Sergeant Practice Exam 1 – Study Guide and Practice Questions for Law Enforcement
Promotional Exam Preparation
Not justifiable because the officer had only reasonable suspicion. - correct answer ✔✔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
Deterrence. Deterrence is split in to two categories - general and specific - correct answer
✔✔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
The exclusionary rule - correct answer ✔✔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
A search warrant - correct answer ✔✔What is needed for a police officer to make a lawful
search of a person's premises in the absence of exigent circumstances?
Just desserts - correct answer ✔✔The sentencing philosophy seeking to create an equal or
proportionate relationship between the offense and the punishment is called
Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments - correct answer ✔✔Which of the following constitutional
amendments contains the due process clause?
Retribution - correct answer ✔✔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
, if the vehicle can be readily moved, the entire vehicle can be searched - correct answer ✔✔If
probable cause exists to search a motor vehicle, then
people - correct answer ✔✔According to the Supreme Court, the Fourth Amendment to the
Constitution protects
rehabilitation - correct answer ✔✔A sentencing philosophy seeking to reintegrate the offender
into society is called
the actions of the two officers were lawful and no reasonable suspicion was required because
the defendant gave his consent to the search - correct answer ✔✔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
Terry type search for drugs - correct answer ✔✔Which of the following is NOT a recognized
exception of the Fourth Amendment search warrant requirement?
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. - correct answer ✔✔A field interview by a police officer does not involve detention in
Promotional Exam Preparation
Not justifiable because the officer had only reasonable suspicion. - correct answer ✔✔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
Deterrence. Deterrence is split in to two categories - general and specific - correct answer
✔✔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
The exclusionary rule - correct answer ✔✔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
A search warrant - correct answer ✔✔What is needed for a police officer to make a lawful
search of a person's premises in the absence of exigent circumstances?
Just desserts - correct answer ✔✔The sentencing philosophy seeking to create an equal or
proportionate relationship between the offense and the punishment is called
Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments - correct answer ✔✔Which of the following constitutional
amendments contains the due process clause?
Retribution - correct answer ✔✔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
, if the vehicle can be readily moved, the entire vehicle can be searched - correct answer ✔✔If
probable cause exists to search a motor vehicle, then
people - correct answer ✔✔According to the Supreme Court, the Fourth Amendment to the
Constitution protects
rehabilitation - correct answer ✔✔A sentencing philosophy seeking to reintegrate the offender
into society is called
the actions of the two officers were lawful and no reasonable suspicion was required because
the defendant gave his consent to the search - correct answer ✔✔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
Terry type search for drugs - correct answer ✔✔Which of the following is NOT a recognized
exception of the Fourth Amendment search warrant requirement?
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. - correct answer ✔✔A field interview by a police officer does not involve detention in
