NYPD NYPD — Questions and Answers

Question 1: An officer responds to a dispute between two neighbors over noise. Neither party has committed a crime. What is the BEST course of action?

Arrest both parties for disorderly conduct
Mediate the dispute and advise them of legal remedies such as filing a complaint (Correct answer)
Ignore the situation since no crime occurred
Issue a summons to both parties immediately

Correct answer: Mediate the dispute and advise them of legal remedies such as filing a complaint

When no crime has occurred, officers should mediate and inform parties of available civil or administrative remedies.

Question 2: Under the NYPD use-of-force continuum, verbal commands are classified as which level of force?

Lethal force
Intermediate force
Soft empty-hand control
Officer presence and verbal direction (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Officer presence and verbal direction

Verbal commands fall under the lowest tier — officer presence and verbal direction — before any physical force is applied.

Question 3: 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?

Arrest the driver for a vehicle infraction
Issue a summons for the equipment violation and allow the driver to proceed (Correct answer)
Impound the vehicle immediately
Conduct a full search of the vehicle without consent

Correct answer: Issue a summons for the equipment violation and allow the driver to proceed

A broken taillight is a traffic infraction that warrants a summons, not an arrest or vehicle search without additional cause.

Question 4: Which of the following best describes the concept of 'probable cause'?

A hunch or gut feeling that a crime has occurred
Reasonable grounds based on articulable facts to believe a crime has been or is being committed (Correct answer)
Absolute certainty that a suspect committed a crime
Permission from a supervisor to make an arrest

Correct answer: Reasonable grounds based on articulable facts to believe a crime has been or is being committed

Probable cause requires specific, articulable facts — not mere suspicion — that a crime has occurred or is occurring.

Question 5: Officer Green is writing a report about an incident. Which of the following is the MOST important characteristic of a good police report?

It should contain the officer's personal opinion about the suspect
It should be accurate, objective, and written in clear language (Correct answer)
It should be as brief as possible regardless of detail
It should be written days after the incident to allow reflection

Correct answer: It should be accurate, objective, and written in clear language

Police reports must be accurate, objective, and clear because they serve as legal documents and evidence in court.

Question 6: The NYPD patrol guide requires officers to notify a supervisor when making a felony arrest. What is the PRIMARY reason for this requirement?

So the supervisor can take credit for the arrest
To ensure proper oversight, coordination, and that necessary procedures are followed (Correct answer)
Because officers are not authorized to make felony arrests alone
To reduce the officer's paperwork burden

Correct answer: To ensure proper oversight, coordination, and that necessary procedures are followed

Supervisor notification ensures command oversight, proper evidence handling, and compliance with legal and procedural requirements.

Question 7: A person approaches an officer and states they witnessed a robbery 10 minutes ago. The officer should FIRST:

Tell the witness to file a written report at the precinct
Obtain a detailed description of the suspect and broadcast it over the radio (Correct answer)
Arrest the nearest person matching a vague description
Wait for a detective before taking any action

Correct answer: Obtain a detailed description of the suspect and broadcast it over the radio

Time is critical after a robbery; broadcasting a suspect description immediately gives patrol units the best chance of apprehension.

Question 8: Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures?

First Amendment
Fourth Amendment (Correct answer)
Fifth Amendment
Eighth Amendment

Correct answer: Fourth Amendment

The Fourth Amendment prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures and generally requires warrants supported by probable cause.

Question 9: An officer stops a pedestrian and pats down their outer clothing. This action is legally known as:

A full search incident to arrest
A Terry stop and frisk (Correct answer)
A consensual encounter
An administrative search

Correct answer: A Terry stop and frisk

Terry v. Ohio established that officers may briefly detain and pat down a person's outer clothing based on reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.

Question 10: When an officer arrests a suspect, Miranda warnings must be given BEFORE:

The officer transports the suspect to the precinct
Custodial interrogation begins (Correct answer)
Booking is completed
The arraignment hearing

Correct answer: Custodial interrogation begins

Miranda warnings are required before any custodial interrogation to protect the suspect's Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

Question 11: Officer Torres witnesses a colleague accepting money from a known drug dealer and pocketing it. Officer Torres should PRIMARILY:

Confront the colleague privately and warn them not to do it again
Report the misconduct through proper channels such as the Internal Affairs Bureau (Correct answer)
Ignore the situation to avoid conflict with a fellow officer
Discuss it with other officers to get their opinions

Correct answer: Report the misconduct through proper channels such as the Internal Affairs Bureau

Officers have a duty to report observed misconduct to the Internal Affairs Bureau to uphold departmental integrity.

Question 12: A police officer observes two men who appear to be exchanging small objects for currency in a known drug-sale location. This MOST likely gives the officer:

Probable cause to arrest both men immediately
Reasonable suspicion to briefly stop and question the men (Correct answer)
No legal basis to approach the men at all
Authority to conduct a full search of both men without further justification

Correct answer: Reasonable suspicion to briefly stop and question the men

Observed conduct consistent with drug sales in a known area establishes reasonable suspicion for a brief investigative stop, not yet full probable cause.

Question 13: The NYPD Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) is responsible for:

Handling payroll disputes between officers and the city
Independently investigating civilian complaints of NYPD officer misconduct (Correct answer)
Prosecuting officers in criminal court
Setting police department policies and budgets

Correct answer: Independently investigating civilian complaints of NYPD officer misconduct

The CCRB is an independent city agency that investigates civilian complaints about force, abuse, discourtesy, or language by NYPD officers.

Question 14: Which of the following is an example of a Class A misdemeanor in New York?

Jaywalking
Petit larceny (theft of property valued under $1,000) (Correct answer)
Murder in the second degree
Littering

Correct answer: Petit larceny (theft of property valued under $1,000)

Petit larceny (Penal Law §155.25) is a Class A misdemeanor, the most serious misdemeanor category in New York.

Question 15: An officer arrives at the scene of a reported domestic violence incident and finds the victim has visible injuries. Under New York law, the officer MUST:

Encourage the couple to resolve the matter privately
Make an arrest if there is probable cause that a crime occurred, regardless of whether the victim wants to press charges (Correct answer)
Leave if the victim refuses to cooperate
Mediate and document the incident without making an arrest

Correct answer: Make an arrest if there is probable cause that a crime occurred, regardless of whether the victim wants to press charges

New York's mandatory arrest law requires officers to arrest the primary aggressor in domestic violence cases when probable cause exists, irrespective of victim wishes.

Question 16: If an officer finds a person who appears intoxicated and unable to care for themselves on a public street, the MOST appropriate action is to:

Issue a summons for public intoxication and leave
Take the person into protective custody and transport them to a medical facility if needed (Correct answer)
Arrest the person for disorderly conduct
Ignore the situation as it is not a criminal matter

Correct answer: Take the person into protective custody and transport them to a medical facility if needed

An incapacitated person on the street presents a safety risk; officers should take protective custody and seek medical evaluation when necessary.

Question 17: The 'chain of custody' in evidence handling refers to:

The ranking order of supervisors at a crime scene
The documented sequence of possession, control, and transfer of evidence (Correct answer)
The process of notifying next of kin
The order in which officers arrive at a scene

Correct answer: The documented sequence of possession, control, and transfer of evidence

Chain of custody ensures evidence integrity by documenting every person who handled evidence from collection through court presentation.

Question 18: Under New York Penal Law, assault in the second degree is classified as a:

Violation
Class A misdemeanor
Class D felony (Correct answer)
Class B felony

Correct answer: Class D felony

Assault in the second degree (PL §120.05) is a Class D violent felony in New York.

Question 19: An officer is first to arrive at a homicide scene. The FIRST priority should be to:

Begin interviewing witnesses immediately
Ensure the scene is safe, render aid if needed, and preserve the scene (Correct answer)
Search for evidence before it is disturbed
Notify the media

Correct answer: Ensure the scene is safe, render aid if needed, and preserve the scene

At any crime scene, officer and public safety comes first, followed by preserving scene integrity for the investigation.

Question 20: Which document authorizes police to search a specific location for specific evidence?

A subpoena
A search warrant (Correct answer)
An arrest warrant
A court summons

Correct answer: A search warrant

A search warrant, issued by a judge upon probable cause, authorizes officers to search a specific place for particular items.

Question 21: Officer Chen stops a vehicle for running a red light. The driver appears nervous and there is a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the car. What does this odor MOST likely establish?

Reasonable suspicion to briefly question the driver only
Probable cause to search the vehicle (Correct answer)
Grounds to immediately arrest the driver for drug possession
No legal basis for further action beyond the traffic stop

Correct answer: Probable cause to search the vehicle

In New York, the odor of marijuana emanating from a vehicle has been held to provide probable cause to search the vehicle.

NYPD NYPD

An officer responds to a dispute between two neighbors over noise.
Neither party has committed a crime.
What is the BEST course of action?

🃏 NYPD Flashcards — Study This Quiz as Flip Cards →

📚 Want to go deeper? Read the Full NYPD Study Guide →

What Practice Test Geeks adds beyond an AI chat for NYPD

An AI chatbot can quiz you, but it can't reproduce the exam conditions or keep your record. Here you get:

A timed, full-length NYPD mock exam — 85 questions in 90 minutes with a 70% pass mark, modeled on the official exam's question count and time limit, followed by a score report broken down by exam domain.
A fixed NYPD question bank: the same test every attempt, so your score is comparable from one try to the next instead of changing with every regenerated quiz.
Progress saved on your device: completed tests, scores and missed questions stay in My Progress, so you can retake only what you got wrong.
A printable NYPD cheat sheet you can print or save as a PDF.
NYPD flashcards built from the same question bank.

Start the Timed NYPD Mock Exam →

These practice questions were written with AI tools. They are not real exam questions. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy

nyc.gov — Test delivery, fees, passing score, registration deadline, registration, score release, test dates, score validity, exam information · verified Nov 2026