MPOETC STUDY GUIDE EVERYTHING EXAM LATEST
2026/2027 UPDATED | FROM QUESTION TO PERFECTION|
STUDY WITH CONFIDENCE!
American law enforcement system follows ________ model. Answer: English
Constable Answer: early official, supervised weapons and community equipment
Sheriff Answer: county's law enforcement officer (no power to arrest in PA)
Discretion Answer: ability to choose between alternatives
The mere presence of a p/o is ________ power. Answer: coercive
Social contract Answer: An agreement between the people and their government signifying
their consent to be governed; certain rights are given up for state protection
Police power Answer: derived from the constitutional authority of the government; do NOT
confuse with power
watch system Answer: night watchmen signaled each other for help
Alternatives to arrest Answer: 1. youth aid panel
2. drug court
3. ARD
Trends in LE Answer: 1. Computer Tech
2. Fingerprint Tech
3. Less lethal tech
4. Surveillance tech
5. Photographic tech
6. Modern forensics (DNA, biometrics, videotaping, databases)
Father of modern policing Answer: Sir Robert Peel
Peel Principles 1 Answer: Ability of police to perform their duties depends upon public
approval
Peel Principle 2 Answer: Police must secure willingness to cooperate
Peel Principle 3 Answer: The degree of public cooperation diminishes proportionally to the
necessity of use of physical force
Peel Principle 4 Answer: Police seeks/preserves public favor by NOT catering to public
opinion, but by demonstrating constant and impartial service to the law
APPHIA – Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
1
, Peel Principal 5 Answer: Use physical force to the extent necessary to observe the law only
when persuasion/advice/warning are insufficient
Peel Principal 6 Answer: Police are the public and public is the police
Peel Principal 7 Answer: Direct actions toward their functions and never assume power of a
judiciary
Peel principal 8 Answer: Test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not
visible police actions.
Peel Principal 9 Answer: The ability of police to perform their duty depends on public approval
of police actions
Natural law Answer: morals and ethics are given
Ethics Answer: a code of values for our behavior based upon what morally good or bad
behavior
Professionalism Answer: the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession
or a professional person
Professional Answer: specialized, specially trained, held to a higher standard and master of
specialized knowledge
Trust and Legitimacy Answer: hard to earn and easy to loose
Unethical behavior implies Answer: los of trust, loss of cooperation and compliance
Police misconduct Answer: inappropriate actions taken by police officers in connection with
their official duties
Use of discretion should be based on Answer: sound reasoning (fair, equitable, impartial)
Ethical decision making tools Answer: 1. statutes/laws/ordinances
2. the oath of honor/the oath of the office
3. code of conduct
Unethical vs. Illegal Answer: what is unethical (usually falls short of criminality) is not
necessarily illegal (law must be broken)
Community oriented policing Answer: is a philosophy that relies on the officer's relationship w/
the community he/she serves to solve the ills of the community together in creative ways
Community Answer: persons in social interaction within a geographical area
Public trust Answer: Power granted to the government
How can p/o improve community attitude towards them? Answer: 1. attire
2. grooming
3. demeanor
APPHIA – Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
2
2026/2027 UPDATED | FROM QUESTION TO PERFECTION|
STUDY WITH CONFIDENCE!
American law enforcement system follows ________ model. Answer: English
Constable Answer: early official, supervised weapons and community equipment
Sheriff Answer: county's law enforcement officer (no power to arrest in PA)
Discretion Answer: ability to choose between alternatives
The mere presence of a p/o is ________ power. Answer: coercive
Social contract Answer: An agreement between the people and their government signifying
their consent to be governed; certain rights are given up for state protection
Police power Answer: derived from the constitutional authority of the government; do NOT
confuse with power
watch system Answer: night watchmen signaled each other for help
Alternatives to arrest Answer: 1. youth aid panel
2. drug court
3. ARD
Trends in LE Answer: 1. Computer Tech
2. Fingerprint Tech
3. Less lethal tech
4. Surveillance tech
5. Photographic tech
6. Modern forensics (DNA, biometrics, videotaping, databases)
Father of modern policing Answer: Sir Robert Peel
Peel Principles 1 Answer: Ability of police to perform their duties depends upon public
approval
Peel Principle 2 Answer: Police must secure willingness to cooperate
Peel Principle 3 Answer: The degree of public cooperation diminishes proportionally to the
necessity of use of physical force
Peel Principle 4 Answer: Police seeks/preserves public favor by NOT catering to public
opinion, but by demonstrating constant and impartial service to the law
APPHIA – Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
1
, Peel Principal 5 Answer: Use physical force to the extent necessary to observe the law only
when persuasion/advice/warning are insufficient
Peel Principal 6 Answer: Police are the public and public is the police
Peel Principal 7 Answer: Direct actions toward their functions and never assume power of a
judiciary
Peel principal 8 Answer: Test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not
visible police actions.
Peel Principal 9 Answer: The ability of police to perform their duty depends on public approval
of police actions
Natural law Answer: morals and ethics are given
Ethics Answer: a code of values for our behavior based upon what morally good or bad
behavior
Professionalism Answer: the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession
or a professional person
Professional Answer: specialized, specially trained, held to a higher standard and master of
specialized knowledge
Trust and Legitimacy Answer: hard to earn and easy to loose
Unethical behavior implies Answer: los of trust, loss of cooperation and compliance
Police misconduct Answer: inappropriate actions taken by police officers in connection with
their official duties
Use of discretion should be based on Answer: sound reasoning (fair, equitable, impartial)
Ethical decision making tools Answer: 1. statutes/laws/ordinances
2. the oath of honor/the oath of the office
3. code of conduct
Unethical vs. Illegal Answer: what is unethical (usually falls short of criminality) is not
necessarily illegal (law must be broken)
Community oriented policing Answer: is a philosophy that relies on the officer's relationship w/
the community he/she serves to solve the ills of the community together in creative ways
Community Answer: persons in social interaction within a geographical area
Public trust Answer: Power granted to the government
How can p/o improve community attitude towards them? Answer: 1. attire
2. grooming
3. demeanor
APPHIA – Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
2
