NYPD NYPD Written Expression — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Officer Reyes writes: 'The suspect runned from the scene and hided behind a dumpster.' Which revision is correct?

The suspect ran from the scene and hid behind a dumpster. (Correct answer)
The suspect runned from the scene and hid behind a dumpster.
The suspect ran from the scene and hided behind a dumpster.
The suspect has runned from the scene and hided behind a dumpster.

Correct answer: The suspect ran from the scene and hid behind a dumpster.

'Ran' and 'hid' are the correct simple past tense forms of 'run' and 'hide.'

Question 2: Which sentence uses a comma correctly?

The officer searched the vehicle, and found a concealed weapon.
After securing the perimeter, the sergeant called for backup. (Correct answer)
The witness, who saw the robbery was cooperative.
He was arrested, because he resisted.

Correct answer: After securing the perimeter, the sergeant called for backup.

A comma is correctly placed after an introductory adverbial phrase ('After securing the perimeter').

Question 3: Officer Kim needs to report: 'The victim told me that the attacker wore a red jacket.' Which is the most precise restatement?

The victim said something about a jacket.
The victim stated that the suspect was wearing a red jacket. (Correct answer)
The attacker had on some kind of red clothing item.
The victim mentioned clothing of some color.

Correct answer: The victim stated that the suspect was wearing a red jacket.

Option B preserves all key details — the source (victim), the subject (suspect), and the specific description (red jacket).

Question 4: Which of the following is written in the clearest, most direct language for a police report?

It would appear that at some point in time the vehicle may have been broken into.
The vehicle was broken into at approximately 2:00 AM on July 15. (Correct answer)
Somebody did something to the car during the nighttime hours.
The car situation occurred when nobody was around to observe it.

Correct answer: The vehicle was broken into at approximately 2:00 AM on July 15.

Option B states the facts directly with specific time and date, avoiding vague language.

Question 5: Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.

Neither the officers nor the sergeant were aware of the complaint.
Neither the officers nor the sergeant was aware of the complaint. (Correct answer)
Neither the officers nor the sergeant are aware of the complaint.
Neither the officers nor the sergeant have been aware of the complaint.

Correct answer: Neither the officers nor the sergeant was aware of the complaint.

With 'neither...nor,' the verb agrees with the subject closest to it; 'sergeant' is singular, so 'was' is correct.

Question 6: Officer Torres wrote: 'Me and my partner responded to the call.' How should this sentence be corrected?

My partner and me responded to the call.
My partner and I responded to the call. (Correct answer)
I and my partner responded to the call.
My partner responded to the call along with me.

Correct answer: My partner and I responded to the call.

'My partner and I' is correct because 'I' is used as a subject pronoun, not 'me.'

Question 7: Which sentence avoids redundancy?

The witness repeated the same statement again for the second time.
The deceased victim was found dead at the scene.
The officer responded and arrived at the location. (Correct answer)
The witness provided a description of the suspect's appearance.

Correct answer: The officer responded and arrived at the location.

Option C has no redundancy; the others repeat information already implied by another word in the sentence.

Question 8: An officer must arrange these events in chronological order for a report. Which sequence is correct? 1. Backup arrived. 2. Dispatch received the 911 call. 3. Officers handcuffed the suspect. 4. Officers arrived at the scene.

2, 4, 1, 3 (Correct answer)
4, 2, 1, 3
2, 1, 4, 3
1, 2, 4, 3

Correct answer: 2, 4, 1, 3

The logical order is: 911 call → officers arrive → backup arrives → suspect handcuffed.

Question 9: Which word is spelled correctly?

Occurance
Occurance
Occurrence (Correct answer)
Occurence

Correct answer: Occurrence

'Occurrence' is spelled with double 'c' and double 'r.'

Question 10: Read the following and identify the best summary: 'At 11:45 PM, a store clerk at 42 Main Street called 911 to report that a man in a black hoodie had entered the store, brandished a knife, and demanded cash from the register before fleeing on foot northbound on Main Street.'

A man robbed a store and left.
A store clerk was robbed at knifepoint at 42 Main Street at 11:45 PM; the suspect fled north on Main Street. (Correct answer)
Someone with a knife went into a store very late at night.
A robbery occurred somewhere on Main Street at night.

Correct answer: A store clerk was robbed at knifepoint at 42 Main Street at 11:45 PM; the suspect fled north on Main Street.

Option B includes all key facts: location, time, method, and direction of flight.

Question 11: Which sentence is grammatically correct?

The suspect, along with two accomplices, were arrested.
The suspect, along with two accomplices, was arrested. (Correct answer)
The suspect along with two accomplices was arrested.
The suspect, along with two accomplices was arrested.

Correct answer: The suspect, along with two accomplices, was arrested.

'Along with two accomplices' is a parenthetical phrase; the true subject 'suspect' is singular, requiring 'was.'

Question 12: Officer Davis's report reads: 'The complainant stated that she seen the suspect at the corner.' What is the error?

Incorrect use of 'complainant'
'Seen' should be 'saw' — incorrect verb form (Correct answer)
'Stated' should be 'said'
The sentence is correct as written

Correct answer: 'Seen' should be 'saw' — incorrect verb form

'Seen' requires a helping verb (e.g., 'had seen'); the simple past form is 'saw.'

Question 13: Which sentence uses apostrophes correctly?

The officer's reports were filed on time, but the sergeant's wasn't. (Correct answer)
The officers reports were filed on time, but the sergeants wasnt.
The officer's report's were filed on time, but the sergeant's wasn't.
The officers' report were filed on time, but the sergeants' wasnt.

Correct answer: The officer's reports were filed on time, but the sergeant's wasn't.

'Officer's' (singular possessive) and 'sergeant's' (singular possessive) and 'wasn't' (contraction) are all correct.

Question 14: Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'The ___ evidence was admitted in court.'

defendants'
defendant's (Correct answer)
defendants
defendants's

Correct answer: defendant's

Since there is one defendant, the singular possessive 'defendant's' is correct.

Question 15: An officer writes: 'The vehicle was blue in color and had four tires.' How should this be improved?

The vehicle was blue and had four tires. (Correct answer)
The blue vehicle had tires.
The vehicle, which was blue, also had four tires on it.
It was a blue-colored vehicle with tires totaling four.

Correct answer: The vehicle was blue and had four tires.

'Blue in color' is redundant since blue already implies color; similarly, standard vehicles have four tires so this can be omitted, but option A removes the redundant phrase.

Question 16: Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.

The officers searched the apartment however, they found no contraband.
The officers searched the apartment; however, they found no contraband. (Correct answer)
The officers searched the apartment, however they found no contraband.
The officers searched the apartment however they found no contraband.

Correct answer: The officers searched the apartment; however, they found no contraband.

A semicolon before 'however' and a comma after it correctly joins two independent clauses with a conjunctive adverb.

Question 17: Officer Perez wrote: 'I observed three mens standing near the alley.' What correction is needed?

Change 'mens' to 'man'
Change 'mens' to 'men' (Correct answer)
Change 'three mens' to 'three man's'
Change 'observed' to 'seen'

Correct answer: Change 'mens' to 'men'

The plural of 'man' is 'men,' not 'mens'; there is no such word as 'mens.'

Question 18: Which sentence is written in active voice, which is preferred in police reports?

The suspect was apprehended by Officer Lee.
The stolen wallet was recovered at the scene.
Officer Lee apprehended the suspect near the subway entrance. (Correct answer)
A knife was found to be concealed in the suspect's waistband.

Correct answer: Officer Lee apprehended the suspect near the subway entrance.

In active voice, the subject (Officer Lee) performs the action, making the sentence clearer and more direct.

Question 19: A report states: 'At 3 AM, the victim, John Smith, reported that his bicycle, a red Trek mountain bike, was stolen from in front of his residence located at 500 Park Avenue.' What information is LEAST essential to include?

The time (3 AM)
The victim's name (John Smith)
That it was a mountain bike style (Correct answer)
The address (500 Park Avenue)

Correct answer: That it was a mountain bike style

While the bike type helps with identification, 'mountain bike' style is less critical than owner, time, color, brand, and location.

Question 20: Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?

Running down the alley, the officer lost sight of the suspect.
Running down the alley, the suspect disappeared from view. (Correct answer)
The officer, running down the alley, lost sight of the suspect.
After running down the alley, the officer could not find the suspect.

Correct answer: Running down the alley, the suspect disappeared from view.

In option B, 'Running down the alley' modifies the nearest noun 'suspect,' implying the suspect was running — which may be intended, but it's ambiguous; the phrase must clearly attach to its intended subject.

Question 21: Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'The officer's testimony was ___ with the evidence collected at the scene.'

consistent (Correct answer)
consisted
consistence
consisting

Correct answer: consistent

'Consistent' is the correct adjective to describe agreement between the testimony and the evidence.

NYPD NYPD Written Expression

Officer Reyes writes: 'The suspect runned from the scene and hided behind a dumpster.' Which revision is correct?

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