TEST BANK
EFFECTIVE POLICE SUPERVISION
9TH EDITION
CHAPTER NO 01: SUPERVISION—THE MANAGEMENT TASK
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A first-line supervisor is
a. A trainer
b. A mentor
c. A guide
d. All of the above
ANS: d.
Rationale: A first-line supervisor is a mentor, a trainer, and a guide. This is one of the best
positions from which to identify individual weaknesses and needs.
2. Conversion to the position of first-line supervisor
a. Presents little challenge
b. Demands the ability to accept and adapt to change
c. Should be accomplished with very little effort
d. May never be attained if the ecology of the organization is known
ANS: b.
Rationale: The first-line supervisor position requires accepting the dynamics of continual change.
3. What does the acronym Hu-TACK stand for?
a. Human skills, tactical skills, accountability skills, conceptual skills, and knowledge- based skills
b. Human skills, team skills, affective skills, conceptual skills, and knowledge-based skills
c. Human skills, team skills, accountability skills, conceptual skills, and knowledge- based skills
d. Human skills, tactical skills, affective skills, conceptual skills, and knowledge-based skills
ANS: d.
Rationale: Hu-TACK stands for human, tactical, affective, conceptual, and knowledge-based skills.
4. Accountability refers to the obligation a person, group or organization assumes for the execution
of authority. This obligation includes several features except
a. Answering
b. Disciplining
c. Reporting
d. Assuming
ANS: b.
Rationale: This obligation includes answering, reporting, and assuming, but not disciplining.
5. In order for supervisors to accomplish work through people, they must
a. Know the abilities and limitations of each employee
b. Apply the different standards for each employee
c. Set standards higher than capabilities to build in challenges for employees
, d. All of the above
ANS: a.
Rationale: A supervisor must utilize every employee’s skills and knowledge toward the
accomplishment of tasks.
6. A good way for a supervisor to shape the attitudes and conduct of line officers is by
a. Constantly reminding the line officers that they can be fired if they do not perform well
b. Raising their salaries
c. Setting an example of personal conduct that exemplifies an adherence to a strong code of
ethics
d. None of the above
ANS: c.
Rationale: Setting an example is a leadership task that must be provided by a first-line supervisor.
7. A failure by a subordinate to perform at acceptable levels must be
a. Confronted and resolved in favor of the organization
b. Reviewed by the supervisor and then standards reevaluated to fit the individual needs of the
employee
c. Resolved with discipline to set an example for the rest
d. Ignored and the employee watched for improvement over time
ANS: a.
Rationale: A failure to perform at acceptable levels must always be addressed and resolved in
favor of the organization.
8. According to the text, the majority of first-line supervisors identified that the most important
functions they perform had to do with
a. Paperwork
b. Discipline
c. Political affairs
d. Resolution of conflict
ANS: d.
Rationale: Subordinates constantly turn to supervisors as conflict resolvers.
9. In agencies that do not have an internal affairs unit, who is generally held responsible for
conducting such an investigation?
a. An internal affairs unit from another agency
b. A politician
c. The first-line supervisor
d. None of the above
ANS: c.
Rationale: In agencies without internal affair units, first-line supervisors are responsible for
conducting such investigations.
10. Affective skills deal with
a. Emotions, agency goals, values
b. Attitudes, interpretation, analysis
c. Analysis, interpretation, resolution
d. Emotions, values, attitudes
ANS: d.
Rationale: A supervisor’s affective skills modify the emotions, values and attitudes of employees.
,TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS
1. A common aspect of successful police departments in our nation is the creation of a work
environment that fosters the development of good supervisors.
True
False
ANS: True
Rationale: Supervisors must be given the skills and training needed to create an environment
that energizes its members and that results in a multi-skilled response.
2. One important task of a supervisor is to assist employees to become productive members of the
organization.
True
False
ANS: True
Rationale: An effectively performing supervisor makes things happen through the efforts of those
supervised.
3. Today’s police supervisor deals with the same problems and challenges that supervisors dealt
with several years ago, making it easier for them to find a solution to those challenges.
True
False
ANS: False
Rationale: Due to technological advances, today’s police supervisors deal with problems and
challenges totally unheard of several years ago.
4. Today, there are no law enforcement agencies that have a written policy regarding the use of
deadly force.
True
False
ANS: False
Rationale: Due to public and political pressure, nearly all large law enforcement agencies have a
written policy pertaining to the use of deadly force.
5. Supervisors are hardly noticed by the public and have little to no contact with the public.
True
False
ANS: False
Rationale: Supervisors have greater contact with the public than any other police managerial
position.
, 6. “Sink or swim” refers to newly promoted individuals fending for themselves. This used to be the
cliché of the day.
True
False
ANS: True
Rationale: “Sink or swim” used to be the cliché of the day.
7. The terms “responsibility” and “accountability” are synonymous.
True
False
ANS: False
Rationale: “Responsibility” is the obligation to perform whereas “accountability” is the liability
one assumes in order to ensure that an obligation to perform is fulfilled.
8. The goal of accountability is to have someone that can be held responsible and be punished.
True
False
ANS: False
Rationale: The goal of accountability is to enhance performance, not to look for someone that
can be held responsible and be punished.
9. The five levels of accountability are personal, individual, team, organizational, and stakeholders.
True
False
ANS: True
Rationale: The five levels of accountability are personal, individual, team, organizational, and
stakeholders.
10. The most important element of the accountability environment is leadership.
True
False
ANS: True
Rationale: If there is a single most important element of the accountability environment it is
leadership.
EFFECTIVE POLICE SUPERVISION
9TH EDITION
CHAPTER NO 01: SUPERVISION—THE MANAGEMENT TASK
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A first-line supervisor is
a. A trainer
b. A mentor
c. A guide
d. All of the above
ANS: d.
Rationale: A first-line supervisor is a mentor, a trainer, and a guide. This is one of the best
positions from which to identify individual weaknesses and needs.
2. Conversion to the position of first-line supervisor
a. Presents little challenge
b. Demands the ability to accept and adapt to change
c. Should be accomplished with very little effort
d. May never be attained if the ecology of the organization is known
ANS: b.
Rationale: The first-line supervisor position requires accepting the dynamics of continual change.
3. What does the acronym Hu-TACK stand for?
a. Human skills, tactical skills, accountability skills, conceptual skills, and knowledge- based skills
b. Human skills, team skills, affective skills, conceptual skills, and knowledge-based skills
c. Human skills, team skills, accountability skills, conceptual skills, and knowledge- based skills
d. Human skills, tactical skills, affective skills, conceptual skills, and knowledge-based skills
ANS: d.
Rationale: Hu-TACK stands for human, tactical, affective, conceptual, and knowledge-based skills.
4. Accountability refers to the obligation a person, group or organization assumes for the execution
of authority. This obligation includes several features except
a. Answering
b. Disciplining
c. Reporting
d. Assuming
ANS: b.
Rationale: This obligation includes answering, reporting, and assuming, but not disciplining.
5. In order for supervisors to accomplish work through people, they must
a. Know the abilities and limitations of each employee
b. Apply the different standards for each employee
c. Set standards higher than capabilities to build in challenges for employees
, d. All of the above
ANS: a.
Rationale: A supervisor must utilize every employee’s skills and knowledge toward the
accomplishment of tasks.
6. A good way for a supervisor to shape the attitudes and conduct of line officers is by
a. Constantly reminding the line officers that they can be fired if they do not perform well
b. Raising their salaries
c. Setting an example of personal conduct that exemplifies an adherence to a strong code of
ethics
d. None of the above
ANS: c.
Rationale: Setting an example is a leadership task that must be provided by a first-line supervisor.
7. A failure by a subordinate to perform at acceptable levels must be
a. Confronted and resolved in favor of the organization
b. Reviewed by the supervisor and then standards reevaluated to fit the individual needs of the
employee
c. Resolved with discipline to set an example for the rest
d. Ignored and the employee watched for improvement over time
ANS: a.
Rationale: A failure to perform at acceptable levels must always be addressed and resolved in
favor of the organization.
8. According to the text, the majority of first-line supervisors identified that the most important
functions they perform had to do with
a. Paperwork
b. Discipline
c. Political affairs
d. Resolution of conflict
ANS: d.
Rationale: Subordinates constantly turn to supervisors as conflict resolvers.
9. In agencies that do not have an internal affairs unit, who is generally held responsible for
conducting such an investigation?
a. An internal affairs unit from another agency
b. A politician
c. The first-line supervisor
d. None of the above
ANS: c.
Rationale: In agencies without internal affair units, first-line supervisors are responsible for
conducting such investigations.
10. Affective skills deal with
a. Emotions, agency goals, values
b. Attitudes, interpretation, analysis
c. Analysis, interpretation, resolution
d. Emotions, values, attitudes
ANS: d.
Rationale: A supervisor’s affective skills modify the emotions, values and attitudes of employees.
,TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS
1. A common aspect of successful police departments in our nation is the creation of a work
environment that fosters the development of good supervisors.
True
False
ANS: True
Rationale: Supervisors must be given the skills and training needed to create an environment
that energizes its members and that results in a multi-skilled response.
2. One important task of a supervisor is to assist employees to become productive members of the
organization.
True
False
ANS: True
Rationale: An effectively performing supervisor makes things happen through the efforts of those
supervised.
3. Today’s police supervisor deals with the same problems and challenges that supervisors dealt
with several years ago, making it easier for them to find a solution to those challenges.
True
False
ANS: False
Rationale: Due to technological advances, today’s police supervisors deal with problems and
challenges totally unheard of several years ago.
4. Today, there are no law enforcement agencies that have a written policy regarding the use of
deadly force.
True
False
ANS: False
Rationale: Due to public and political pressure, nearly all large law enforcement agencies have a
written policy pertaining to the use of deadly force.
5. Supervisors are hardly noticed by the public and have little to no contact with the public.
True
False
ANS: False
Rationale: Supervisors have greater contact with the public than any other police managerial
position.
, 6. “Sink or swim” refers to newly promoted individuals fending for themselves. This used to be the
cliché of the day.
True
False
ANS: True
Rationale: “Sink or swim” used to be the cliché of the day.
7. The terms “responsibility” and “accountability” are synonymous.
True
False
ANS: False
Rationale: “Responsibility” is the obligation to perform whereas “accountability” is the liability
one assumes in order to ensure that an obligation to perform is fulfilled.
8. The goal of accountability is to have someone that can be held responsible and be punished.
True
False
ANS: False
Rationale: The goal of accountability is to enhance performance, not to look for someone that
can be held responsible and be punished.
9. The five levels of accountability are personal, individual, team, organizational, and stakeholders.
True
False
ANS: True
Rationale: The five levels of accountability are personal, individual, team, organizational, and
stakeholders.
10. The most important element of the accountability environment is leadership.
True
False
ANS: True
Rationale: If there is a single most important element of the accountability environment it is
leadership.
