OACP Sigma 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A Sigma map-reading exercise shows Elm Street running east-west and Oak Avenue running north-south. An officer travels east on Elm, turns north on Oak, then turns east again at the next intersection. What direction is the officer now traveling?
- North
- South
- East (Correct answer)
- West
Correct answer: East
After turning east on the cross street off Oak Avenue, the officer is traveling east.
Question 2: In a Sigma abstract reasoning section, the pattern is: 3, 6, 12, 24, ___. What is the next number?
- 36
- 42
- 48 (Correct answer)
- 54
Correct answer: 48
Each term doubles the previous one, so 24 × 2 = 48.
Question 3: A Sigma scenario describes: 'Dispatch reports a domestic disturbance at 14 Maple Drive. The complainant states the male party is armed.' Upon arrival you find two individuals arguing verbally with no visible weapon. What is your FIRST priority?
- Immediately arrest the male party
- Separate and interview both parties while remaining alert for a concealed weapon (Correct answer)
- Dismiss the call since no weapon is visible
- Request the complainant retract the statement
Correct answer: Separate and interview both parties while remaining alert for a concealed weapon
Officer safety requires treating the threat as possible while gathering information through calm, controlled contact.
Question 4: In the Sigma memory section, you are shown five suspect descriptions for two minutes. Suspect 3 is described as: male, 5'11", medium build, black jacket, blue jeans, brown shoes. Which detail is MOST useful for field identification?
- Male gender
- Medium build
- Black jacket (Correct answer)
- 5'11" height
Correct answer: Black jacket
Clothing color is the most immediately visible distinguishing feature in a crowd from a distance.
Question 5: A Sigma written judgment question asks: A civilian approaches you off-duty and asks for detailed information about an ongoing investigation involving their neighbor. You should:
- Share general facts since you are off-duty and not bound by policy
- Provide the information to maintain positive community relations
- Decline and advise them to contact the investigating unit through official channels (Correct answer)
- Tell them everything to discourage further inquiries
Correct answer: Decline and advise them to contact the investigating unit through official channels
Police confidentiality obligations apply on and off duty; directing the civilian to proper channels is the correct professional response.
Question 6: A Sigma arithmetic question: An officer works a 10-hour shift and spends 35% of the time on patrol, 25% on report writing, and the remainder on community engagement. How many minutes are spent on community engagement?
- 120 minutes
- 180 minutes
- 210 minutes
- 240 minutes (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 240 minutes
40% of 10 hours = 4 hours = 240 minutes spent on community engagement.
Question 7: In a Sigma verbal reasoning passage, the text notes: 'Eyewitness accounts are valuable but inherently fallible due to stress-induced memory distortion.' A defense lawyer argues a witness's account should be disregarded entirely because of this. What is the MOST logical response to this argument?
- Eyewitness testimony should always be disregarded in court
- Fallibility means the account must be corroborated but not automatically dismissed (Correct answer)
- Stress always improves memory recall in witnesses
- Only written statements are admissible under this principle
Correct answer: Fallibility means the account must be corroborated but not automatically dismissed
Recognizing fallibility calls for corroboration and scrutiny, not blanket dismissal of all eyewitness evidence.
OACP Sigma 5
A Sigma map-reading exercise shows Elm Street running east-west and Oak Avenue running north-south.
An officer travels east on Elm, turns north on Oak, then turns east again at the next intersection.
What direction is the officer now traveling?