POST Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield POST facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which of the following is an example of objective language in a report? → The suspect's hands were trembling and his voice was shaking.
2. An officer's shift starts at 0600 and ends at 1430. How long is the shift? → 8.5 hours
3. Which sentence uses the active voice correctly? → Officer Jones apprehended the suspect.
4. An officer writes: 'The suspect, who was wearing a red jacket, run from the scene.' What is the grammatical error? → Subject-verb agreement error
5. Which patrol technique involves officers randomly varying their patrol routes and timing to deter criminal activity? → Unpredictable patrol (random patrol)
6. The 'coefficient of friction' in emergency vehicle operations refers to: → The grip between tires and the road surface
7. What is the legal definition of 'curtilage' in the context of Fourth Amendment protections? → The area immediately surrounding the home that shares its intimate activities
8. For a crime to have occurred, there must be a concurrence of which two elements? → Actus Reus and Mens Rea
9. An officer issues 8 citations on Monday, 5 on Tuesday, and 11 on Wednesday. What is the average number of citations per day? → 8
10. Which agency document typically outlines specific speed thresholds, geographic limits, and supervisor notification requirements for vehicle pursuits? → The department's pursuit policy or general order
11. A suspect is actively resisting by pulling away and attempting to flee. What level on the use-of-force continuum does this behavior typically correspond to? → Active resistance
12. Which transition word best introduces a contrasting idea in a report narrative? → However
13. Determine the correct number in the sequence: 1, 3, 5, 7, ____. → 9
14. Which of the following is the best revision of: 'Due to the fact that the road was wet, the vehicle lost control'? → Because the road was wet, the vehicle lost control.
15. Which of the following practices would UNDERMINE community policing efforts? → Applying enforcement selectively based on race or neighborhood demographics
16. An officer finds a subject who is bleeding severely from the thigh after a car accident. What is the most appropriate first intervention? → Apply direct pressure to the wound
17. A suspect flees on foot after a traffic stop. Under which circumstance is a foot pursuit MOST appropriate? → When the officer can maintain visual contact and the risk to the public is manageable
18. What does the term 'corpus delicti' mean in relation to incident report writing? → The body of the crime — the essential facts proving a crime occurred
19. An officer reports: 'I contacted Smith, Jones, and Williams, they all confirmed the story.' What error is present? → Comma splice
20. During a pursuit, if a fleeing vehicle turns into oncoming traffic, the pursuing officer should FIRST: → Notify dispatch and attempt to parallel the suspect on a different route
21. Which of the following sentences is written the clearest? → The team budget is inflated now because of purchases like the new printer.
22. The phrase 'at approximately 2230 hours' in a report indicates the officer is: → Appropriately acknowledging that exact time is uncertain and documenting an estimate
23. One word is different from the other three below. Which word is different? → Think
24. Which sentence correctly uses the often-confused words 'its' and 'it's'? → The K-9 unit was tracking the suspect by its scent.
25. An officer writes: 'Me and my partner responded to the call.' What correction is needed? → Change 'Me' to 'I'
26. When an officer writes 'the victim had a prior relationship with the suspect,' this information is included because: → It provides context that may be relevant to motive, dynamics, and the investigation
27. An officer states: 'We observed the vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed.' This phrasing is an example of: → Wordiness or redundancy
28. A crime occurred at 2:47 AM. Backup arrived 23 minutes later. What time did backup arrive? → 3:10 AM
29. In a police report, which word best replaces the vague term 'thing' to improve clarity? → The specific noun naming what was observed
30. You are involved in a traffic collision while on duty. What is the first step you should take? → Assess whether any injuries occurred and provide first aid if needed