COLORADO PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS & TRAINING
(POST) LAW ENFORCEMENT EXAM QUESTIONS &
VERIFIED ANSWERS | ADVANCED POLICE ACADEMY
STUDY GUIDE, CERTIFICATION EXAM PREP, CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATIONS, CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND MORE
COMPLETE WITH 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS
Question 1: Under Colorado law, what is the minimum number of hours
required for the basic POST-certified peace officer academy curriculum?
A. 400 hours
B. 556 hours
C. 636 hours
D. 800 hours
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 556 hours
Rationale: Colorado POST requires a minimum of 556 hours of basic
training for peace officer certification. This curriculum covers criminal
law, constitutional procedure, patrol operations, use of force, and
professional standards. Many academies exceed this minimum, with
some offering 636 hours or more to provide additional instruction in
high-liability skills.
Question 2: Which Colorado Revised Statutes section defines the
offense of Sexual Assault?
,A. C.R.S. § 18-1-703
B. C.R.S. § 18-3-402
C. C.R.S. § 16-3-504
D. C.R.S. § 42-4-1301
CORRECT ANSWER: B. C.R.S. § 18-3-402
Rationale: C.R.S. § 18-3-402 explicitly outlines the elements of sexual
assault in Colorado, defining categories based on victim age, consent,
lack of capacity, and aggravating factors. This statute distinguishes
sexual assault from other sexual offenses and provides the framework
for charging decisions.
Question 3: Under Colorado's presumption of innocence statute, which
C.R.S. section codifies that the state bears the burden of proving the
defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt?
A. C.R.S. § 18-1-401
B. C.R.S. § 18-1-402
C. C.R.S. § 18-1-403
D. C.R.S. § 18-1-404
CORRECT ANSWER: B. C.R.S. § 18-1-402
Rationale: C.R.S. § 18-1-402 establishes the presumption of innocence
and the burden of proof in Colorado criminal cases. It requires the
prosecution to prove every element of the offense beyond a reasonable
doubt.
,Question 4: Under Colorado law, at what age is a child considered
incapable of forming criminal intent and therefore cannot be charged
with a criminal offense?
A. Under 18 years old
B. Under 16 years old
C. Under 12 years old
D. Under 10 years old
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Under 10 years old
Rationale: Under Colorado Revised Statutes § 18-1-801, a child under
10 years of age is deemed incapable of forming criminal intent and
cannot be charged with a criminal offense. Children 10 years and older
may be subject to juvenile proceedings.
Question 5: What is the minimum number of people required to
constitute a "riot" under Colorado law?
A. 2 or more
B. 5 or more
C. 10 or more
D. 15 or more
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 5 or more
Rationale: Under Colorado law, a riot occurs when five or more persons
assemble and engage in tumultuous and violent conduct that creates a
grave risk of public injury or property damage. The requirement of five
persons establishes that the conduct must be a group activity rather
than individual disorderly behavior.
, Question 6: Under C.R.S. § 16-3-103, a peace officer may stop any
person based on reasonable suspicion and conduct what type of limited
search?
A. Full custodial search
B. Strip search
C. Pat-down (frisk) if safety concerns exist
D. Search of the person's vehicle
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Pat-down (frisk) if safety concerns exist
Rationale: C.R.S. § 16-3-103 codifies the authority for Terry stops in
Colorado, allowing officers to stop individuals based on reasonable
suspicion of criminal activity. The statute permits a limited pat-down
search for weapons if officer safety is a concern. This is distinct from a
full search, which requires probable cause.
Question 7: An officer responds to a domestic disturbance call. The
male subject admits to pushing his wife during an argument, and the
wife has a red mark on her arm but does not want to press charges.
Under Colorado law, what must the officer do?
A. Leave because the victim does not want to press charges
B. Arrest the suspect because Colorado has mandatory arrest laws for
domestic violence
C. Issue a summons and release the suspect
D. Mediate the dispute without making an arrest
(POST) LAW ENFORCEMENT EXAM QUESTIONS &
VERIFIED ANSWERS | ADVANCED POLICE ACADEMY
STUDY GUIDE, CERTIFICATION EXAM PREP, CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATIONS, CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND MORE
COMPLETE WITH 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS
Question 1: Under Colorado law, what is the minimum number of hours
required for the basic POST-certified peace officer academy curriculum?
A. 400 hours
B. 556 hours
C. 636 hours
D. 800 hours
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 556 hours
Rationale: Colorado POST requires a minimum of 556 hours of basic
training for peace officer certification. This curriculum covers criminal
law, constitutional procedure, patrol operations, use of force, and
professional standards. Many academies exceed this minimum, with
some offering 636 hours or more to provide additional instruction in
high-liability skills.
Question 2: Which Colorado Revised Statutes section defines the
offense of Sexual Assault?
,A. C.R.S. § 18-1-703
B. C.R.S. § 18-3-402
C. C.R.S. § 16-3-504
D. C.R.S. § 42-4-1301
CORRECT ANSWER: B. C.R.S. § 18-3-402
Rationale: C.R.S. § 18-3-402 explicitly outlines the elements of sexual
assault in Colorado, defining categories based on victim age, consent,
lack of capacity, and aggravating factors. This statute distinguishes
sexual assault from other sexual offenses and provides the framework
for charging decisions.
Question 3: Under Colorado's presumption of innocence statute, which
C.R.S. section codifies that the state bears the burden of proving the
defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt?
A. C.R.S. § 18-1-401
B. C.R.S. § 18-1-402
C. C.R.S. § 18-1-403
D. C.R.S. § 18-1-404
CORRECT ANSWER: B. C.R.S. § 18-1-402
Rationale: C.R.S. § 18-1-402 establishes the presumption of innocence
and the burden of proof in Colorado criminal cases. It requires the
prosecution to prove every element of the offense beyond a reasonable
doubt.
,Question 4: Under Colorado law, at what age is a child considered
incapable of forming criminal intent and therefore cannot be charged
with a criminal offense?
A. Under 18 years old
B. Under 16 years old
C. Under 12 years old
D. Under 10 years old
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Under 10 years old
Rationale: Under Colorado Revised Statutes § 18-1-801, a child under
10 years of age is deemed incapable of forming criminal intent and
cannot be charged with a criminal offense. Children 10 years and older
may be subject to juvenile proceedings.
Question 5: What is the minimum number of people required to
constitute a "riot" under Colorado law?
A. 2 or more
B. 5 or more
C. 10 or more
D. 15 or more
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 5 or more
Rationale: Under Colorado law, a riot occurs when five or more persons
assemble and engage in tumultuous and violent conduct that creates a
grave risk of public injury or property damage. The requirement of five
persons establishes that the conduct must be a group activity rather
than individual disorderly behavior.
, Question 6: Under C.R.S. § 16-3-103, a peace officer may stop any
person based on reasonable suspicion and conduct what type of limited
search?
A. Full custodial search
B. Strip search
C. Pat-down (frisk) if safety concerns exist
D. Search of the person's vehicle
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Pat-down (frisk) if safety concerns exist
Rationale: C.R.S. § 16-3-103 codifies the authority for Terry stops in
Colorado, allowing officers to stop individuals based on reasonable
suspicion of criminal activity. The statute permits a limited pat-down
search for weapons if officer safety is a concern. This is distinct from a
full search, which requires probable cause.
Question 7: An officer responds to a domestic disturbance call. The
male subject admits to pushing his wife during an argument, and the
wife has a red mark on her arm but does not want to press charges.
Under Colorado law, what must the officer do?
A. Leave because the victim does not want to press charges
B. Arrest the suspect because Colorado has mandatory arrest laws for
domestic violence
C. Issue a summons and release the suspect
D. Mediate the dispute without making an arrest
