Police Judgement Quiz

1. You and your partner are driving under emergency conditions to assist two officers who requested urgent backup at a violent domestic incident. You don't know exactly what is going on but it sounded like one of the officers was injured. You are the passenger of your patrol car. It is night time and raining heavily. You are driving through residential streets where the speed limit is 50 kph. You are in the passenger seat and your partner is driving extremely aggressively at speeds in excess of 100 kph in order to get to the scene. You are still about ten minutes away from the scene and there have already been several near misses with other road users. You are concerned at your partner's driving. You should:

Keep alert for traffic hazards and advise your partner if you see any potential crashes.

Tell your partner to slow down and drive to the conditions.

Say nothing, because backing up your fellow officers is more important than your own safety.

Turn on some heavy metal music and enjoy the ride.

The correct course of action is B). To tell your partner to slow down. Your partner’s driving is placing the community, him and you at unnecessary risk. Additionally, in the event of a traffic crash, then the officers requesting urgent assistance will now have to wait for a second patrol car and be left needing help for a significantly longer period than if your partner had driven expediently but safely.

Explanation

The correct course of action is B). To tell your partner to slow down. Your partner’s driving is placing the community, him and you at unnecessary risk. Additionally, in the event of a traffic crash, then the officers requesting urgent assistance will now have to wait for a second patrol car and be left needing help for a significantly longer period than if your partner had driven expediently but safely.

2. You are on foot patrol in a busy shopping precinct and are called to a disturbance in a pharmacy. As you arrive at the front door of the pharmacy a man rushes out the door and crashes into your partner, knocking your partner to the floor. The man then continues running away past other pedestrians through the mall. Your partner rolls onto his side revealing a small stab wound under his ribs, crying out, "He stabbed me!" You should:

Call an ambulance and immediately pursue the man who stabbed your partner.

Call an ambulance and stay with your partner to provide immediate first aid.

Use your firearm to shoot the offender.

Go into the pharmacy to further investigate what the disturbance was all about.

The correct course of action is B). To call an ambulance and stay with your partner to provide immediate first aid. Although the offender may escape, the priority during general policing duties is always the safety of you and your fellow officers. Additional units may become available to pursue the offender but it is critical that you provide immediate aid to what may be a life- threatening wound. Using your firearm at that point would be questioned for two main reasons. Firstly because of the high probability of a civilian casualty by a stray bullet and secondly because the man is now running away and not creating an immediate threat to anyone (albeit he may do so in the near future). Further investigation of the pharmacy is warranted, but the priority is the welfare of your partner. Further securing of the scene and other matters must wait until other officers or an ambulance attends.

Explanation

The correct course of action is B). To call an ambulance and stay with your partner to provide immediate first aid. Although the offender may escape, the priority during general policing duties is always the safety of you and your fellow officers. Additional units may become available to pursue the offender but it is critical that you provide immediate aid to what may be a life- threatening wound. Using your firearm at that point would be questioned for two main reasons. Firstly because of the high probability of a civilian casualty by a stray bullet and secondly because the man is now running away and not creating an immediate threat to anyone (albeit he may do so in the near future). Further investigation of the pharmacy is warranted, but the priority is the welfare of your partner. Further securing of the scene and other matters must wait until other officers or an ambulance attends.

3. Excessive Force refers to:

Use of force when none is required.

Use of a higher level of force than is necessary or justified.

Continuing to use force for a period of time longer than necessary.

All of the above.

The correct option is D). All the statements are examples of excessive force. Using the incorrect force option or continuing to use force when it is no longer justified is considered an abuse of power and will likely result in you being charged with assault or worse.

Explanation

The correct option is D). All the statements are examples of excessive force. Using the incorrect force option or continuing to use force when it is no longer justified is considered an abuse of power and will likely result in you being charged with assault or worse.

4. You are on a traffic patrol with your partner. You have stopped a hire car near the airport with two foreign businessmen in the back seat. The two foreigners are not wearing seat belts. The driver apologises and explains the men have only just arrived in the country. You should:

Issue a traffic infringement to each of the men because not knowing the laws is no excuse for failing to comply with traffic regulations.

Give the men a warning and explain to them that they are breaching the traffic regulations of this city and that they must wear seat belts at all times.

Ask them if it is the law to wear seat belts in their home country and if it is then issue them an infringement because they should have known better.

There are times when you will choose to show appropriate discretion in the enforcement of laws and traffic regulations. The proximity to the airport makes it probable that the men really have just arrived and it would only serve to dampen their visit to the city to receive an infringement so soon on their trip. They are also more likely to wear their seat belts in the future if you explain the laws and give them a warning. You may be within your right to issue a ticket, but it may be more prudent to take option B) and issue a verbal caution only.

Explanation

There are times when you will choose to show appropriate discretion in the enforcement of laws and traffic regulations. The proximity to the airport makes it probable that the men really have just arrived and it would only serve to dampen their visit to the city to receive an infringement so soon on their trip. They are also more likely to wear their seat belts in the future if you explain the laws and give them a warning. You may be within your right to issue a ticket, but it may be more prudent to take option B) and issue a verbal caution only.

5. You arrive at the scene where a pedestrian has been seriously injured by a hit and run driver. Witnesses at the scene yell out to you that the driver has only just left a few moments ago. Your partner is attending to the injured person and asks you to call for an ambulance. After calling for an ambulance your NEXT action should be to:

Take detailed witness statements at the scene of what happened whilst it is still fresh in the minds of people nearby.

Get back in your car and drive off in the direction where the witnesses are saying the car went.

Gain a description of the hit and run car from a witness and send the report over the radio.

Cordon off the street and prepare the area as a protected crime scene.

The correct course of action is C). To get a description of the car over the radio so other patrol cars can commence searching for the suspect. It is better to stay with your partner at this point and assist to control the scene whilst further assistance arrives to take over care of the casualty.

Explanation

The correct course of action is C). To get a description of the car over the radio so other patrol cars can commence searching for the suspect. It is better to stay with your partner at this point and assist to control the scene whilst further assistance arrives to take over care of the casualty.

6. You attend the scene of a robbery at a local hairdresser. The offenders have left the scene and you stay to complete the necessary investigations. Later that day, the owner of the hairdresser comes in to the police station to thank you for the way that you handled the investigation and insists that you take a $50 gift voucher that you or a member of your family could use at your convenience. It is against your department's policy to accept gifts. She is very insistent. You should:

Get angry at her for putting you in an awkward position and tell her that she is making a mistake offering gifts to police.

Check that no-one is looking and quickly accept the gift voucher.

Accept the gift voucher and hand it to your supervisor at your earliest opportunity.

Tell her that you can’t accept the gift here but you will visit the hairdresser after work and she can give it to you then.

The correct course of action is C). To accept the offer but hand it in to your superior. Refusing a gift to the point of being rude will not help with your public image. Nor can it be taken in an underhand fashion as per answers B and D.

Explanation

The correct course of action is C). To accept the offer but hand it in to your superior. Refusing a gift to the point of being rude will not help with your public image. Nor can it be taken in an underhand fashion as per answers B and D.

7. You attend the scene of a domestic disturbance in a residential area. Standing at the front door, you can hear a man and woman screaming aggressively at each other. You can hear things being thrown around inside. You can hear glass breaking. You then hear the woman cry out, "No! Please don't hurt me again!" There is no response when knocking at the door or calling out your presence. You should:

Keep knocking on the door trying to get their attention.

Call your supervisor to get permission to force entry.

Force entry and stop the argument.

Come back later when they have calmed down.

It is reasonable to assess that a life is in danger from the above scenario. It is therefore justified to take course of action C) and immediately force entry into the premises in the interest of protecting life. Police officers must often make decisions and act on them without having the luxury of checking every action with their supervisor.

Explanation

It is reasonable to assess that a life is in danger from the above scenario. It is therefore justified to take course of action C) and immediately force entry into the premises in the interest of protecting life. Police officers must often make decisions and act on them without having the luxury of checking every action with their supervisor.

8. You are on the street where a man and woman are arguing loudly and pushing each other around. You and your partner are trying to talk to each person to find out what has happened. The best positioning for this discussion is:

Both officers together in the centre with the man on one side and the woman on the other.

Both officers next to each other on one side and the man and woman next to each other facing the officers.

The two people in the centre and one officer either side, facing in. One officer talking to the man and the other officer talking to the woman.

The best positioning is option (c). For the police officers to be on the outside facing in.

The benefits of this positioning is that the two officers can see each other the whole time and the man and woman are now facing away from each other which will prevent them getting further upset by looking at the other. If the officers walk backwards whilst doing this, they can also create physical separation between the man and woman whilst the officers can still see each other. Given that there has already been physical violence, it is not a good idea to separate completely (such as around the corner) because the officers cannot cover each other.

Explanation

The best positioning is option (c). For the police officers to be on the outside facing in.

The benefits of this positioning is that the two officers can see each other the whole time and the man and woman are now facing away from each other which will prevent them getting further upset by looking at the other. If the officers walk backwards whilst doing this, they can also create physical separation between the man and woman whilst the officers can still see each other. Given that there has already been physical violence, it is not a good idea to separate completely (such as around the corner) because the officers cannot cover each other.

9. You attend a traffic accident at a four way traffic intersection. The final position of a blue and green car are depicted below. The diagram shows the damage points on the blue and green car. The arrows indicate the normal flow of traffic (driving on left hand side of road). North is toward the top of the map.

The most likely cause of the crash was:

The green car approached from the south and the blue car crashed into the back of the green car.

The green car entered the intersection from the east and the blue car entered the intersection from the south and crashed into the side of the green car.

The green car entered the intersection from the west and the blue car entered the intersection from the south and crashed into the side of the green car.

The green car entered the intersection from the east and the the blue entered from the north, crashing into the side of the green car.

The answer to this crash is (C), as depicted below:

The green car entered the intersection from the west and the blue car entered the intersection from the south and crashed into the side of the green car.

Explanation

The answer to this crash is (C), as depicted below:

The green car entered the intersection from the west and the blue car entered the intersection from the south and crashed into the side of the green car.

10. You are patrolling past a large office complex when the building fire alarm starts ringing loudly. Your FIRST action should be to:

Immediately go inside to see if there really is a fire and help anyone inside evacuate.

Continue your patrol as it is not a police matter.

Call the Fire Emergency Services and wait outside for them to arrive.

Immediately block traffic access to the building in case there is a fire.

The best course of action is C). To call for Fire services and then to wait for their arrival. If there is a long wait for Fire services, then you may have to act. However, in general, fire alarms are the responsibility of the fire services and you are not equipped or trained to manage a potential fire.

Explanation

The best course of action is C). To call for Fire services and then to wait for their arrival. If there is a long wait for Fire services, then you may have to act. However, in general, fire alarms are the responsibility of the fire services and you are not equipped or trained to manage a potential fire.

11. You are on a traffic patrol and have stopped a vehicle for the purpose of a random breath test. It appears that the driver of the vehicle is intoxicated from the effects of alcohol. You arrest the driver and direct him to the back of your police car in order to take him to the police station for a formal breath test. The man asks you, "Can I bring my water bottle to drink on the way?" You should:

Refuse the request.

Grant the request because it is only water.

Tell the man he can bring it, but tell him not to drink from it until after the formal breath test at the station.

Tell the man he can’t bring it with him, but he can drink it all here on the street before you go to the police station.

The man is not entitled to drink or eat anything whilst under suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This is because anything he drinks may affect a subsequent test reading. Additionally, if the man goes to court later and claims he drank vodka after you stopped him, then the subsequent tests will lose their credibility. The best option is A). To deny the request completely. The man can be given water at an appropriate time from the police station.

Explanation

The man is not entitled to drink or eat anything whilst under suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This is because anything he drinks may affect a subsequent test reading. Additionally, if the man goes to court later and claims he drank vodka after you stopped him, then the subsequent tests will lose their credibility. The best option is A). To deny the request completely. The man can be given water at an appropriate time from the police station.

12. You attend a call out to a disturbance in a residential house. There is an aggressive argument occurring between a man and a woman at the address. The man opens the door and immediately becomes aggressive to you and your partner. The man is about the same size as you. The man lunges at you and starts to push you away from the door. You grab the man by the arm and force him down onto the ground. The man lands on his chest and is struggling to get back up. He is lying on one arm and you are having difficulty trying to get the arm free in order to apply handcuffs. You should:

Continue attempting to get his other arm free in order to apply handcuffs.

Use your baton to strike the man in order to stop him struggling.

Let the man up so you can get to his arm and handcuff him.

Hold him down longer until he tires out and stops resisting.

The correct action is A). To quickly free his other arm and restrain him in handcuffs. Once restrained it is important to move him into another position to avoid positional asphyxia. Positional asphyxia occurs when someone suffocates on the ground because the weight on their chest prevents them getting enough air into their lungs. It is a serious risk if the person has been fighting and is already short of breath. You cannot, however, let him straight up without restraining him first because of the potential risk of him continuing to assault you. Holding him down till he tires out will also risk positional asphyxia. You will likely learn techniques at the police academy for freeing someone's arm from underneath them without having to resort to use of a baton!

Explanation

The correct action is A). To quickly free his other arm and restrain him in handcuffs. Once restrained it is important to move him into another position to avoid positional asphyxia. Positional asphyxia occurs when someone suffocates on the ground because the weight on their chest prevents them getting enough air into their lungs. It is a serious risk if the person has been fighting and is already short of breath. You cannot, however, let him straight up without restraining him first because of the potential risk of him continuing to assault you. Holding him down till he tires out will also risk positional asphyxia. You will likely learn techniques at the police academy for freeing someone's arm from underneath them without having to resort to use of a baton!

13. You and your partner attend a call to a residential duplex where one neighbour reports a strong smell of gas coming from under the front door of the other duplex. On arrival at the unit you can smell the gas and assess it is coming from inside the other duplex. Your headquarters have already called the fire department to attend and they are about twenty minutes away. No-one is answering the door or phone at the address and the door is locked. You should:

Force entry and quickly check if anyone is inside.

Wait at the door to make sure the fire department know which unit to attend.

Advise the caller (in the other unit) to come with you and wait a safe distance upwind of the address.

Leave a note that you attended the address and leave the matter forthe fire department to sort out.

Generally you are not going to be equipped to safely deal with scenes involving hazardous materials and gas leaks. There will be times that you may have to leave the community at risk until qualified help arrives. The correct course of action is C). This will minimise harm to the remainder of the community and keep you and your partner safe from exposure until the fire department can neutralise any environmental threats.

Explanation

Generally you are not going to be equipped to safely deal with scenes involving hazardous materials and gas leaks. There will be times that you may have to leave the community at risk until qualified help arrives. The correct course of action is C). This will minimise harm to the remainder of the community and keep you and your partner safe from exposure until the fire department can neutralise any environmental threats.

14. Select the BEST answer to the following statement: The conduct of regular police patrols in the neighbourhood will deter:

Murder, graffiti and armed robbery.

Graffiti, prostitution and burglary.

Murder, car theft and disorderly behaviour.

Employee Fraud, disorderly behaviour and burglary.

The correct answer is B). All the offences listed are reduced through active police patrols except for murder and employee fraud. These two crimes are not usually committed by people who think they might get caught by police. They are therefore not influenced as heavily by the amount of police patrolling the area.

Explanation

The correct answer is B). All the offences listed are reduced through active police patrols except for murder and employee fraud. These two crimes are not usually committed by people who think they might get caught by police. They are therefore not influenced as heavily by the amount of police patrolling the area.

15. You are in an authorised vehicle pursuit of a stolen motor vehicle. The occupants of the car are believed to be involved in a string of burglaries stealing large quantities of jewellery and cash from residential houses in the area. You are the only car involved in the pursuit and are comfortably keeping up with the stolen motor vehicle. Traffic is light, however as you turn into a side street you notice an oncoming car swerve off the road and collide with a parked car. The crash does not appear serious. You should:

Abandon the pursuit and stop to check on the welfare of the occupants of the crashed civilian car.

Continue the pursuit. You didn’t directly cause the crash so its not your concern.

Report the crash over the radio and ask for another police car to attend the crash so you can maintain observation on the stolen motor vehicle.

Stop briefly and look out the window if anyone is hurt and if they seem ok then continue the pursuit.

After the safety of you and your partner your primary duty is to protect the community. While there is a school of thought that letting the stolen motor vehicle escape will ultimately result in further crime, your primary job to act to ensure the immediate safety and well being of the community. The correct course of action is A). To abandon the pursuit and properly assess the crash that occurred in vicinity of your pursuit.

Explanation

After the safety of you and your partner your primary duty is to protect the community. While there is a school of thought that letting the stolen motor vehicle escape will ultimately result in further crime, your primary job to act to ensure the immediate safety and well being of the community. The correct course of action is A). To abandon the pursuit and properly assess the crash that occurred in vicinity of your pursuit.

16. You attend a traffic accident at a four way traffic intersection. The final position of a blue and green car are depicted below. The diagram shows the damage points on the blue and green car. The arrows indicate the normal flow of traffic (driving on left hand side of road). North is toward the top of the map.

The most likely cause of the crash was:

The green car approached from the north and the blue car approached from the east. The two cars collided in the centre of the intersection.

The green car entered the intersection from the west and the blue car entered the intersection from the south. The green car hit the side of the blue car.

The blue car approached the intersection from the south and turned right towards the east. The green car approached from the north and crashed into the side of the blue car.

The blue car approached the intersection from the south and turned right towards the east. The green car approached from the west and hit the side of the blue car.

The answer to this crash is (C) as depicted below:

The blue car approached the intersection from the south and turned right towards the east. The green car approached from the north and crashed into the side of the blue car.

Explanation

The answer to this crash is (C) as depicted below:

The blue car approached the intersection from the south and turned right towards the east. The green car approached from the north and crashed into the side of the blue car.

17. You attend a residential block of units following a call from neighbours reporting a loud argument in a unit. You are aware that both the man and woman who live at this unit have been violent to each other on previous occasions. You knock on the door and the woman answers the door and invites you in. You follow her into the small unit. The man is standing on the other side of the one room apartment. The man starts shouting at you that nothing is wrong and asks you to leave. You notice there is a kitchen knife resting on the bench between you and the man. You are standing next to the bench and your partner is talking to the man. You should:

Put the knife into a drawer.

Ask the woman to put the knife away in a drawer.

Leave the knife where it is, because picking it up could aggravate the situation.

Ask the man and woman to come and talk to you outside the unit.

The correct option is A). To put the knife out of sight and out of reach immediately. Domestic arguments are historically one of the most dangerous jobs for police officers because of the high level of emotion and recklessness that domestic arguments often bring. It is your responsibility to control the environment to ensure your and your partner’s safety. Even though there is no physical violence at the time, it is always prudent to remove any potential weapons from a situation.

Explanation

The correct option is A). To put the knife out of sight and out of reach immediately. Domestic arguments are historically one of the most dangerous jobs for police officers because of the high level of emotion and recklessness that domestic arguments often bring. It is your responsibility to control the environment to ensure your and your partner’s safety. Even though there is no physical violence at the time, it is always prudent to remove any potential weapons from a situation.

18. You have arrested a woman and a teenage girl for shoplifting. They stole a number of items each. You take the details of the teenager and issue her with a written caution as it is her first offence. The teenager is then released. The woman, however, has outstanding police enquiries and is required to accompany you to the police station. Once at the station, the woman asks you to give her the phone number of the teenage girl so she can ring her to arrange to meet once she is released. You should:

Give the phone number to the woman to dial on the station phone.

Refuse the request because it is nothing to do with the police matter at hand.

Ring the girl yourself and arrange the meeting on behalf of the woman.

Dial the number yourself and then give the phone to the woman to speak.

It is the right of the woman to make a phone call as long as it will not likely jeopardise an investigation (eg. a person arrested for drug dealing is not always allowed a phone call as it is reasonable to assume the phone call may result in the loss of evidence). You cannot, however, give her any details of another person even if she knows them. This would be a breach of privacy. The correct option is D). To dial the number yourself and then let the woman speak to the teenage girl.

Explanation

It is the right of the woman to make a phone call as long as it will not likely jeopardise an investigation (eg. a person arrested for drug dealing is not always allowed a phone call as it is reasonable to assume the phone call may result in the loss of evidence). You cannot, however, give her any details of another person even if she knows them. This would be a breach of privacy. The correct option is D). To dial the number yourself and then let the woman speak to the teenage girl.

19. You have stopped a driver for speeding on a suburban street in a built up area. The driver identifies herself to you as a police officer and shows you her police badge. She tells you she is on her way home from work. You should:

Let her go home.

Issue her an infringement or a caution (whichever is relevant to the offence) as you would have done for any other road user.

Refrain from giving her a ticket, but find out what station she works at and inform her supervisor.

Think to yourself that you should have stayed home today.

The answer is both B) and D). This is one of the most awkward situations a police officer will encounter. In the bad old days it would have been unheard of to issue a ticket to a fellow officer. In modern times it is risking your integrity to deal with the officer differently to any other motorist. The trouble of a speeding fine is minimal compared to the trouble both you and the other officer could face if your conduct is put under scrutiny. Regardless of how much ‘stick’ you may suffer from your colleagues, it is not you who was caught speeding.

Explanation

The answer is both B) and D). This is one of the most awkward situations a police officer will encounter. In the bad old days it would have been unheard of to issue a ticket to a fellow officer. In modern times it is risking your integrity to deal with the officer differently to any other motorist. The trouble of a speeding fine is minimal compared to the trouble both you and the other officer could face if your conduct is put under scrutiny. Regardless of how much ‘stick’ you may suffer from your colleagues, it is not you who was caught speeding.

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