Test Bank for Effective Police
Supervision, 9th Edition Miller (All
Chapters included) EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
1. A newly promoted sergeant notices that one officer frequently arrives late to
roll call but performs well in the field. What is the BEST initial supervisory
response?
A. Immediately initiate disciplinary action
B. Ignore it since performance is strong
C. Conduct a private counseling session with documentation
D. Transfer the officer to another unit
Answer: C
Rationale: Progressive discipline begins with informal counseling to correct
behavior while maintaining fairness and documentation.
2. A supervisor receives a complaint that an officer used unnecessary force
during an arrest. What should the supervisor do FIRST?
A. Interview the officer immediately and conclude findings
B. Secure all available reports and evidence
C. Suspend the officer without pay
D. Inform the media relations unit
Answer: B
Rationale: A supervisor must first gather facts and preserve evidence before
making determinations.
3. An officer openly challenges a supervisor’s order in front of civilians. What is
the MOST appropriate response?
A. Ignore it to avoid escalation
B. Issue a verbal correction privately later
C. Publicly escalate discipline on the spot
D. Remove the officer immediately from duty permanently
,Answer: B
Rationale: Correct behavior should be addressed promptly but preferably in
private unless safety is at risk.
4. A supervisor suspects favoritism is affecting shift assignments. What is the
BEST preventive action?
A. Continue current assignments
B. Rotate assignments using a transparent system
C. Allow officers to choose their own assignments
D. Delegate all assignments to senior officers only
Answer: B
Rationale: Transparency and structured rotation reduce perceptions of bias.
5. An officer reports another officer for possible theft of evidence. What is the
supervisor’s FIRST duty?
A. Confront the accused officer immediately
B. Notify internal affairs and preserve chain of custody
C. Ignore until proof is found
D. Transfer both officers
Answer: B
Rationale: Allegations involving evidence require immediate reporting and
preservation of integrity.
6. A supervisor notices declining morale after a policy change. What is the BEST
action?
A. Reinforce the policy without discussion
B. Hold a briefing to explain rationale and gather feedback
C. Reverse the policy immediately
D. Discipline officers who complain
Answer: B
Rationale: Communication and engagement improve compliance and morale.
7. During a pursuit, an officer violates department pursuit policy. What should
the supervisor do after the incident?
A. Automatically terminate the officer
B. Conduct a review of compliance with policy
C. Ignore if no harm occurred
,D. Publicly praise the officer for effort
Answer: B
Rationale: Post-incident review determines compliance and training needs.
8. An officer consistently misses report deadlines, affecting case processing.
What is the BEST supervisory action?
A. Reassign the officer permanently
B. Provide coaching and set clear performance expectations
C. Ignore since field work is good
D. Immediately suspend the officer
Answer: B
Rationale: Performance issues should first be addressed through coaching and
expectations.
9. A citizen offers a gift card to an officer as thanks for assistance. What should
the supervisor advise?
A. Accept if under $50 value
B. Accept but report later
C. Decline according to ethics policy
D. Donate it to the department
Answer: C
Rationale: Ethical standards typically prohibit acceptance of gifts to avoid conflicts
of interest.
10. A subordinate officer refuses to complete a lawful assignment due to
personal disagreement. What is the BEST response?
A. Ignore refusal
B. Reassign the task permanently
C. Order compliance and document insubordination
D. Allow peer voting on assignment
Answer: C
Rationale: Lawful orders must be followed; refusal constitutes insubordination.
11. A supervisor learns that two officers are in an undisclosed romantic
relationship on the same shift. What is the BEST action?
A. Ignore unless performance is affected
, B. Immediately terminate both officers
C. Review conflict-of-interest policy and reassign as needed
D. Publicly discipline them
Answer: C
Rationale: Undisclosed relationships may create conflicts and require
reassignment, not immediate punishment.
12. A report contains inconsistent details from an officer involved in an arrest.
What should the supervisor do?
A. Rewrite the report for them
B. Ignore inconsistencies
C. Request clarification and correction from the officer
D. Submit it as-is
Answer: C
Rationale: Supervisors ensure accuracy and integrity of reports.
13. A junior officer seeks advice on how to handle a difficult suspect. What is
the BEST supervisory approach?
A. Give vague encouragement only
B. Provide clear tactical guidance and expectations
C. Tell them to figure it out alone
D. Assign another officer permanently
Answer: B
Rationale: Effective supervision includes training and tactical guidance.
14. An officer repeatedly bypasses the chain of command. What is the BEST
response?
A. Ignore if results are good
B. Informally warn once
C. Reinforce chain-of-command expectations and document
D. Immediately demote the officer
Answer: C
Rationale: Chain-of-command violations must be corrected and documented.
15. A supervisor is asked to alter an incident report to “reduce paperwork.”
What should they do?
A. Comply to save time
Supervision, 9th Edition Miller (All
Chapters included) EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
1. A newly promoted sergeant notices that one officer frequently arrives late to
roll call but performs well in the field. What is the BEST initial supervisory
response?
A. Immediately initiate disciplinary action
B. Ignore it since performance is strong
C. Conduct a private counseling session with documentation
D. Transfer the officer to another unit
Answer: C
Rationale: Progressive discipline begins with informal counseling to correct
behavior while maintaining fairness and documentation.
2. A supervisor receives a complaint that an officer used unnecessary force
during an arrest. What should the supervisor do FIRST?
A. Interview the officer immediately and conclude findings
B. Secure all available reports and evidence
C. Suspend the officer without pay
D. Inform the media relations unit
Answer: B
Rationale: A supervisor must first gather facts and preserve evidence before
making determinations.
3. An officer openly challenges a supervisor’s order in front of civilians. What is
the MOST appropriate response?
A. Ignore it to avoid escalation
B. Issue a verbal correction privately later
C. Publicly escalate discipline on the spot
D. Remove the officer immediately from duty permanently
,Answer: B
Rationale: Correct behavior should be addressed promptly but preferably in
private unless safety is at risk.
4. A supervisor suspects favoritism is affecting shift assignments. What is the
BEST preventive action?
A. Continue current assignments
B. Rotate assignments using a transparent system
C. Allow officers to choose their own assignments
D. Delegate all assignments to senior officers only
Answer: B
Rationale: Transparency and structured rotation reduce perceptions of bias.
5. An officer reports another officer for possible theft of evidence. What is the
supervisor’s FIRST duty?
A. Confront the accused officer immediately
B. Notify internal affairs and preserve chain of custody
C. Ignore until proof is found
D. Transfer both officers
Answer: B
Rationale: Allegations involving evidence require immediate reporting and
preservation of integrity.
6. A supervisor notices declining morale after a policy change. What is the BEST
action?
A. Reinforce the policy without discussion
B. Hold a briefing to explain rationale and gather feedback
C. Reverse the policy immediately
D. Discipline officers who complain
Answer: B
Rationale: Communication and engagement improve compliance and morale.
7. During a pursuit, an officer violates department pursuit policy. What should
the supervisor do after the incident?
A. Automatically terminate the officer
B. Conduct a review of compliance with policy
C. Ignore if no harm occurred
,D. Publicly praise the officer for effort
Answer: B
Rationale: Post-incident review determines compliance and training needs.
8. An officer consistently misses report deadlines, affecting case processing.
What is the BEST supervisory action?
A. Reassign the officer permanently
B. Provide coaching and set clear performance expectations
C. Ignore since field work is good
D. Immediately suspend the officer
Answer: B
Rationale: Performance issues should first be addressed through coaching and
expectations.
9. A citizen offers a gift card to an officer as thanks for assistance. What should
the supervisor advise?
A. Accept if under $50 value
B. Accept but report later
C. Decline according to ethics policy
D. Donate it to the department
Answer: C
Rationale: Ethical standards typically prohibit acceptance of gifts to avoid conflicts
of interest.
10. A subordinate officer refuses to complete a lawful assignment due to
personal disagreement. What is the BEST response?
A. Ignore refusal
B. Reassign the task permanently
C. Order compliance and document insubordination
D. Allow peer voting on assignment
Answer: C
Rationale: Lawful orders must be followed; refusal constitutes insubordination.
11. A supervisor learns that two officers are in an undisclosed romantic
relationship on the same shift. What is the BEST action?
A. Ignore unless performance is affected
, B. Immediately terminate both officers
C. Review conflict-of-interest policy and reassign as needed
D. Publicly discipline them
Answer: C
Rationale: Undisclosed relationships may create conflicts and require
reassignment, not immediate punishment.
12. A report contains inconsistent details from an officer involved in an arrest.
What should the supervisor do?
A. Rewrite the report for them
B. Ignore inconsistencies
C. Request clarification and correction from the officer
D. Submit it as-is
Answer: C
Rationale: Supervisors ensure accuracy and integrity of reports.
13. A junior officer seeks advice on how to handle a difficult suspect. What is
the BEST supervisory approach?
A. Give vague encouragement only
B. Provide clear tactical guidance and expectations
C. Tell them to figure it out alone
D. Assign another officer permanently
Answer: B
Rationale: Effective supervision includes training and tactical guidance.
14. An officer repeatedly bypasses the chain of command. What is the BEST
response?
A. Ignore if results are good
B. Informally warn once
C. Reinforce chain-of-command expectations and document
D. Immediately demote the officer
Answer: C
Rationale: Chain-of-command violations must be corrected and documented.
15. A supervisor is asked to alter an incident report to “reduce paperwork.”
What should they do?
A. Comply to save time
