POST Reading Comprehension Skills 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A statute excerpt reads: 'A person commits theft when they knowingly obtain or exert unauthorized control over property of another with intent to deprive that person of the property permanently.' Which element is NOT required by this definition?
- Knowledge of the act
- Unauthorized control over property
- Intent to permanently deprive
- Use of force or threat (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Use of force or threat
The definition does not include force or threat as a required element; that would describe robbery.
Question 2: A training bulletin states: 'Passive resistance occurs when a subject does not comply with lawful commands but does not actively oppose the officer.' Which scenario BEST fits this description?
- A suspect swings a fist at an officer
- A suspect goes limp and refuses to walk (Correct answer)
- A suspect verbally argues but follows commands
- A suspect runs from officers
Correct answer: A suspect goes limp and refuses to walk
Going limp and refusing to walk is non-compliance without active opposition, fitting the definition of passive resistance.
Question 3: A memo states: 'Effective immediately, all vehicle pursuits must be authorized by a supervisor before being initiated, except when a delay would result in imminent harm to a person.' When can an officer begin a pursuit WITHOUT prior supervisor authorization?
- When the suspect is wanted for a felony
- When imminent harm to a person would result from delay (Correct answer)
- When the officer is the senior officer on scene
- When the pursuit begins within city limits
Correct answer: When imminent harm to a person would result from delay
The exception to the authorization requirement is when a delay would cause imminent harm to a person.
Question 4: An arrest report states: 'The subject was detained at 0920, Miranda warnings were administered at 0935, and questioning began at 0940.' How long after detention did questioning begin?
- 5 minutes
- 15 minutes
- 20 minutes (Correct answer)
- 25 minutes
Correct answer: 20 minutes
From 0920 to 0940 is 20 minutes.
Question 5: A passage reads: 'Chain of custody refers to the documented sequence of individuals who have handled a piece of evidence, ensuring its integrity from collection to courtroom presentation.' Why is chain of custody important according to this passage?
- It speeds up lab processing of evidence
- It ensures evidence integrity from collection to court (Correct answer)
- It limits the number of officers who can handle evidence
- It determines how evidence is stored physically
Correct answer: It ensures evidence integrity from collection to court
The passage states chain of custody ensures evidence integrity from collection through courtroom presentation.
Question 6: A field training manual states: 'When writing a report, avoid conclusions unless they are directly supported by observed facts.' An officer writes: 'The suspect appeared intoxicated because he smelled of alcohol and had slurred speech.' What is the role of the observed facts in this statement?
- They replace the need for a conclusion
- They support the conclusion that the suspect appeared intoxicated (Correct answer)
- They are irrelevant because intoxication requires a chemical test
- They contradict the conclusion about intoxication
Correct answer: They support the conclusion that the suspect appeared intoxicated
The odor of alcohol and slurred speech are observed facts that directly support the officer's stated conclusion.
Question 7: A bulletin reads: 'Officers responding to domestic violence calls shall make contact with all parties separately to obtain independent accounts when it is safe to do so.' What condition must be met before separating parties?
- Both parties must consent to separation
- It must be safe to do so (Correct answer)
- A supervisor must authorize it
- The call must be classified as a felony
Correct answer: It must be safe to do so
The bulletin specifies that separation of parties occurs only when it is safe to do so.
POST Reading Comprehension Skills 3
A statute excerpt reads: 'A person commits theft when they knowingly obtain or exert unauthorized control over property of another with intent to deprive that person of the property permanently.' Which element is NOT required by this definition?