OPOTA Final Exam (SPOs)
The relationship between a student performance objective and a test question - Answer-A test question
must respond directly to an SPO and every SPO may be the basis of a test question
The ultimate reason for law enforcement training - Answer-To be able to protect life and property of
yourself and the public
A peace officer's main goals - Answer-1. Enforce laws
2. Preserve the peace
3. Prevent crimes
4. Protect civil rights and liberties
5. Provide services
Considerations when exercising discretion - Answer-•Use sound judgment to determine which laws are
to be formally enforced
•Determine if there is a more constructive remedy to a situation without an arrest or citation (e.g.,
referring a homeless person to a shelter rather than a trespassing arrest)
Factors necessary for the commission of a crime (crime triangle) - Answer-1. Desire
,•The motivation behind criminal behavior (e.g., financial gain, power, revenge, fear, narcotics usage)
•This factor is the most difficult to change
2. Victim
•The potential target
•Criminals prefer an easy target that is unaware of his/her surroundings or lacking proper security
precautions
•Difficult to change this factor due to individual personalities
3. Opportunity
•Removing opportunity for crime with proper security measures applied to the victim's environment
(e.g., locking doors/windows, removing valuables from open view, good lighting)
•Most effective area to concentrate crime prevention strategies
Core concepts of community policing - Answer-- a partnership between the police and the community
- crime prevention
- organizational change of the agency
- a problem- solving approach to the police role that is proactive
Considerations for off duty situations - Answer-1. Behavior
•An officer's behavior is often scrutinized by the community even when not on duty
•Not only does this refer to physical and verbal actions, but also online activity on social media
•An officer is expected to uphold the law enforcement code of ethics
2. Situational awareness
•An officer should make every effort to remain alert even when not working
•You never know when you may need to transition quickly from a private citizen to a peace officer
•Make certain to preplan with your family should a situation arise while together. Create a number of
scenarios for your family to practice
•Familiarize yourself with your agency's off duty weapon policy
,Be a good witness if a situation arises when police intervention is necessary
•If the situation involves a reasonable belief of serious physical harm, provide a response as soon as
practical
•However, if the situation is less serious, the best course of action is to observe the incident until
uniformed officers respond
•If you become involved, make contact withdispatch as soon as possible to provide information about
the incident and information about yourself (e.g., clothing you are wearing, car you are driving,
description of offenders and victims, pertinent officer safety information)
State the purpose of the bill of rights - Answer-- protect an individual's freedoms
- prevent the government from interfering in protected rights
Describe the major components of the criminal justice system - Answer-1. Law enforcement
2. Courts
3. Corrections
List the goals of sentencing - Answer-1. punish the offender and in many cases, rehabilitate the offender
2. Protect society
3. Restore the victim as much as possible
The concepts of lawful actions and police legitimacy - Answer-1. Lawful - defined by laws and standards
•Criminal law - identifies what actions are prohibited
•Rules of agency (e.g., administrative rules, general orders, standard operating procedures)
•Constitutional law (e.g., Fourth, Fifth, Sixth Amendments)
•Officers can act lawfully and within the parameters of agency policy and the citizenry still not perceive
there to be police legitimacy - there can be lawful, but awful interactions
, 2. Police legitimacy - exists when the public views the police as authorized to exercise power in order to
maintain social order, manage conflicts, and solve problems in the community
Three resulting judgments of police legitimacy in action that translate into positive results - Answer-
Judgment
- Public trust and confidence in the police as being honest, trying to do jobs well, trying to protect the
community
Result - Individuals are more likely to become actively involved in police-community partnerships
Judgment - Public willingness to defer to the law and police authority
Result - There is a correlation between those who obey the laws and those who view the police as
legitimate; in addition, those who see the police as legitimate have an increased willingness to
cooperate by reporting crimes and providing valuable information about known and suspected
offenders
Judgment - Public belief that police actions are morally justified and appropriate
Result - Citizens are more likely to cooperate and defer in moments of crisis
Circumstances when filming police officers is permissible - Answer-•At least one party to the encounter
consents or
•When officers are carrying out their duties in public, so long as it does not interfere with the officers
carrying out their duties
The relationship between race, genetics, and physical characteristics - Answer-•Race is a modern
concept used to classify people by similar, observable physical characteristics
•It is not, as many people think, based on genetics
•Despite surface appearances, humans are one of the most genetically similar of all species and ...
The relationship between a student performance objective and a test question - Answer-A test question
must respond directly to an SPO and every SPO may be the basis of a test question
The ultimate reason for law enforcement training - Answer-To be able to protect life and property of
yourself and the public
A peace officer's main goals - Answer-1. Enforce laws
2. Preserve the peace
3. Prevent crimes
4. Protect civil rights and liberties
5. Provide services
Considerations when exercising discretion - Answer-•Use sound judgment to determine which laws are
to be formally enforced
•Determine if there is a more constructive remedy to a situation without an arrest or citation (e.g.,
referring a homeless person to a shelter rather than a trespassing arrest)
Factors necessary for the commission of a crime (crime triangle) - Answer-1. Desire
,•The motivation behind criminal behavior (e.g., financial gain, power, revenge, fear, narcotics usage)
•This factor is the most difficult to change
2. Victim
•The potential target
•Criminals prefer an easy target that is unaware of his/her surroundings or lacking proper security
precautions
•Difficult to change this factor due to individual personalities
3. Opportunity
•Removing opportunity for crime with proper security measures applied to the victim's environment
(e.g., locking doors/windows, removing valuables from open view, good lighting)
•Most effective area to concentrate crime prevention strategies
Core concepts of community policing - Answer-- a partnership between the police and the community
- crime prevention
- organizational change of the agency
- a problem- solving approach to the police role that is proactive
Considerations for off duty situations - Answer-1. Behavior
•An officer's behavior is often scrutinized by the community even when not on duty
•Not only does this refer to physical and verbal actions, but also online activity on social media
•An officer is expected to uphold the law enforcement code of ethics
2. Situational awareness
•An officer should make every effort to remain alert even when not working
•You never know when you may need to transition quickly from a private citizen to a peace officer
•Make certain to preplan with your family should a situation arise while together. Create a number of
scenarios for your family to practice
•Familiarize yourself with your agency's off duty weapon policy
,Be a good witness if a situation arises when police intervention is necessary
•If the situation involves a reasonable belief of serious physical harm, provide a response as soon as
practical
•However, if the situation is less serious, the best course of action is to observe the incident until
uniformed officers respond
•If you become involved, make contact withdispatch as soon as possible to provide information about
the incident and information about yourself (e.g., clothing you are wearing, car you are driving,
description of offenders and victims, pertinent officer safety information)
State the purpose of the bill of rights - Answer-- protect an individual's freedoms
- prevent the government from interfering in protected rights
Describe the major components of the criminal justice system - Answer-1. Law enforcement
2. Courts
3. Corrections
List the goals of sentencing - Answer-1. punish the offender and in many cases, rehabilitate the offender
2. Protect society
3. Restore the victim as much as possible
The concepts of lawful actions and police legitimacy - Answer-1. Lawful - defined by laws and standards
•Criminal law - identifies what actions are prohibited
•Rules of agency (e.g., administrative rules, general orders, standard operating procedures)
•Constitutional law (e.g., Fourth, Fifth, Sixth Amendments)
•Officers can act lawfully and within the parameters of agency policy and the citizenry still not perceive
there to be police legitimacy - there can be lawful, but awful interactions
, 2. Police legitimacy - exists when the public views the police as authorized to exercise power in order to
maintain social order, manage conflicts, and solve problems in the community
Three resulting judgments of police legitimacy in action that translate into positive results - Answer-
Judgment
- Public trust and confidence in the police as being honest, trying to do jobs well, trying to protect the
community
Result - Individuals are more likely to become actively involved in police-community partnerships
Judgment - Public willingness to defer to the law and police authority
Result - There is a correlation between those who obey the laws and those who view the police as
legitimate; in addition, those who see the police as legitimate have an increased willingness to
cooperate by reporting crimes and providing valuable information about known and suspected
offenders
Judgment - Public belief that police actions are morally justified and appropriate
Result - Citizens are more likely to cooperate and defer in moments of crisis
Circumstances when filming police officers is permissible - Answer-•At least one party to the encounter
consents or
•When officers are carrying out their duties in public, so long as it does not interfere with the officers
carrying out their duties
The relationship between race, genetics, and physical characteristics - Answer-•Race is a modern
concept used to classify people by similar, observable physical characteristics
•It is not, as many people think, based on genetics
•Despite surface appearances, humans are one of the most genetically similar of all species and ...
