Free practice test

Police Officer Practice Test

Check what you know about the police officer job with 15 free questions and instant explanations.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
About this practice test

15 multiple-choice questions on police officer knowledge, safety and vocabulary. Submit to see your score and explanations, or open any question’s answer as you go. Nothing is saved or shared.

Question 1 of 15Which agency certifies police officers in each state?
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Answer: POST. Peace Officer Standards and Training agencies certify officers.

Question 2 of 15Probable cause is required for:
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Answer: Arrests and warrants. Probable cause is the standard for arrests and warrants.

Question 3 of 15A good incident report should:
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Answer: Be factual and chronological. Facts in order make reports reliable.

Question 4 of 15De-escalation aims to:
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Answer: Reduce tension and the need for force. It lowers risk for everyone.

Question 5 of 15The first priority at a crime scene is:
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Answer: Safety and aid to the injured. Life safety comes first.

Question 6 of 15Which term matches this definition: “A camera that records officer interactions.”
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Answer: Body-worn camera. Body-worn camera: A camera that records officer interactions.

Question 7 of 15What does “Beat” mean?
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Answer: The area an officer patrols.. Beat: The area an officer patrols.

Question 8 of 15Which term matches this definition: “Agency rules governing when and how force may be used.”
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Answer: Use-of-force policy. Use-of-force policy: Agency rules governing when and how force may be used.

Question 9 of 15What does “Chain of custody” mean?
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Answer: Documentation tracking evidence handling.. Chain of custody: Documentation tracking evidence handling.

Question 10 of 15Which term matches this definition: “The official written record of an event.”
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Answer: Incident report. Incident report: The official written record of an event.

Question 11 of 15What does “CAD” mean?
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Answer: Computer-aided dispatch: the system that assigns calls.. CAD: Computer-aided dispatch: the system that assigns calls.

Question 12 of 15Which term matches this definition: “Peace Officer Standards and Training: the state agency that certifies officers.”
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Answer: POST. POST: Peace Officer Standards and Training: the state agency that certifies officers.

Question 13 of 15What does “Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)” mean?
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Answer: A model for responding to people in mental health crisis.. Crisis Intervention Team (CIT): A model for responding to people in mental health crisis.

Question 14 of 15Which term matches this definition: “Partnering with residents to solve problems and prevent crime.”
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Answer: Community policing. Community policing: Partnering with residents to solve problems and prevent crime.

Question 15 of 15What does “Reasonable suspicion” mean?
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Answer: Specific facts suggesting criminal activity, allowing a brief investigative stop.. Reasonable suspicion: Specific facts suggesting criminal activity, allowing a brief investigative stop.

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