Missouri POST Study Guide Exam Questions
and Correct Answers Plus Rationales | Latest
Question 1
Q: You observe and unconscious person in the park and you check for injuries and call
an ambulance. In your mind the symptoms this person is suffering diabetic seizures. Is
it legal to look on around or on the person for a medical alert tag or card?
Correct Answer
A: This is legal because emergency or exertive circumstances for the health and
welfare of the individual. If you find drugs on the person you can legally arrest the
person let the ambulance crew know and put it in the report. You were not looking
into the bag for evidence.
Question 2
Q: What is Testimonial Evidence?
Correct Answer
A: Oral or written assertion offered in a court as a proof of the truth of what is being
stated. It includes testimony evidence. Tested by credibility of person giving it, they
have firsthand knowledge, truthfulness
Page 1 of 166
,Question 3
Q: What are the two firing stances for the pistol?
Correct Answer
A: The Isosceles and the Weaver.
Question 1: Under the Fourth Amendment as applied in Missouri, which of the
following circumstances most clearly requires a law enforcement officer to
obtain a search warrant before conducting a search of a residence?
A. The officer observes contraband in plain view through an open window from a
public sidewalk
B. The resident voluntarily consents to the search after being informed of the right
to refuse
C. The officer has probable cause to believe evidence of a felony is inside and
exigent circumstances exist due to imminent destruction of evidence
D. The officer has reasonable suspicion that a suspect is inside and wishes to
conduct a protective sweep
CORRECT ANSWER: D. The officer has reasonable suspicion that a suspect is
inside and wishes to conduct a protective sweep
Rationale: A protective sweep based solely on reasonable suspicion without an
arrest or other justifying circumstances does not satisfy the Fourth Amendment
warrant requirement for searching a residence. Consent, plain view from a lawful
vantage point, and true exigent circumstances with probable cause are recognized
exceptions. Missouri courts strictly apply the warrant preference for homes.
Question 2: According to Missouri law and POST standards, when may a peace
officer use deadly force to effect an arrest?
A. Whenever the officer subjectively believes the suspect poses any threat
B. Only when the suspect has been convicted of a prior violent felony
C. When the officer has probable cause to believe the suspect has committed or
attempted a felony involving the infliction or threatened infliction of serious
physical injury and the suspect is fleeing
D. In all cases of fleeing misdemeanants who refuse verbal commands
CORRECT ANSWER: C. When the officer has probable cause to believe the
suspect has committed or attempted a felony involving the infliction or
threatened infliction of serious physical injury and the suspect is fleeing
Rationale: Missouri statutes and constitutional standards aligned with Tennessee v.
Garner authorize deadly force to prevent escape only when the officer has probable
cause that the fleeing suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical
injury to the officer or others. Mere flight or prior conviction status is insufficient.
Page 2 of 166
,Question 3: Which of the following best describes the “exclusionary rule” as
applied in Missouri criminal proceedings?
A. It prohibits the introduction of any evidence obtained by private citizens
B. It requires suppression of evidence obtained in violation of the defendant’s
Fourth, Fifth, or Sixth Amendment rights when the violation is by state actors
C. It automatically excludes all confessions made without an attorney present
D. It applies only to federal prosecutions and not to Missouri state courts
CORRECT ANSWER: B. It requires suppression of evidence obtained in violation
of the defendant’s Fourth, Fifth, or Sixth Amendment rights when the violation
is by state actors
Rationale: The exclusionary rule, incorporated through the Fourteenth Amendment
and applied by Missouri courts, bars the use of evidence obtained through
unconstitutional searches, seizures, or interrogations by government agents. It does
not apply to purely private conduct and is not limited to confessions or federal
cases.
Question 4: Under Missouri Revised Statutes, a peace officer may arrest a
person without a warrant for a misdemeanor when:
A. The officer has reasonable suspicion that the person committed the offense at
any time in the past
B. The offense was committed in the officer’s presence or the officer has probable
cause and statutory authority for the specific offense
C. Any citizen reports the offense and identifies the suspect
D. The suspect is found within the city limits regardless of the nature of the offense
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The offense was committed in the officer’s presence or
the officer has probable cause and statutory authority for the specific offense
Rationale: Missouri law generally requires that misdemeanor arrests without a
warrant be based on the offense occurring in the officer’s presence, with limited
statutory exceptions that still require probable cause. Reasonable suspicion alone is
insufficient for arrest.
Question 5: In Missouri, the crime of “resisting arrest” under RSMo is
committed when a person:
A. Verbally criticizes an officer during a lawful stop
B. Knowingly resists or interferes with a lawful arrest or detention by using or
threatening violence or physical force
C. Refuses to answer questions during a consensual encounter
D. Leaves the scene of a traffic stop after being told “you are free to go”
Page 3 of 166
, CORRECT ANSWER: B. Knowingly resists or interferes with a lawful arrest or
detention by using or threatening violence or physical force
Rationale: RSMo defines resisting arrest as knowingly resisting or interfering with an
arrest, stop, or detention by force, threat of force, or other physical interference.
Mere verbal disagreement or refusal to answer in a non-custodial setting does not
constitute the offense.
Question 6: Which United States Supreme Court case established the
“objective reasonableness” standard for evaluating police use of force under
the Fourth Amendment?
A. Miranda v. Arizona
B. Terry v. Ohio
C. Graham v. Connor
D. Mapp v. Ohio
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Graham v. Connor
Rationale: Graham v. Connor (1989) held that all claims of excessive force during an
arrest or investigatory stop must be analyzed under the Fourth Amendment’s
objective reasonableness standard, considering the totality of the circumstances
from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene.
Question 7: A Missouri peace officer stops a vehicle for a traffic violation.
During the stop the officer develops reasonable suspicion that the driver is
armed and dangerous. The officer may:
A. Conduct a full search of the vehicle’s passenger compartment for any evidence
B. Perform a limited protective frisk of the driver and a limited search of the
passenger compartment for weapons
C. Arrest the driver solely on the basis of the traffic violation
D. Detain the driver indefinitely until a warrant is obtained
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Perform a limited protective frisk of the driver and a
limited search of the passenger compartment for weapons
Rationale: Under Terry v. Ohio and Michigan v. Long, an officer with reasonable
suspicion that a person is armed and dangerous may conduct a protective frisk and,
in the vehicle context, a limited search of areas where a weapon may be placed or
hidden. A full evidentiary search requires probable cause or another exception.
Question 8: Under the Fifth Amendment and Missouri practice, Miranda
warnings are required when:
A. An officer approaches a citizen on the street and asks general questions
B. A suspect is in custody and is subjected to interrogation
Page 4 of 166
and Correct Answers Plus Rationales | Latest
Question 1
Q: You observe and unconscious person in the park and you check for injuries and call
an ambulance. In your mind the symptoms this person is suffering diabetic seizures. Is
it legal to look on around or on the person for a medical alert tag or card?
Correct Answer
A: This is legal because emergency or exertive circumstances for the health and
welfare of the individual. If you find drugs on the person you can legally arrest the
person let the ambulance crew know and put it in the report. You were not looking
into the bag for evidence.
Question 2
Q: What is Testimonial Evidence?
Correct Answer
A: Oral or written assertion offered in a court as a proof of the truth of what is being
stated. It includes testimony evidence. Tested by credibility of person giving it, they
have firsthand knowledge, truthfulness
Page 1 of 166
,Question 3
Q: What are the two firing stances for the pistol?
Correct Answer
A: The Isosceles and the Weaver.
Question 1: Under the Fourth Amendment as applied in Missouri, which of the
following circumstances most clearly requires a law enforcement officer to
obtain a search warrant before conducting a search of a residence?
A. The officer observes contraband in plain view through an open window from a
public sidewalk
B. The resident voluntarily consents to the search after being informed of the right
to refuse
C. The officer has probable cause to believe evidence of a felony is inside and
exigent circumstances exist due to imminent destruction of evidence
D. The officer has reasonable suspicion that a suspect is inside and wishes to
conduct a protective sweep
CORRECT ANSWER: D. The officer has reasonable suspicion that a suspect is
inside and wishes to conduct a protective sweep
Rationale: A protective sweep based solely on reasonable suspicion without an
arrest or other justifying circumstances does not satisfy the Fourth Amendment
warrant requirement for searching a residence. Consent, plain view from a lawful
vantage point, and true exigent circumstances with probable cause are recognized
exceptions. Missouri courts strictly apply the warrant preference for homes.
Question 2: According to Missouri law and POST standards, when may a peace
officer use deadly force to effect an arrest?
A. Whenever the officer subjectively believes the suspect poses any threat
B. Only when the suspect has been convicted of a prior violent felony
C. When the officer has probable cause to believe the suspect has committed or
attempted a felony involving the infliction or threatened infliction of serious
physical injury and the suspect is fleeing
D. In all cases of fleeing misdemeanants who refuse verbal commands
CORRECT ANSWER: C. When the officer has probable cause to believe the
suspect has committed or attempted a felony involving the infliction or
threatened infliction of serious physical injury and the suspect is fleeing
Rationale: Missouri statutes and constitutional standards aligned with Tennessee v.
Garner authorize deadly force to prevent escape only when the officer has probable
cause that the fleeing suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical
injury to the officer or others. Mere flight or prior conviction status is insufficient.
Page 2 of 166
,Question 3: Which of the following best describes the “exclusionary rule” as
applied in Missouri criminal proceedings?
A. It prohibits the introduction of any evidence obtained by private citizens
B. It requires suppression of evidence obtained in violation of the defendant’s
Fourth, Fifth, or Sixth Amendment rights when the violation is by state actors
C. It automatically excludes all confessions made without an attorney present
D. It applies only to federal prosecutions and not to Missouri state courts
CORRECT ANSWER: B. It requires suppression of evidence obtained in violation
of the defendant’s Fourth, Fifth, or Sixth Amendment rights when the violation
is by state actors
Rationale: The exclusionary rule, incorporated through the Fourteenth Amendment
and applied by Missouri courts, bars the use of evidence obtained through
unconstitutional searches, seizures, or interrogations by government agents. It does
not apply to purely private conduct and is not limited to confessions or federal
cases.
Question 4: Under Missouri Revised Statutes, a peace officer may arrest a
person without a warrant for a misdemeanor when:
A. The officer has reasonable suspicion that the person committed the offense at
any time in the past
B. The offense was committed in the officer’s presence or the officer has probable
cause and statutory authority for the specific offense
C. Any citizen reports the offense and identifies the suspect
D. The suspect is found within the city limits regardless of the nature of the offense
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The offense was committed in the officer’s presence or
the officer has probable cause and statutory authority for the specific offense
Rationale: Missouri law generally requires that misdemeanor arrests without a
warrant be based on the offense occurring in the officer’s presence, with limited
statutory exceptions that still require probable cause. Reasonable suspicion alone is
insufficient for arrest.
Question 5: In Missouri, the crime of “resisting arrest” under RSMo is
committed when a person:
A. Verbally criticizes an officer during a lawful stop
B. Knowingly resists or interferes with a lawful arrest or detention by using or
threatening violence or physical force
C. Refuses to answer questions during a consensual encounter
D. Leaves the scene of a traffic stop after being told “you are free to go”
Page 3 of 166
, CORRECT ANSWER: B. Knowingly resists or interferes with a lawful arrest or
detention by using or threatening violence or physical force
Rationale: RSMo defines resisting arrest as knowingly resisting or interfering with an
arrest, stop, or detention by force, threat of force, or other physical interference.
Mere verbal disagreement or refusal to answer in a non-custodial setting does not
constitute the offense.
Question 6: Which United States Supreme Court case established the
“objective reasonableness” standard for evaluating police use of force under
the Fourth Amendment?
A. Miranda v. Arizona
B. Terry v. Ohio
C. Graham v. Connor
D. Mapp v. Ohio
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Graham v. Connor
Rationale: Graham v. Connor (1989) held that all claims of excessive force during an
arrest or investigatory stop must be analyzed under the Fourth Amendment’s
objective reasonableness standard, considering the totality of the circumstances
from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene.
Question 7: A Missouri peace officer stops a vehicle for a traffic violation.
During the stop the officer develops reasonable suspicion that the driver is
armed and dangerous. The officer may:
A. Conduct a full search of the vehicle’s passenger compartment for any evidence
B. Perform a limited protective frisk of the driver and a limited search of the
passenger compartment for weapons
C. Arrest the driver solely on the basis of the traffic violation
D. Detain the driver indefinitely until a warrant is obtained
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Perform a limited protective frisk of the driver and a
limited search of the passenger compartment for weapons
Rationale: Under Terry v. Ohio and Michigan v. Long, an officer with reasonable
suspicion that a person is armed and dangerous may conduct a protective frisk and,
in the vehicle context, a limited search of areas where a weapon may be placed or
hidden. A full evidentiary search requires probable cause or another exception.
Question 8: Under the Fifth Amendment and Missouri practice, Miranda
warnings are required when:
A. An officer approaches a citizen on the street and asks general questions
B. A suspect is in custody and is subjected to interrogation
Page 4 of 166
