NYPD Written Expression Questions and Answers

Question 1

Which of the following sentences is the most clearly and professionally written for a police report?

Accepted Answer

The witness, who appeared visibly shaken, stated the suspect was 'about six feet tall.'

Answer

This sentence is the most professional because it uses objective language ('visibly shaken') instead of subjective interpretation ('seemed pretty scared'), avoids jargon ('absconded', 'perpetrator'), and uses a direct quote for precision. Police reports should be factual and avoid personal opinions.

Question 2

An officer is writing a report and needs to list the items recovered from a suspect's vehicle. Which sentence uses punctuation correctly?

Accepted Answer

The following items were recovered: a wallet, a cellphone, and a set of keys.

Answer

A colon is used to introduce a list after an independent clause. Commas are then used to separate the individual items within the list. The other options use incorrect punctuation (a comma instead of a colon, missing commas between list items, or incorrect use of a semicolon).

Question 3

Which of the following sentences contains a spelling error?

Accepted Answer

The suspect's story was not credible and lacked any principle evidence.

Answer

The word 'principle' (a fundamental truth or rule) is used incorrectly. The correct word is 'principal,' which means main or most important. 'Principal evidence' would refer to the main evidence.

Question 4

An officer writes the following in a report: 'The suspect was observed by me entering the building.' Which of the following is the best revision for clarity and conciseness?

Accepted Answer

I observed the suspect entering the building.

Answer

This sentence uses the active voice ('I observed'), which is more direct, concise, and easier to read than the passive voice ('was observed by me'). Active voice is preferred in modern police report writing for clarity and accountability.

Question 5

Read the following sentences from an officer's notes: 'The vehicle was a blue sedan. It was parked illegally. The vehicle had a broken taillight.' Which option best combines these facts into one clear, grammatically correct sentence?

Accepted Answer

A blue sedan with a broken taillight was parked illegally.

Answer

This sentence is the most concise and effectively combines the three pieces of information without being repetitive or grammatically awkward. It clearly identifies the subject (a blue sedan) and its attributes (broken taillight, parked illegally) in a fluid manner.

NYPD Exam Practice Test

NYPD Exam Practice Test

NYPD Written Expression Questions and Answers