OACP Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. What does 'corroboration' mean in the context of report writing? → Supporting information from a separate source that confirms key facts in the report
2. An officer at a protest notices a small group beginning to throw objects at police lines. The crowd is otherwise peaceful. What is the BEST initial response? → Isolate and arrest the agitators while maintaining dialogue with peaceful protesters
3. An officer witnesses an event and is later asked to testify. Their courtroom testimony should be based primarily on: → Their contemporaneous notes made at the time of the event
4. Which section of a police report typically contains the officer's opinion on the credibility of evidence? → Generally, officer opinions are not included in any section
5. An officer arrests a suspect and is uncertain whether to hold or release. The primary consideration should be: → Whether detention is necessary on public interest or to ensure court appearance
6. What does it mean when a sentence contains a 'run-on' error? → Two or more independent clauses are joined without proper punctuation.
7. Under the Ontario Human Rights Code, which ground is NOT explicitly protected in the provision of police services? → Political affiliation
8. Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a police officer's duty of 'maintaining the public peace'? → Mediating a loud, non-violent dispute between two neighbours regarding a property line.
9. Which two terms signify something different? a) Shy b) Careful c) Honest d) Outgoing → a & d
10. Which of the following sentences contains a dangling modifier that could create ambiguity in a police report? → Having secured the perimeter, the search of the premises began immediately.
11. A police officer observes a colleague making a discriminatory comment to a member of the public. The appropriate immediate response is: → Intervene and redirect the interaction professionally
12. What is the significance of the 'occurrence number' assigned to a police report? → It is a unique identifier linking all documents and updates related to the same incident
13. Which word is a synonym for 'confiscate'? → Seize
14. Which word means 'to officially clear someone of blame or criminal charges'? → Exonerate
15. The Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019 replaced which major piece of Ontario policing legislation? → The Ontario Police Services Act, 1990
16. What does 'incarcerate' mean? → To confine someone in a prison or correctional facility
17. Which word is an antonym of 'culpable'? → Blameless
18. During a domestic disturbance call, the victim asks you not to arrest her partner because she fears losing household income. What should guide your decision? → Arrest based on evidence and legal obligation, explaining support resources available
19. When policing a Pride parade, an officer overhears a colleague making derogatory comments about attendees. What should the officer do? → Address it privately with the colleague and report it through proper channels
20. During foot patrol, an officer notices a youth sitting alone on a park bench at midnight, appearing distressed. The officer's best initial response is to: → Approach the youth calmly, introduce themselves, and ask if the youth needs assistance
21. Choose the sentence that uses the word 'mitigate' correctly. → Early intervention can mitigate the severity of gang involvement.
22. A bystander reports seeing a suspect enter a building. The officer should ask the witness to describe the suspect's gait because it: → Can help identify a person even when their face is obscured
23. A graph shows that robbery incidents in a city decreased from 400 to 300 over one year. What fraction represents this decrease? → 1/4
24. A constable must write a report about a minor traffic collision with no injuries. Which writing principle is most important? → Write in clear, plain language that accurately records the facts
25. When an officer uses force, which report is typically required in addition to the general occurrence? → A use-of-force report (e.g., Form 1 under Ontario Regulation 926)
26. A logical argument is described as 'valid but not sound.' This means: → The argument's structure is correct but at least one premise is false
27. An officer reasons: 'If it rained last night, the ground will be wet. The ground is not wet. Therefore it did not rain last night.' This is: → Modus tollens — valid deductive reasoning
28. A logical fallacy where an officer dismisses a suspect because they seem polite, assuming polite people never commit crimes, is best described as: → Inductive overgeneralization
29. In the pattern below, what is the missing number? -4, ?, -1, 2, 6, 11... → None of the above
30. A Crown attorney's brief describes evidence as 'probative but prejudicial.' In this legal-language context, 'probative' most accurately means the evidence: → Tends to prove or disprove a fact that is material to the case