TCOLE BPOC Professional Policing Practice
Exam Questions with Correct Answers and
Explanations in Italics.
Section 1: History of Policing
Q1. To provide law enforcement during the first 200 years of our existence, cities used:
A) Sheriffs and deputies
B) Military forces
C) Volunteer watch groups
D) Private security companies
Answer: B) Military forces
Rationale: During the first 200 years of American existence, cities relied on military forces
for law enforcement before organized police departments were established .
Q2. The first permanent night watch was established in which American city?
A) New York
B) Philadelphia
C) Boston
D) Baltimore
Answer: C) Boston
Rationale: The first permanent night watch was established in Boston, marking one of the
earliest organized law enforcement efforts in colonial America .
Q3. In colonial days, sheriffs were:
A) Elected by the people
B) Appointed
,C) Volunteers
D) Military officers
Answer: B) Appointed
Rationale: During colonial times, sheriffs were appointed positions rather than elected .
Q4. Police forces in the United States have generally developed from rudimentary
organizations having their beginnings in:
A) England
B) France
C) Spain
D) Germany
Answer: A) Europe
Rationale: U.S. police forces developed from rudimentary organizations with origins in
European methods of law enforcement .
Q5. The principal law enforcement officer of the English "shire" was the:
A) Constable
B) Watchman
C) Sheriff
D) Justice of the Peace
Answer: C) Sheriff
Rationale: The sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer of the English "shire," an
administrative unit of government .
Q6. County, Sheriff, Common Law, and English "bobby" foot patrol are methods used
for policing in America that originated from:
A) Spanish methods
B) French methods
, C) European methods
D) Native American methods
Answer: C) European methods
Rationale: These foundational policing methods came from European traditions brought to
America by colonists .
Q7. The northeastern states generally had the ____________ system of law enforcement:
A) County Sheriff
B) Watch & Ward
C) Texas Ranger
D) Metropolitan Police
Answer: B) Watch & Ward
Rationale: The northeastern states operated under the Watch & Ward system, where
"Watch" referred to nighttime enforcement and "Ward" to daytime .
Q8. What was August Vollmer's goal for policing?
A) To increase arrest rates
B) To bring professionalism to the police
C) To eliminate corruption
D) To create the Texas Rangers
Answer: B) To bring professionalism to the police
Rationale: August Vollmer is known as a reformer who sought to bring professionalism
and academic standards to police work .
Q9. What did the automobile provide to police service from the 1900s to 1940s?
A) Better community relations
B) Rapid response time
C) Increased arrest powers
D) Reduced staffing needs
Exam Questions with Correct Answers and
Explanations in Italics.
Section 1: History of Policing
Q1. To provide law enforcement during the first 200 years of our existence, cities used:
A) Sheriffs and deputies
B) Military forces
C) Volunteer watch groups
D) Private security companies
Answer: B) Military forces
Rationale: During the first 200 years of American existence, cities relied on military forces
for law enforcement before organized police departments were established .
Q2. The first permanent night watch was established in which American city?
A) New York
B) Philadelphia
C) Boston
D) Baltimore
Answer: C) Boston
Rationale: The first permanent night watch was established in Boston, marking one of the
earliest organized law enforcement efforts in colonial America .
Q3. In colonial days, sheriffs were:
A) Elected by the people
B) Appointed
,C) Volunteers
D) Military officers
Answer: B) Appointed
Rationale: During colonial times, sheriffs were appointed positions rather than elected .
Q4. Police forces in the United States have generally developed from rudimentary
organizations having their beginnings in:
A) England
B) France
C) Spain
D) Germany
Answer: A) Europe
Rationale: U.S. police forces developed from rudimentary organizations with origins in
European methods of law enforcement .
Q5. The principal law enforcement officer of the English "shire" was the:
A) Constable
B) Watchman
C) Sheriff
D) Justice of the Peace
Answer: C) Sheriff
Rationale: The sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer of the English "shire," an
administrative unit of government .
Q6. County, Sheriff, Common Law, and English "bobby" foot patrol are methods used
for policing in America that originated from:
A) Spanish methods
B) French methods
, C) European methods
D) Native American methods
Answer: C) European methods
Rationale: These foundational policing methods came from European traditions brought to
America by colonists .
Q7. The northeastern states generally had the ____________ system of law enforcement:
A) County Sheriff
B) Watch & Ward
C) Texas Ranger
D) Metropolitan Police
Answer: B) Watch & Ward
Rationale: The northeastern states operated under the Watch & Ward system, where
"Watch" referred to nighttime enforcement and "Ward" to daytime .
Q8. What was August Vollmer's goal for policing?
A) To increase arrest rates
B) To bring professionalism to the police
C) To eliminate corruption
D) To create the Texas Rangers
Answer: B) To bring professionalism to the police
Rationale: August Vollmer is known as a reformer who sought to bring professionalism
and academic standards to police work .
Q9. What did the automobile provide to police service from the 1900s to 1940s?
A) Better community relations
B) Rapid response time
C) Increased arrest powers
D) Reduced staffing needs
