NYPD Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. An officer earns $75,000 per year. What is the approximate monthly salary? → $6,250
2. During a DWI investigation, which standardized field sobriety test requires the subject to take nine heel-to-toe steps along a straight line, turn, and return? → Walk-and-Turn
3. A suspect fled from the corner of 5th Ave and 42nd St heading east for 3 blocks, then turned south for 2 blocks. What is the suspect's current location? → 2nd Ave and 40th St
4. Which transition word best fills the blank? 'The officer attempted to de-escalate the situation; ___, the suspect became increasingly agitated.' → however
5. Under New York Penal Law, what degree of larceny involves theft of property valued over $1 million? → Grand larceny in the first degree
6. Under the Miranda ruling, when must an officer advise a suspect of their rights? → Before conducting a custodial interrogation
7. Officer Torres witnesses a colleague accepting money from a known drug dealer and pocketing it. Officer Torres should PRIMARILY: → Report the misconduct through proper channels such as the Internal Affairs Bureau
8. A police officer observes a vehicle with a broken taillight at 2 AM. The driver is cooperative and shows a valid license. What should the officer do? → Issue a summons for the equipment violation and allow the driver to proceed
9. To report a robbery in progress, use the proper code: → 10-30
10. An officer notices that a store window has been shattered and the alarm is sounding. There are no witnesses present. The officer should FIRST: → Secure the perimeter and call for backup before entry
11. Under New York Penal Law, which offense is classified as a Class A misdemeanor? → Assault in the third degree
12. Officer Torres wrote: 'Me and my partner responded to the call.' How should this sentence be corrected? → My partner and I responded to the call.
13. If 3 officers are each assigned 12 cases, how many total cases are assigned? → 36
14. An officer is completing a stop-and-frisk form (UF-250). What is the PRIMARY legal purpose of this form? → To document the legal justification and facts supporting the stop, question, and frisk
15. An officer memorizes the following phone number to call a witness: (718) 555-0293. What are the last four digits? → 0293
16. Which of the following scenarios BEST illustrates probable cause to make an arrest? → A witness identifies the person as the one who just committed a robbery
17. The NYPD patrol guide requires officers to notify a supervisor when making a felony arrest. What is the PRIMARY reason for this requirement? → To ensure proper oversight, coordination, and that necessary procedures are followed
18. What does a flashing red traffic light signal require of a driver? → Come to a complete stop and yield, treating it as a stop sign
19. An officer reads the following sequence of apartment numbers during a canvass: 4B, 7A, 2C, 9D, 1F. Which apartment was listed FOURTH? → 9D
20. In New York State, a driver is charged with Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI) at what blood alcohol content level? → 0.05% or higher but below 0.08%
21. What does a solid white edge line painted along the right side of a roadway indicate? → The boundary of the travel lane and edge of the pavement or shoulder
22. When completing a Complaint Report (UF-61), what is the purpose of accurately recording the 'type of premises' where the crime occurred? → It helps in crime analysis, pattern identification, and resource allocation
23. Which of the following claims about the auxiliary police baton is true? → Always carry the auxiliary police baton when assigned to rmp duty
24. When conducting a traffic stop, where should an officer position their patrol vehicle relative to the stopped vehicle? → Slightly offset to the left and behind the stopped vehicle
25. If a department has 35,000 officers and 14,000 are on patrol, what fraction are on patrol? → 2/5
26. Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures? → Fourth Amendment
27. During a large community parade, an Auxiliary officer's primary role is to: → Assist with crowd management and pedestrian traffic flow
28. What is a 'Terry stop,' as established by Terry v. Ohio? → A brief investigatory stop based on reasonable suspicion of criminal activity
29. A suspect is described as having tattoos on his right forearm and left shoulder, and a birthmark on his neck. Where is the birthmark located? → Neck
30. On a standard map with north at the top, a location marked in the lower-right portion of the map is in which general direction from the map's center? → Southeast