NYPD Spatial Orientation Questions and Answers

Question 1

An officer is pursuing a suspect on foot. The pursuit begins with the officer running 3 blocks North. The suspect then turns left, and the officer follows for 2 blocks. The suspect makes a right turn, and the officer follows for another 3 blocks. Finally, the suspect makes another right turn. In which cardinal direction is the officer now running?

Accepted Answer

East

Answer

The officer starts by running North. A left turn from North faces West. A right turn from West faces North. A final right turn from North faces East. Therefore, the officer is now running East.

Question 2

You are standing on the south side of Main Street, facing North. The public library is directly in front of you, across the street. A pizzeria is on the same side of the street as you, to your right. A hardware store is located on the northwest corner of the intersection of Main Street and Oak Avenue, which is one block to your west. What is the location of the pizzeria in relation to the hardware store?

Accepted Answer

Southeast

Answer

You are on the south side of Main St. Facing North, your right is East. So, the pizzeria is to your east. The hardware store is to your west and across the street (north). Therefore, the pizzeria is located southeast of the hardware store.

Question 3

Review the following floor plan of a single-story precinct. All directions are based on this map's orientation, where the top is North.

[Lobby] --- [Records Room]
   |
[Briefing Room] --- [Captain's Office]

An officer enters the precinct through the main door into the Lobby. To get to the Captain's Office, which sequence of directions is correct?

Accepted Answer

Go South into the Briefing Room, then East to the Captain's Office.

Answer

According to the diagram, from the Lobby, the officer must first go South to enter the Briefing Room. From the Briefing Room, the officer must then go East to reach the Captain's Office.

Question 4

An officer at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and B Street needs to respond to a call at 5th Avenue and D Street. However, C Street is closed for a parade between 3rd Avenue and 4th Avenue. All streets are two-way. Which of the following is the most direct, unobstructed route?

Accepted Answer

Go north on 2nd Avenue to D Street, then go east on D Street to 5th Avenue.

Answer

The route 'Go north on 2nd Avenue to D Street, then go east on D Street to 5th Avenue' is the most direct path that completely avoids the closure on C Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues. The other routes are either longer or attempt to use the closed section of C Street.

Question 5

An officer is observing a crime scene from the doorway of a rectangular room. The doorway is in the middle of the South wall. A desk is against the North wall. A filing cabinet is against the West wall. A bookshelf is against the East wall. From the officer's perspective, where is the filing cabinet in relation to the desk?

Accepted Answer

To the left.

Answer

The officer is at the South wall, looking North into the room. The desk is directly ahead against the North wall. The West wall is to the officer's left, and the East wall is to the officer's right. Therefore, the filing cabinet against the West wall is to the left of the desk.

NYPD Exam Practice Test

NYPD Exam Practice Test

NYPD Spatial Orientation Questions and Answers