POST Reading and Reasoning Ability 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An officer reads the following policy: 'Vehicle pursuits may be initiated when a suspect has committed a violent felony and poses an imminent threat to public safety.' A suspect is wanted for felony vandalism and flees a traffic stop. Based solely on the policy, the officer should:
- Initiate pursuit because the suspect fled
- Not initiate pursuit because vandalism is not a violent felony (Correct answer)
- Initiate pursuit because any felony justifies it
- Not initiate pursuit because no policy covers this situation
Correct answer: Not initiate pursuit because vandalism is not a violent felony
The policy limits pursuits to violent felonies, and vandalism, while a felony, is not classified as a violent felony under the stated criteria.
Question 2: Read the passage: 'Officers shall document all use-of-force incidents within two hours of occurrence. If injured, the officer must first seek medical attention before completing documentation.' An officer uses force and sustains a minor cut. What is the correct sequence?
- Complete documentation, then seek medical attention
- Seek medical attention first, then complete documentation within two hours (Correct answer)
- Complete documentation immediately, then seek medical attention
- Seek medical attention and documentation are both optional when injured
Correct answer: Seek medical attention first, then complete documentation within two hours
The passage creates an exception for injury: medical attention takes priority, but documentation must still follow within the two-hour window.
Question 3: Which logical conclusion best follows from the statements: 'All peace officers must pass a background check. Some applicants fail the background check. Therefore...'
- All applicants become peace officers
- Some applicants do not become peace officers (Correct answer)
- Background checks are unnecessary for peace officers
- Only applicants who fail become peace officers
Correct answer: Some applicants do not become peace officers
If all peace officers must pass the background check, those who fail cannot become peace officers, so some applicants will not.
Question 4: A report states: 'The victim sustained lacerations to the left forearm, a contusion above the right eye, and reported dizziness.' Which injury is NOT mentioned in the report?
- Lacerations to the left forearm
- Contusion above the right eye
- Broken nose (Correct answer)
- Dizziness
Correct answer: Broken nose
A broken nose is not mentioned; the report lists lacerations, a contusion, and dizziness.
Question 5: An officer's memo reads: 'All patrol vehicles must undergo inspection every 30 days OR after any collision, whichever comes first.' A vehicle was inspected 20 days ago and was involved in a minor collision today. When must it be inspected?
- In 10 more days, completing the 30-day cycle
- Today, because a collision triggers immediate inspection (Correct answer)
- Tomorrow, to allow incident documentation first
- At 30 days regardless of the collision
Correct answer: Today, because a collision triggers immediate inspection
The policy requires inspection after any collision, and since that event occurred before the 30-day interval, it takes precedence.
Question 6: A witness statement reads: 'The man in the blue jacket entered the store, argued with the clerk, then left without purchasing anything. About five minutes later I heard a loud noise.' What can be directly inferred from this statement alone?
- The man in the blue jacket caused the loud noise
- The man argued and left before the noise occurred (Correct answer)
- The clerk provoked the argument
- The loud noise was a gunshot
Correct answer: The man argued and left before the noise occurred
Only the sequence of events — argument, departure, then noise — can be directly inferred; the cause of the noise and who started the argument are not stated.
Question 7: Officers are told: 'Miranda warnings are required before a custodial interrogation.' An officer questions a person who is free to leave about a robbery they witnessed. Miranda warnings are:
- Required because a robbery is a serious crime
- Not required because the person is not in custody (Correct answer)
- Required because the person is being questioned
- Not required only if the person waives their rights
Correct answer: Not required because the person is not in custody
Miranda applies to custodial interrogation; since the person is free to leave, there is no custody, so warnings are not required.
POST Reading and Reasoning Ability 2
An officer reads the following policy: 'Vehicle pursuits may be initiated when a suspect has committed a violent felony and poses an imminent threat to public safety.' A suspect is wanted for felony vandalism and flees a traffic stop.
Based solely on the policy, the officer should: