OACP Logical Reasoning and Analysis 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A constable must choose between two patrol routes. Route A takes 12 minutes and covers 3 km; Route B takes 18 minutes and covers 6 km. If response time is the priority, which route is preferable and why?
- Route B, because it covers more ground
- Route A, because it minimizes travel time regardless of distance (Correct answer)
- Route B, because longer patrols deter more crime
- Route A, because shorter routes are always safer
Correct answer: Route A, because it minimizes travel time regardless of distance
When response time is the stated priority, the route that minimizes time — Route A — is the logical choice.
Question 2: In a logical syllogism, if the major premise is false, what is true of the conclusion?
- The conclusion is automatically false
- The conclusion may still be true but the argument is unsound (Correct answer)
- The conclusion is automatically true
- The argument becomes invalid
Correct answer: The conclusion may still be true but the argument is unsound
A valid argument with a false premise is unsound, but the conclusion could coincidentally be true.
Question 3: An OACP analyst reads: 'Communities with higher police-community engagement have lower reported crime rates.' A chief proposes cutting engagement programs to save budget. What logical concern does this raise?
- The data is unreliable because communities overreport crime
- Cutting engagement may risk increasing crime rates, contradicting the observed relationship (Correct answer)
- Engagement programs are unrelated to crime rates
- Budget savings always outweigh community relations
Correct answer: Cutting engagement may risk increasing crime rates, contradicting the observed relationship
The proposed action contradicts an established relationship in the data, creating a logical inconsistency.
Question 4: Officers A, B, and C are assigned to morning, afternoon, and night shifts respectively. If Officer B is reassigned to night shift, which statement must be true?
- Officer A takes the night shift
- Officer B no longer works the afternoon shift (Correct answer)
- Officer C is assigned to morning shift
- All three officers switch shifts simultaneously
Correct answer: Officer B no longer works the afternoon shift
If Officer B moves to nights, the only certain conclusion is that B vacates the afternoon shift.
Question 5: Which of the following is the strongest counter-argument to the claim: 'Mandatory body camera use reduces complaints against officers'?
- Body cameras are too expensive
- Complaint reductions may reflect increased reluctance to file, not improved officer conduct (Correct answer)
- Officers dislike wearing cameras
- Camera footage is difficult to store
Correct answer: Complaint reductions may reflect increased reluctance to file, not improved officer conduct
A strong counter-argument challenges the interpretation of the data, not just the feasibility of the measure.
Question 6: A crime analyst presents data showing auto thefts increased by 40% this quarter. The chief concludes this is due to a new theft ring. What logical step is missing?
- A statistical significance test
- Ruling out alternative explanations such as seasonal trends or reporting changes (Correct answer)
- A press release to warn the public
- Consultation with neighboring jurisdictions
Correct answer: Ruling out alternative explanations such as seasonal trends or reporting changes
Before attributing an increase to a specific cause, alternative explanations must be systematically eliminated.
Question 7: A logical argument is described as 'valid but not sound.' This means:
- The conclusion does not follow from the premises
- The argument's structure is correct but at least one premise is false (Correct answer)
- Both the premises and conclusion are false
- The argument uses circular reasoning
Correct answer: The argument's structure is correct but at least one premise is false
Validity concerns argument structure; soundness additionally requires all premises to be true.
OACP Logical Reasoning and Analysis 4
A constable must choose between two patrol routes.
Route A takes 12 minutes and covers 3 km; Route B takes 18 minutes and covers 6 km.
If response time is the priority, which route is preferable and why?