Police Officer Reading Comprehension Skills Questions and Answers

Question 1

Read the following passage and answer the question below.

**Departmental Directive 4.2.1: Use of Body-Worn Cameras**
'All sworn officers are required to activate their Body-Worn Camera (BWC) when responding to all calls for service and during any law enforcement-related encounter or activity that occurs while on duty. The BWC shall remain activated until the event is concluded. An event is considered concluded when all arrests have been made, all scenes have been secured, and interaction with the public has ceased. Officers may deactivate the BWC only when the event has fully concluded or upon receiving permission from a supervising officer. Intentional failure to activate the BWC during a required event without a valid, documented reason will result in disciplinary action.'

According to Directive 4.2.1, which of the following is the MOST accurate reason for an officer to deactivate their Body-Worn Camera?

Accepted Answer

All individuals have left the scene of a traffic stop and normal traffic flow has resumed.

Answer

The officer has finished interviewing the primary witness at a crime scene.

Answer

The suspect has been handcuffed and placed in the back of the patrol car.

Answer

The officer is on a lunch break and not responding to a call.

Question 2

Review the excerpt from an incident report below.

'On arrival at 1430 hours, I observed a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Main St. and Oak Ave. Vehicle 1, a blue sedan, had front-end damage. Vehicle 2, a red pickup truck, had damage to the driver-side door. The driver of Vehicle 1, John Doe, stated he was proceeding northbound on Main St. through a green light when Vehicle 2, traveling westbound on Oak Ave., failed to stop for the red light and entered the intersection, causing the collision. The driver of Vehicle 2, Jane Smith, stated her light was green and that Vehicle 1 sped into the intersection unexpectedly. A witness, Mark Brown, who was on the southeast corner, stated he saw the truck (Vehicle 2) run the red light.'

Based on the information in the report, which statement is most strongly supported?

Accepted Answer

The witness's account corroborates the statement of the driver of Vehicle 1.

Answer

Jane Smith will be cited for failing to stop at a red light.

Answer

The physical evidence proves John Doe was not at fault.

Answer

Both drivers were equally at fault for the collision.

Question 3

A police department policy on handling evidence states: 'All seized property must be properly tagged and sealed in an evidence bag before the end of the officer's shift. The officer must complete an evidence submission form, detailing the chain of custody, and deposit the sealed evidence into a designated evidence locker.' Which of the following actions would be a violation of this policy?

Accepted Answer

An officer takes a seized firearm back to the station and asks the evidence technician to tag and package it.

Answer

An officer places a seized wallet in an evidence bag, seals it, and fills out the submission form before placing it in the locker.

Answer

An officer completes the evidence submission form on a laptop in their patrol vehicle before arriving at the station.

Answer

An officer deposits a sealed and tagged evidence bag into the locker and then completes the digital submission form.

Question 4

Read the following paragraph from a training manual.

'Effective communication is a cornerstone of de-escalation. Officers should use a calm and controlled tone of voice, even when faced with agitation or hostility. It is crucial to listen actively to the subject's grievances, acknowledge their feelings without necessarily agreeing with them, and provide clear, simple commands. The primary goal is to gain voluntary compliance without resorting to physical force. This involves creating a sense of understanding and providing the subject with options that lead to a peaceful resolution.'

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

Accepted Answer

Using specific verbal techniques can help officers resolve conflicts peacefully.

Answer

Physical force is always a last resort for police officers.

Answer

Officers must agree with a subject's feelings to de-escalate a situation.

Answer

The only goal of communication is to get a subject to follow commands.

Question 5

An officer reads a penal code section that defines 'theft' as 'the unlawful taking of personal property of another with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of said property.' The officer responds to a call where a teenager took a neighbor's bicycle from their front yard, rode it around the block for ten minutes, and then returned it to the exact same spot, unharmed. Based *only* on the provided definition, which element of the crime of theft is most likely missing?

Accepted Answer

Intent to permanently deprive

Answer

The unlawful taking

Answer

Personal property of another

Answer

The owner of said property

Question 6

Read the following passage about a suspect's description.

'The witness described the suspect as a male, approximately 5'10" to 6'0" tall, with a thin build. He was wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt with the hood up, obscuring most of his face. He also wore light-colored jeans and white athletic shoes. The witness stated that the suspect spoke with a deep voice and fled the scene heading east on foot.'

Which of the following is the LEAST useful piece of information for a BOLO (Be On the Look Out) broadcast based on this description?

Accepted Answer

The suspect spoke with a deep voice.

Answer

The suspect's height and build.

Answer

The suspect was wearing white athletic shoes.

Answer

The suspect fled eastbound on foot.