RCMP - Royal Canadian Mounted Police Memory and Observation Questions and Answers

Question 1

An officer briefly observes a vehicle fleeing the scene of a minor collision.
The officer notes it is a dark-colored, four-door sedan with a broken right taillight and a license plate starting with 'LTM'.
The car speeds away, turning right at the next intersection.
Of the details observed, which is the most unique and crucial for immediate broadcast to other units?

Accepted Answer

The license plate started with 'LTM' and it had a broken right taillight.

Answer

It was a dark-colored sedan.

Answer

The vehicle turned right at the intersection.

Answer

It was a four-door vehicle.

Question 2

Which of the following internal factors is most likely to negatively impact an officer's observational accuracy and memory during a high-stress incident?

Accepted Answer

Perceptual narrowing or 'tunnel vision'.

Answer

The presence of multiple witnesses.

Answer

Poor weather conditions.

Answer

The time of day.

Question 3

You are interviewing two witnesses to a robbery. Witness A states, 'The suspect was a tall man in a blue hoodie who ran west down the alley after grabbing the purse.' Witness B states, 'He was wearing a blue jacket and was very tall. He grabbed the purse and ran east down the alley.' What is the most significant contradiction in these two statements that needs to be clarified for the investigation?

Accepted Answer

The suspect's direction of travel after the robbery.

Answer

The exact height of the suspect.

Answer

Whether the suspect wore a hoodie or a jacket.

Answer

The item that was stolen from the victim.

Question 4

An officer responds to a report of a residential break-and-enter. The front door has been forced open. Inside, drawers are pulled out in the master bedroom. In the kitchen, the officer observes fresh muddy boot prints, a half-eaten sandwich on the counter, and a back window that is unlocked and slightly ajar. Which observation most strongly suggests a potential exit point?

Accepted Answer

The unlocked and ajar back window.

Answer

The forced front door.

Answer

The messy master bedroom.

Answer

The half-eaten sandwich on the counter.

Question 5

When obtaining a statement from an eyewitness, an officer must remember that memory is a reconstructive process. What is the primary implication of this for proper interview technique?

Accepted Answer

The officer should use open-ended, non-leading questions to allow the witness to recall events in their own words.

Answer

The officer should show the witness photos of potential suspects immediately to solidify their memory.

Answer

The officer should only ask closed-ended, yes/no questions to get the facts as quickly as possible.

Answer

The officer should assume the first account given is the most accurate and discourage any subsequent changes.

Question 6

While conducting surveillance on a person of interest in a busy plaza, an officer notes the following actions: The subject first looks at their watch. They then make a brief phone call. After the call, they purchase a coffee from a vendor. Finally, they sit on a bench and open a newspaper. Which of the following accurately represents the subject's sequence of actions?

Accepted Answer

Looked at watch, made phone call, purchased coffee, sat on bench.

Answer

Made phone call, looked at watch, purchased coffee, sat on bench.

Answer

Looked at watch, purchased coffee, made phone call, sat on bench.

Answer

Purchased coffee, sat on bench, looked at watch, made phone call.