Sergeant Practice Exam 1 UPDATED
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
As a newly appointed sergeant, you observe one of your officers approach a person who she
reasonably suspects to be selling packets of cocaine. The officer begins to question the person
and then conducts a pat-down search of the person's jacket, attempting to locate where the drugs
are secreted. As a supervisor, you should tell the officer that this type of search is - CORRECT
ANSWER - Not justifiable because the officer had only reasonable suspicion.
There is a sentencing philosophy that seeks to prevent criminal acts by making an example of
persons convicted of crimes. Choose the theory of punishment that asserts potential offenders
will refrain from committing crimes for fear of punishment - CORRECT ANSWER -
Deterrence. Deterrence is split in to two categories - general and specific
When evidence is obtained by the police in violation of a person's constitutional rights, that
evidence may be inadmissible in any subsequent criminal trial against that person for which the
evidence was a key component. This is known as - CORRECT ANSWER - The
exclusionary rule
What is needed for a police officer to make a lawful search of a person's premises in the absence
of exigent circumstances? - CORRECT ANSWER - A search warrant
The sentencing philosophy seeking to create an equal or proportionate relationship between the
offense and the punishment is called - CORRECT ANSWER - Just desserts
Which of the following constitutional amendments contains the due process clause? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments
A sentencing philosophy seeking satisfaction from knowing or seeing that offenders are
punished. Also called vengeance. This philosophy of justice asserts that the punishment should
fit the crime and the culpability of the offender - CORRECT ANSWER - Retribution
, If probable cause exists to search a motor vehicle, then - CORRECT ANSWER - if the
vehicle can be readily moved, the entire vehicle can be searched
According to the Supreme Court, the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution protects -
CORRECT ANSWER - people
A sentencing philosophy seeking to reintegrate the offender into society is called - CORRECT
ANSWER - rehabilitation
Two police officers board a bus during a stop over from another city. They wore badges and
insignia, and one of them was holding a zipper pouch containing a pistol. Although they lacked
express reasons for suspicion, the officers picked out the defendant and asked to inspect his
ticket and identification, which he gave to them. These items were immediately returned to the
defendant as unremarkable. However, the two police officers then explained that they were
narcotics agents on the lookout for illegal drugs and asked the defendant's consent to search his
luggage. They specifically advised the defendant that he had the right to refuse consent. The
search uncovered a quantity of cocaine in one of the defendant's suitcases. The defendant was
arrested and charged with trafficking in cocaine. The Supreme Court held that - CORRECT
ANSWER - the actions of the two officers were lawful and no reasonable suspicion was
required because the defendant gave his consent to the search
Which of the following is NOT a recognized exception of the Fourth Amendment search warrant
requirement? - CORRECT ANSWER - Terry type search for drugs
A field interview by a police officer does not involve detention in the constitutional sens so long
as the officer does not deny the individual the right to move. What else is true of this scenario? -
CORRECT ANSWER - The person approached may not be detained even momentarily
unless the officer has reasonable objective grounds for detaining the person. If the police officer
is not armed with reasonable suspicion of criminal activity, the person approached need not
answer any question put to him or her; indeed, he or she may decline to listen to the questions at
all and leave. When the officer has reasonable suspicion that a particular person committed a
crime, he or she may lawfully stop that person and detain him or her long enough to dispel or
build on the suspicion, but the suspect does not have to answer any questions put to him or her
by the police.
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
As a newly appointed sergeant, you observe one of your officers approach a person who she
reasonably suspects to be selling packets of cocaine. The officer begins to question the person
and then conducts a pat-down search of the person's jacket, attempting to locate where the drugs
are secreted. As a supervisor, you should tell the officer that this type of search is - CORRECT
ANSWER - Not justifiable because the officer had only reasonable suspicion.
There is a sentencing philosophy that seeks to prevent criminal acts by making an example of
persons convicted of crimes. Choose the theory of punishment that asserts potential offenders
will refrain from committing crimes for fear of punishment - CORRECT ANSWER -
Deterrence. Deterrence is split in to two categories - general and specific
When evidence is obtained by the police in violation of a person's constitutional rights, that
evidence may be inadmissible in any subsequent criminal trial against that person for which the
evidence was a key component. This is known as - CORRECT ANSWER - The
exclusionary rule
What is needed for a police officer to make a lawful search of a person's premises in the absence
of exigent circumstances? - CORRECT ANSWER - A search warrant
The sentencing philosophy seeking to create an equal or proportionate relationship between the
offense and the punishment is called - CORRECT ANSWER - Just desserts
Which of the following constitutional amendments contains the due process clause? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments
A sentencing philosophy seeking satisfaction from knowing or seeing that offenders are
punished. Also called vengeance. This philosophy of justice asserts that the punishment should
fit the crime and the culpability of the offender - CORRECT ANSWER - Retribution
, If probable cause exists to search a motor vehicle, then - CORRECT ANSWER - if the
vehicle can be readily moved, the entire vehicle can be searched
According to the Supreme Court, the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution protects -
CORRECT ANSWER - people
A sentencing philosophy seeking to reintegrate the offender into society is called - CORRECT
ANSWER - rehabilitation
Two police officers board a bus during a stop over from another city. They wore badges and
insignia, and one of them was holding a zipper pouch containing a pistol. Although they lacked
express reasons for suspicion, the officers picked out the defendant and asked to inspect his
ticket and identification, which he gave to them. These items were immediately returned to the
defendant as unremarkable. However, the two police officers then explained that they were
narcotics agents on the lookout for illegal drugs and asked the defendant's consent to search his
luggage. They specifically advised the defendant that he had the right to refuse consent. The
search uncovered a quantity of cocaine in one of the defendant's suitcases. The defendant was
arrested and charged with trafficking in cocaine. The Supreme Court held that - CORRECT
ANSWER - the actions of the two officers were lawful and no reasonable suspicion was
required because the defendant gave his consent to the search
Which of the following is NOT a recognized exception of the Fourth Amendment search warrant
requirement? - CORRECT ANSWER - Terry type search for drugs
A field interview by a police officer does not involve detention in the constitutional sens so long
as the officer does not deny the individual the right to move. What else is true of this scenario? -
CORRECT ANSWER - The person approached may not be detained even momentarily
unless the officer has reasonable objective grounds for detaining the person. If the police officer
is not armed with reasonable suspicion of criminal activity, the person approached need not
answer any question put to him or her; indeed, he or she may decline to listen to the questions at
all and leave. When the officer has reasonable suspicion that a particular person committed a
crime, he or she may lawfully stop that person and detain him or her long enough to dispel or
build on the suspicion, but the suspect does not have to answer any questions put to him or her
by the police.
