POST Situational Judgment and Ethics 5

Question 1

You receive an anonymous tip that a fellow officer is selling department information to a known criminal organization. The tip is unverified. You should:

Accepted Answer

Report the tip to internal affairs or your chain of command for investigation

Answer

Credible-sounding tips about officer misconduct must be forwarded to the appropriate investigative authority, not handled personally.

Question 2

You are involved in a traffic collision while on duty. What is the first step you should take?

Accepted Answer

Assess whether any injuries occurred and provide first aid if needed

Answer

Life safety comes first in any accident; assessing and addressing injuries precedes reporting and procedural steps.

Question 3

A search warrant authorizes you to look for firearms in a suspect's home. While searching, you find large amounts of cash. You should:

Accepted Answer

Seize it under the plain view doctrine if criminal nexus is apparent

Answer

Items not listed in a warrant may be seized under the plain view doctrine only if there is an apparent criminal nexus.

Question 4

A victim of a sexual assault asks that their report be kept completely confidential and not shared with anyone. You should:

Accepted Answer

Explain what information must be officially reported and what legal protections exist

Answer

Officers must honestly explain reporting obligations and available legal protections rather than making promises of confidentiality they cannot keep.

Question 5

You are testifying in court and the defense attorney asks you a question to which you are uncertain of the answer. You should:

Accepted Answer

State clearly that you do not know or do not recall

Answer

Officers must testify truthfully, including admitting when they do not know or cannot recall specific information.

POST - Peace Officer Standards and Training Practice Test

POST - Peace Officer Standards and Training Practice Test

POST Situational Judgment and Ethics 5