OPOTA Exam 2025/2026 with question
and answers
Explain the relationship between a SPO and a test questionA test question must
respond directly to an SPO and every SPO may be the basis of a test question
Explain the ultimate reason for law enforcement trainingTo be able to protect the life
and property of yourself and the public
List a peace officer's main goals- Enforce the laws
- Preserve the peace,
- Prevent crime
- Protect civil rights and liberties
- Provide services
Explain items to consider when exercising discretion- Use sound judgment to determine
which laws are to be formally enforced
- Determine if there is a more constructive remedy without arrest or citation
Explain the factors necessary for the commission of crimeDesire - the motivation behind
criminal behavior
Victim - potential target, unaware of surroundings
Opportunity - crime prevention strategies
State the core concepts of community policing-partnership between community and
police
-crime prevention
-organizational change of agency
-problem solving approach to police role is proactive
Considerations for off duty situationsBehavior - social media, uphold ethics
Situational Awareness- be alert, pre plan, off duty weapon policy, be a good witness
State the purpose of Bill of Rightsprotect a individual's freedoms
-prevent government from interfering in protected rights
Describe the major components of the criminal justice systemLaw Enforcement
Courts - hold fair & impartial trials, guilt or innocence, Impose sentences
Corrections - supervise offender
Goals of Sentencing-protect society
-punish offender/rehabilitate
,-restore the victim
Recognize the tenets of the Below 100-wear your seatbelt
-wear your vest
-WIN what's important now
-watch your speed
-complacency kills
Lawfuldefined by laws and standards
Criminal Lawidentifies what actions are prohibited
Rules of AgencyAdministrative rules, general orders
Constitutional Lawamendments
Police Legitimacyexists when the public view the police as authorized to exercise power
in order to maintain social order, manage conflicts, and solve problems in community
Judgement 1/3
public trust and confidence in police as being honest, trying to do jobs well, and
protecting communityResult
individuals are more likely to become actively involved in police community partnerships
Judgment #2
public willingness to defer the law and police authorityResult
Correlation between those who obey and those who view police as legitimate,
cooperate by reporting crimes and providing information
Judgement #3
public belief that police actions are morally justified and appropriateResult
citizens are more likely to cooperate and defer in moments of crisis
circumstances when filming police officers is permissible-one party consents
-as long as it does not interfere with officers carrying out their duties
Racemodern concept used to classify people by similar, observable physical
characteristics
Genetically influenced traitsSkin color, hair, eye shape, blood type, intelligence
connection between in / out groups, and police legitimacysome people interpret their
encounters with police in terms of their group's societal position rather than immediate
circumstances of the police contact
Types of Racismindividual, interpersonal, institutional, structural
,Individual Racisminternalized, unexpressed biases and prejudices based on race
Interpersonal Racismoccurs between individuals, public expressions of racial prejudice
and hate
institutional racismdiscriminatory policies and treatment by institutions
Structural RacismCollective way of history, culture, power inequality, unequal access to
opportunities
Components of biasstereotypes, prejudice, attitude
Stereotypesgeneralizations about the perceived typical characteristics of a social
category
Prejudicea often negative prejudgment based on characteristics such as race, age
Attitudepositive or negative feelings associated with individuals or groups
Bias-based profiling-Racial/illegal profiling
-unequal treatment by officers by stopping, questioning, searching, detaining on basis of
their ethnicity
Criminal profilingBased on observed behaviors and characteristics
Two types of Biasexplicit and implicit
Explicit Biasconscious preference for a social category
Implicit biaspreference for a social category based on stereotypes that we hold and tend
to develop in early life
Two modes of thinkingautomatic (system 1)
deliberative (system 2)
System 1 thinkingautomatic, effortless, unconscious, very fast
System 2 thinkingConscious, controlled, effortful, slower
practical purposesimplifies tasks which most adults do without having to systematically
think about each step
protection mechanismwe evaluate everything we see to determine if threatening or not
strategies to counter implicit biases-Guarding against influence in decision making
, -awareness
-know when you're susceptible ( in complete info, cognitive load, fatigue)
-slow down thinking
-empathetic
-effort (intention, attention, time)
Two-pronged Approach to Procedural Justiceperson based approach
community based model
person based approachemphasizes the importance of face to face interactions between
officer and a citizen
Community based modelultimate goal is to achieve police legitimacy through entire
society
community bank account concept as it relates to procedural justiceevery encounter is
either a deposit or withdrawal (increase or decrease public perception of police)
four core principles of procedural justicegiving others a voice, neutrality in decision
making, respectful treatment, trustworthiness
explain the generally accepted ethical responsibilities of officers-owed to your
community, citizens, profession, agency, family, yourself
-treat everyone professionally
-never allow cynicism, excessive force, perjury and accept gratuities
External Influences on behaviorrelationships with family and friends, citizens, media,
regulations, politics, subculture
Internal influences on behaviorofficer's own ethical and moral beliefs, anger, greed, lust
Denial of victimargue that violated party deserves to be victimized
Denial of responsibilityacted improperly because no other options
Denial of injuryargue that action did not hurt anyone so no ethical misconduct
Social Weightingmakes comparisons to justify unethical misconduct
moral justificationargues that it's necessary to break rules for the greater good
Continuum of Compromise-being exposed on a regular basis to "special authority" and
at the same time being exposed on a daily basis to that element of society that operates
without values, combines to severely challenge an officer's core values system
- can lead to a sense of entitlement where officers believe they are owed professional
courtesy and that the rules don't apply to them
and answers
Explain the relationship between a SPO and a test questionA test question must
respond directly to an SPO and every SPO may be the basis of a test question
Explain the ultimate reason for law enforcement trainingTo be able to protect the life
and property of yourself and the public
List a peace officer's main goals- Enforce the laws
- Preserve the peace,
- Prevent crime
- Protect civil rights and liberties
- Provide services
Explain items to consider when exercising discretion- Use sound judgment to determine
which laws are to be formally enforced
- Determine if there is a more constructive remedy without arrest or citation
Explain the factors necessary for the commission of crimeDesire - the motivation behind
criminal behavior
Victim - potential target, unaware of surroundings
Opportunity - crime prevention strategies
State the core concepts of community policing-partnership between community and
police
-crime prevention
-organizational change of agency
-problem solving approach to police role is proactive
Considerations for off duty situationsBehavior - social media, uphold ethics
Situational Awareness- be alert, pre plan, off duty weapon policy, be a good witness
State the purpose of Bill of Rightsprotect a individual's freedoms
-prevent government from interfering in protected rights
Describe the major components of the criminal justice systemLaw Enforcement
Courts - hold fair & impartial trials, guilt or innocence, Impose sentences
Corrections - supervise offender
Goals of Sentencing-protect society
-punish offender/rehabilitate
,-restore the victim
Recognize the tenets of the Below 100-wear your seatbelt
-wear your vest
-WIN what's important now
-watch your speed
-complacency kills
Lawfuldefined by laws and standards
Criminal Lawidentifies what actions are prohibited
Rules of AgencyAdministrative rules, general orders
Constitutional Lawamendments
Police Legitimacyexists when the public view the police as authorized to exercise power
in order to maintain social order, manage conflicts, and solve problems in community
Judgement 1/3
public trust and confidence in police as being honest, trying to do jobs well, and
protecting communityResult
individuals are more likely to become actively involved in police community partnerships
Judgment #2
public willingness to defer the law and police authorityResult
Correlation between those who obey and those who view police as legitimate,
cooperate by reporting crimes and providing information
Judgement #3
public belief that police actions are morally justified and appropriateResult
citizens are more likely to cooperate and defer in moments of crisis
circumstances when filming police officers is permissible-one party consents
-as long as it does not interfere with officers carrying out their duties
Racemodern concept used to classify people by similar, observable physical
characteristics
Genetically influenced traitsSkin color, hair, eye shape, blood type, intelligence
connection between in / out groups, and police legitimacysome people interpret their
encounters with police in terms of their group's societal position rather than immediate
circumstances of the police contact
Types of Racismindividual, interpersonal, institutional, structural
,Individual Racisminternalized, unexpressed biases and prejudices based on race
Interpersonal Racismoccurs between individuals, public expressions of racial prejudice
and hate
institutional racismdiscriminatory policies and treatment by institutions
Structural RacismCollective way of history, culture, power inequality, unequal access to
opportunities
Components of biasstereotypes, prejudice, attitude
Stereotypesgeneralizations about the perceived typical characteristics of a social
category
Prejudicea often negative prejudgment based on characteristics such as race, age
Attitudepositive or negative feelings associated with individuals or groups
Bias-based profiling-Racial/illegal profiling
-unequal treatment by officers by stopping, questioning, searching, detaining on basis of
their ethnicity
Criminal profilingBased on observed behaviors and characteristics
Two types of Biasexplicit and implicit
Explicit Biasconscious preference for a social category
Implicit biaspreference for a social category based on stereotypes that we hold and tend
to develop in early life
Two modes of thinkingautomatic (system 1)
deliberative (system 2)
System 1 thinkingautomatic, effortless, unconscious, very fast
System 2 thinkingConscious, controlled, effortful, slower
practical purposesimplifies tasks which most adults do without having to systematically
think about each step
protection mechanismwe evaluate everything we see to determine if threatening or not
strategies to counter implicit biases-Guarding against influence in decision making
, -awareness
-know when you're susceptible ( in complete info, cognitive load, fatigue)
-slow down thinking
-empathetic
-effort (intention, attention, time)
Two-pronged Approach to Procedural Justiceperson based approach
community based model
person based approachemphasizes the importance of face to face interactions between
officer and a citizen
Community based modelultimate goal is to achieve police legitimacy through entire
society
community bank account concept as it relates to procedural justiceevery encounter is
either a deposit or withdrawal (increase or decrease public perception of police)
four core principles of procedural justicegiving others a voice, neutrality in decision
making, respectful treatment, trustworthiness
explain the generally accepted ethical responsibilities of officers-owed to your
community, citizens, profession, agency, family, yourself
-treat everyone professionally
-never allow cynicism, excessive force, perjury and accept gratuities
External Influences on behaviorrelationships with family and friends, citizens, media,
regulations, politics, subculture
Internal influences on behaviorofficer's own ethical and moral beliefs, anger, greed, lust
Denial of victimargue that violated party deserves to be victimized
Denial of responsibilityacted improperly because no other options
Denial of injuryargue that action did not hurt anyone so no ethical misconduct
Social Weightingmakes comparisons to justify unethical misconduct
moral justificationargues that it's necessary to break rules for the greater good
Continuum of Compromise-being exposed on a regular basis to "special authority" and
at the same time being exposed on a daily basis to that element of society that operates
without values, combines to severely challenge an officer's core values system
- can lead to a sense of entitlement where officers believe they are owed professional
courtesy and that the rules don't apply to them
