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POLICE SUPERVISOR -- SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Following are 20 multiple-choice questions, similar to the types of questions prepared for official tests by ALL-WRITE TESTING

Following each question in bold face is the source for the question exactly how it will appear on the official test.

There is a link to the correct answers following the last question.

There are three categories of questions:

Questions 1-3: COMMUNITY POLICING
Questions 11-13: SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT
Questions 14-20: LAWS AND PROCEDURES

COMMUNITY POLICING

1. According to "broken windows" theory, which of the following results when a seemingly insignificant poor condition, such as a broken window, is left uncorrected?

A. Loss of respect for the police.
B. Attacks on individual rights.
C. Police neglect.
D. Urban decay.

Leadership, Ethics and Policing; page 264; para. 3

2. Empowerment is:

A. the expectation of police officers employed since the 1980s.
B. the placing of authority and responsibility at the lowest levels of the organization.
C. the only way police departments can expect to accomplish its enforcement objectives.
D. all of the above.

More and Miller; Effective Police Supervision, 5th edition; page 41; 2

3. Community Policing consists of two complementary core concepts, community partnership and:

A. delegation.
B. problem solving.
C. information sharing.
D. quality of life issues.

More and Miller; Effective Police Supervision, 5th edition; page 40; Fig. 2.2

SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT

4. The most common violation of unity of command involves:

A. cross communication between line and staff personnel.
B. ranking officers such as lieutenants and captains dealing directly with operating personnel.
C. poorly defined lines of authority.
D. unusual occurrences when there is a good deal of fear and confusion.

Management and Supervision of Law Enforcement Personnel; p. 30; 2.6

5. The appraisal interview is primarily:

A. objective and technical.
B. a one-way exchange.
C. an open exchange.
D. a teaching device.

Management and Supervision of Law Enforcement Personnel; p. 108; 6.4.B.i

6. Personnel conflicts are by far the most common problem a supervisor has to deal with. Conflict among members is inevitable. The supervisor's emphasis must be on:

B. how the conflict impacts the entire unit.
C. the root causes of the conflict.
D. reconciliation and ways to avoid the same problem in the future.
E. all of the above.

Management and Supervision of Law Enforcement Personnel; p. 150; 8.2.I

7. The hallmark of a fair and equitable disciplinary system is:

A. integrity.
B. following the "hot stove" principle.
C. the punishment must "fit the crime."
D. consistency.

Management and Supervision of Law Enforcement Personnel; p. 198; 10.4.E

8. The most common error made by new supervisors is:

A. over supervision.
B. relying on friendships with subordinates to change behavior.
C. doing rather than supervising.
D. a reluctance to give direct orders.

Management and Supervision of Law Enforcement Personnel; p. 3; 1.3.A.i

9. In the Incient Command System (ICS), a Division is an organizational level responsible for operations for a specified _______; while a Group is responsible for a specified ________.

A. geographical area; functional assignment
B. functional assignment; geographical area
C. task force; strike team
D. unit; section

ICS; 5-2

10. Before an evaluation, both the supervisor and the subordinate should clearly understand what dimensions are being rated and:

A. the biases of the rater/evaluator.
B. what standards are being used.
C. what outcomes can be expected from the evaluation.
D. the fact that everyone has strengths and weaknesses.

Management and Supervision of Law Enforcement Personnel; p. 123; 7.2.D

11. How should supervisors work to prevent racial profiling by subordinates?

A. Use both positive and negative disciplinary techniques to instill the importance of fair and impartial treatment.
B. Spend time observing subordinates in their day-to-day encounters and point out the errors of their ways to them (in private).
C. Track all encounters of subordinates with minority group members and identify patterns of unequal treatment, thereby documenting the existence or absence of profiling.
D. Consistently stress to their subordinates the necessity to have some articulable and legally defensible reason for interfering with a person's liberty.

Management and Supervision of Law Enforcement Personnel; 310; 15.5.B(a)

12. The most frequent obstruction to communication is:

A. ignoring body language.
B. the sender's uncertainty about the meaning and intent of the communication.
C. failing to listen.
D. interpersonal conflict between the sender and receiver.

Management and Supervision of Law Enforcement Personnel; 80; 5.4.A

13. The Managerial or Leadership Grid is designed to demonstrate how leaders help organizations achieve goals through:

A. training needs assessment and implementation.
B. concern for production as well as concern for people.
C. setting goals and objectives and achievement of goals and objectives.
D. leadership traits as well as leadership behaviors.

Leadership, Ethics and Policing; 49; para. 2

LAWS AND PROCEDURES

14. It is recommended that the back-up vehicle in a high-speed pursuit maintain at least ______ from the main vehicle.

A. 5 car lengths
B. 10 car lengths
C. one city block
D. There is no minimum recommended distance between the main and back-up vehicles.

Management and Supervision of Law Enforcement Personnel; p. 279; 14.8.D

15. The single most important tactic when approaching a stopped car is to:

A. visually clear the vehicle's interior before approaching the driver's compartment.
B. be aware of the driver's movements, especially if hands are moved to a non-visible position.
C. make sure the suspect's vehicle's engine is off.
D. communicate directly and clearly with the car's driver.

Management and Supervision of Law Enforcement Personnel; p. 270; 14.3.C(e)

16. Broadly speaking, terrorism involves the use of violence and threats to:

A. overthrow an enemy regime.
B. promote a radical political agenda.
C. intimidate and coerce.
D. A or B.

Leadership, Ethics and Policing; page 267; para. 1

17. Which of the following statements demonstrates "objective reasonableness?"

A. Officers may use an amount of force that is reasonably related in scope and character of the stop to assure their safety during the period of detention.
B. An officer may approach a person and ask questions or request identification without activating Fourth Amendment scrutiny so long as a reasonable person would feel free to disregard the officer's request and go about his business.
C. Considering all the facts and circumstances known to the officer immediately prior to the stop, could a reasonable officer form the same conclusion made by the officer in the specific case at issue.
D. All of the above are correct.

Stop and Frisk Training Bulletin

18. A contact or consensual encounter becomes an investigatory stop when:

A. an officer has reasonable suspicion to believe that the suspect is committing, has committed or is about to commit a crime.
B. a reasonable person would believe that he was not free to leave.
C. it is brief in duration, limited in scope and narrow in purpose.
D. All of the above.

Stop and Frisk Training Bulletin

19. The level of force applied must reflect:

A. the use of all possible alternatives.
B. the department's overall philosophy and principles.
C. the totality of circumstances surrounding the immediate situation.
D. all of the above.

Use of Force Manual

20. In any search and seizure pursuant to a search warrant, the Constitution prescribes all of the following except:

A. the premises to be searched.
B. particularly described.
C. the identities of any individuals believed to be on the premises and in possession of the specific property.
D. the affiant swear or affirm they have probable cause to believe the specific property is on the premises and give the reason for this belief.

Search Warrant Manual

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