POST Patrol Procedures and Operations 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When an officer stops a vehicle and the driver cannot produce a license, the officer should first:
- Immediately arrest the driver for driving without a license
- Run the driver's information through dispatch to verify identity and license status (Correct answer)
- Issue a citation and release without further inquiry
- Impound the vehicle on the spot
Correct answer: Run the driver's information through dispatch to verify identity and license status
Verifying the driver's identity and license status through dispatch determines the appropriate enforcement action.
Question 2: A suspect flees on foot after a traffic stop. Under which circumstance is a foot pursuit MOST appropriate?
- Whenever a suspect runs, officers must always pursue
- When the officer knows the suspect is armed with a firearm
- When the officer can maintain visual contact and the risk to the public is manageable (Correct answer)
- Only after receiving supervisor approval
Correct answer: When the officer can maintain visual contact and the risk to the public is manageable
Foot pursuits are appropriate when public risk is manageable and the officer can reasonably apprehend the suspect safely.
Question 3: The "21-foot rule" in officer safety relates to:
- The minimum distance to maintain when writing a report at a scene
- The approximate distance within which an edged weapon can be a lethal threat before an officer can draw and fire (Correct answer)
- The required separation between patrol cars during a felony stop
- The standoff distance required for crowd control
Correct answer: The approximate distance within which an edged weapon can be a lethal threat before an officer can draw and fire
Research indicated a person with an edged weapon can close 21 feet before a typical officer can draw and fire, highlighting close-range threats.
Question 4: An officer arrives at a domestic disturbance and both parties are shouting but neither appears injured. The BEST initial action is:
- Arrest both parties to separate them
- Separate the parties and interview them individually (Correct answer)
- Allow them to resolve the issue and leave
- Immediately handcuff both parties for officer safety
Correct answer: Separate the parties and interview them individually
Separating parties prevents further escalation and allows each person to speak candidly without intimidation.
Question 5: What is a "hot spot" in patrol operations?
- A location known for drug manufacturing
- A geographic area with a disproportionately high concentration of crime or calls for service (Correct answer)
- A neighborhood under a special community watch program
- A site where an officer was previously assaulted
Correct answer: A geographic area with a disproportionately high concentration of crime or calls for service
Hot spots are crime-concentration areas identified through data analysis that benefit from focused patrol resources.
Question 6: During a felony vehicle stop, officers typically instruct the driver to:
- Exit the vehicle and approach officers at a walk
- Turn off the vehicle, throw keys out the window, and follow verbal commands step by step (Correct answer)
- Remain in the vehicle with hands on the wheel until told otherwise by the officer's approach
- Open all doors and remain seated
Correct answer: Turn off the vehicle, throw keys out the window, and follow verbal commands step by step
Step-by-step commands during a high-risk stop maintain officer control while minimizing the chance of a sudden, dangerous movement.
Question 7: Which factor is MOST important when an officer decides whether to initiate a vehicle pursuit?
- The severity of the offense versus the risk the pursuit poses to public safety (Correct answer)
- Whether the vehicle is newer and faster than the patrol car
- Department policy requiring pursuit in all felony cases
- The time of day and weather conditions alone
Correct answer: The severity of the offense versus the risk the pursuit poses to public safety
Most pursuit policies require officers to weigh the seriousness of the offense against the danger the chase creates for the public.
POST Patrol Procedures and Operations 3
When an officer stops a vehicle and the driver cannot produce a license, the officer should first: