Police Officer Training

• Police Academy

• Police Training Officer program (PTO)

• Functional Strength Training for Police Officers

• Police Officer Standards and Training

• Police Custody Officer Training

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Obtain a high school diploma.
2. Review your local agencies' criminal background requirements.
3. Pass the Police Enforcement Entrance Exam.
4. Complete the Police Academy.
5. Find your career path.

1. Uniformed officers
2. Detectives
3. State police and highway patrol officers
4. Fish and game wardens
5. Transit and railroad officers
6. Sheriffs
7. Special jurisdiction police

Free Police Officer Study Tools

Interactive Police Officer resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:

• Free Police Officer Questions and Answers — 16 questions with instant scoring and answer explanations
• Police Officer flashcards — review key terms and concepts card by card
• Police Officer study guide — topic-by-topic overview of what the exam covers
• Police Officer cheat sheet — one-page printable summary for last-minute review

Sample Police Officer Practice Questions

Try these questions from our free Police Officer practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.

1. A police officer observes a vehicle swerving between lanes at 2 a.m. and detects an odor of alcohol when approaching the driver. What is the officer's legal basis for further investigation?

   • A. Reasonable suspicion based on specific, articulable facts
   • B. Probable cause supported by a reliable informant
   • C. Exigent circumstances requiring immediate arrest
   • D. Consent of the driver to be searched

   Answer: A. Reasonable suspicion based on specific, articulable facts

   The observed swerving and odor of alcohol are specific, articulable facts that give the officer reasonable suspicion to conduct a traffic stop and further investigate a possible DUI — even without enough evidence for probable cause to arrest yet.

2. An unarmed teen who defied a police officer's commands was shot and killed by the officer.

   • A. murder
   • B. terrorism
   • C. assault

   Answer: A. murder

   Murder is the unlawful killing of another human being with malice aforethought, meaning with premeditation or intent. While there are legal nuances regarding justifiable force, the scenario describes an unarmed teen being shot and killed for merely defying commands, which, without further context of immediate threat, suggests an unlawful killing. Among the given options, 'murder' is the most fitting term for an intentional, unlawful killing.

3. An officer writes: I arrested the subject. Which word in this sentence should be replaced for more professional report writing?

   • A. Subject should be replaced with the person's full name or suspect
   • B. Arrested should be replaced with detained
   • C. I should be changed to the officer
   • D. The sentence is written correctly as is

   Answer: A. Subject should be replaced with the person's full name or suspect

   Using subject without identification is vague. Reports should use the person's full legal name or describe them as suspect with identifying information. The first-person I is acceptable in modern police report writing.

4. An officer on patrol is driving at 65 mph. A car passes the officer going in the same direction at a constant speed. The officer uses a roadside marker to determine the car is pulling away at a rate of 15 mph. Which of the following equations correctly represents the speed of the other car (C)?

   • A. C = 65 - 15
   • B. C = 65 / 15
   • C. C = 65 + 15
   • D. C = 15 - 65

   Answer: C. C = 65 + 15

   Since the car is pulling away from the officer while traveling in the same direction, its speed is the sum of the officer's speed and the rate at which it's pulling away. Therefore, you add the officer's speed (65 mph) to the separation speed (15 mph) to find the car's total speed. 65 + 15 = 80 mph.

Take the full Police Officer practice test