the husband as the presumed aggressor
- Separate the parties to calm the situation and assess injuries (Correct answer)
- Leave and tell them to call back if violence occurs
- Advise them to attend marriage counseling
Correct answer: Separate the parties to calm the situation and assess injuries
Separating parties reduces immediate tension and allows each person to be assessed for injury without influence from the other.
Question 2: While on patrol you observe a driver commit a minor traffic violation, but when you run the plate you find the car is reported stolen. The driver appears cooperative and unaware. What do you do?
- Let the driver go since they seem unaware
- Detain the driver and treat the stop as a high-risk vehicle stop (Correct answer)
- Issue only a traffic citation and note the stolen vehicle report
- Call the registered owner before taking action
Correct answer: Detain the driver and treat the stop as a high-risk vehicle stop
A stolen vehicle stop must be treated as high-risk regardless of the driver's apparent demeanor, for officer safety.
Question 3: A citizen flags you down and reports witnessing a man enter a neighbor's house through a window. The homeowner is unknown to you. What is the best course of action?
- Dismiss it as likely a homeowner locked out
- Request backup and approach the residence to investigate a possible burglary in progress (Correct answer)
- Advise the citizen to call the homeowner before you respond
- Wait nearby to see if the person exits with property
Correct answer: Request backup and approach the residence to investigate a possible burglary in progress
A reported unlawful entry requires immediate investigation with backup to ensure officer safety and prevent a crime in progress.
Question 4: You stop a vehicle for speeding and the driver tells you their brakes just failed and they are heading to a mechanic. How should you handle this?
- Ignore the excuse and issue a speeding citation only
- Verify the brake issue, consider the safety hazard the vehicle poses, and assist as needed (Correct answer)
- Let the driver continue since they are going to a mechanic
- Arrest the driver for reckless driving immediately
Correct answer: Verify the brake issue, consider the safety hazard the vehicle poses, and assist as needed
A vehicle with failed brakes is a public safety hazard that must be addressed; verifying the claim and assisting protects everyone on the road.
Question 5: During a foot pursuit of a robbery suspect, you lose sight of the subject in a residential neighborhood. What should you do?
- Continue running randomly until you find the suspect
- Stop, broadcast the last known location and description, and set up a perimeter with assistance (Correct answer)
- Enter the nearest house to search for the suspect without a warrant
- Call off the pursuit entirely and return to your vehicle
Correct answer: Stop, broadcast the last known location and description, and set up a perimeter with assistance
Establishing a perimeter with additional units maximizes the chance of apprehension while maintaining officer safety and legal compliance.
Question 6: A store owner tells you a teenager stole a candy bar and demands you arrest the youth. The teenager, age 13, is present and crying. What is the most appropriate response?
- Arrest and handcuff the teenager immediately
- Ignore the complaint since the amount is trivial
- Assess the situation, contact a parent or guardian, and handle it appropriately under juvenile procedures (Correct answer)
- Tell the store owner to handle it civilly
Correct answer: Assess the situation, contact a parent or guardian, and handle it appropriately under juvenile procedures
Juvenile offenders require a different process than adults, including contacting parents and following department juvenile protocols.
Question 7: You are writing a report on a traffic accident when a passerby aggressively insists you are writing it wrong and demands to dictate the report to you. What do you do?
- Allow the passerby to dictate the report to keep the peace
- Explain that you will document facts as you observe and investigate them, and that they may provide a witness statement (Correct answer)
- Arrest the passerby for interference
- Abandon the report and leave the scene
Correct answer: Explain that you will document facts as you observe and investigate them, and that they may provide a witness statement
Officers document facts objectively; a witness may provide their account through a separate statement, but cannot dictate official reports.
NTN Police Situational Judgment & Problem Solving 2
You arrive at a domestic disturbance call and find a husband and wife arguing loudly.
Neither appears injured, but both are extremely agitated.
What is your first priority?