OPOTA EXAM 4 COMPREHENSIVE
EXAMINATION TEST 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS 100% CORRECT
◉ Explain the plain feel doctrine. Answer: While an officer may not
search for objects other than weapons on a Terry stop. If the officer
physically feels an object that the officer immediately recognizes as
contraband, the object may be seized even if the officer knows it is
not a weapon
• This only applies when the identity of the object is immediately
apparent to the officer from its shape and the way it feels
• When the incriminating nature of the object is immediately
apparent, seizing it does not invade the subject's privacy beyond
what is allowed in a Terry stop.
The officer may not seize an object that, unmistakably, is not a
weapon or if determining its identity requires further manipulation
• When determining if an object requires further manipulation (e.g.,
going in pockets, repeatedly squeezing the object) an additional
invasion of privacy is necessary
• That is not permitted during a Terry stop
Once it is determined that an object is not a weapon, the search must
stop unless there is a warrant, probably cause for arrest or consent
,◉ Identify the evidentiary standard on which to base an arrest.
Answer: An arrest must be based on probable cause
◉ Identify what, in the absence of consent or exigent circumstances,
an officer must do before entering a private residence to make an
arrest.. Answer: - Secure the appropriate warrants (Arrest warrants)
- If making an arrest in the home of a third party, a search warrant
to search the premises for the person to be arrested
- Reasonably believe that the person to be arrested is present at the
correct address listed on the warrant and knock and announce their
presence
◉ Identify when an officer may make a warrantless arrest,
nonconsensual entry into a private residence in order to make an
arrest. Answer: Exigent circumstances must exist which demand and
immediate response.
- Considerations and examples of such circumstances
- time of day of the offense and/or the arrest
- the gravity of the underlying offense thought to be in progress
(crime must be serious)
- There is a risk of danger to the police or to other persons inside or
outside the dwelling
- they need to prevent subjects escape
- The need to prevent imminent destruction of evidence
- "hot pursuit" of a subject
,◉ Explain the concept of hot/fresh pursuit. Answer: The pursuit,
without unreasonable interruption, of a person who is trying to
avoid arrest
◉ Differentiate curtilage from open fields. Answer: • Curtilage refers
to the area immediately surrounding the home, which is usually
used for domestic purposes (e.g., garage, yard)
• Curtilage carries the same Fourth Amendment protection as the
home
• Any other land is considered open field
• Open fields carry no Fourth Amendments protections
• The USSC has established four factors to assist in determining the
difference
o Proximity of the area to the home
o Whether the area is within an enclosure surrounding the home
o The nature and uses to which the area is put (e.g., whether the area
is used for family purposes)
o The steps taken by the resident to protect the area from view of
passerby
• No single factor is determinative
◉ Explain the differences between active and passive resistance.
Answer: - Passive resistance
, - When a person exhibits no resistive movement in response to
verbal and other direction
- Active resistance
- when a person exhibits resistive movement to avoid physical
control or, as a passive resistor, presents a credible threat to an
officer (lying on hands and refuses to make hands visible)
◉ Describe when handcuffing may be considered unreasonable
force.. Answer: The 4th amendment prohibits unduly tight or
excessively forceful handcuffing during the course of a seizure
- if the plaintiff complains about handcuffs being to tight and the
officer ignores the complaint and the plaintiff has experienced some
physical injury resulting from the cuffing, then it will hold up in
court
◉ Describe when use of a chemical weapon may be considered
unreasonable force.. Answer: Using chemical weapons on an
arrestee who has already been subdued and who poses no threat is
considered excessive force (not reasonable to use chemical weapon
on someone who has quit resisting)
◉ Explain the civil liability considerations associated with using
force against those with diminished capacity/mental illness..
Answer: - Different tactics should be employed against unarmed,
emotionally distraught individual who is resisting arrest or creating
EXAMINATION TEST 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS 100% CORRECT
◉ Explain the plain feel doctrine. Answer: While an officer may not
search for objects other than weapons on a Terry stop. If the officer
physically feels an object that the officer immediately recognizes as
contraband, the object may be seized even if the officer knows it is
not a weapon
• This only applies when the identity of the object is immediately
apparent to the officer from its shape and the way it feels
• When the incriminating nature of the object is immediately
apparent, seizing it does not invade the subject's privacy beyond
what is allowed in a Terry stop.
The officer may not seize an object that, unmistakably, is not a
weapon or if determining its identity requires further manipulation
• When determining if an object requires further manipulation (e.g.,
going in pockets, repeatedly squeezing the object) an additional
invasion of privacy is necessary
• That is not permitted during a Terry stop
Once it is determined that an object is not a weapon, the search must
stop unless there is a warrant, probably cause for arrest or consent
,◉ Identify the evidentiary standard on which to base an arrest.
Answer: An arrest must be based on probable cause
◉ Identify what, in the absence of consent or exigent circumstances,
an officer must do before entering a private residence to make an
arrest.. Answer: - Secure the appropriate warrants (Arrest warrants)
- If making an arrest in the home of a third party, a search warrant
to search the premises for the person to be arrested
- Reasonably believe that the person to be arrested is present at the
correct address listed on the warrant and knock and announce their
presence
◉ Identify when an officer may make a warrantless arrest,
nonconsensual entry into a private residence in order to make an
arrest. Answer: Exigent circumstances must exist which demand and
immediate response.
- Considerations and examples of such circumstances
- time of day of the offense and/or the arrest
- the gravity of the underlying offense thought to be in progress
(crime must be serious)
- There is a risk of danger to the police or to other persons inside or
outside the dwelling
- they need to prevent subjects escape
- The need to prevent imminent destruction of evidence
- "hot pursuit" of a subject
,◉ Explain the concept of hot/fresh pursuit. Answer: The pursuit,
without unreasonable interruption, of a person who is trying to
avoid arrest
◉ Differentiate curtilage from open fields. Answer: • Curtilage refers
to the area immediately surrounding the home, which is usually
used for domestic purposes (e.g., garage, yard)
• Curtilage carries the same Fourth Amendment protection as the
home
• Any other land is considered open field
• Open fields carry no Fourth Amendments protections
• The USSC has established four factors to assist in determining the
difference
o Proximity of the area to the home
o Whether the area is within an enclosure surrounding the home
o The nature and uses to which the area is put (e.g., whether the area
is used for family purposes)
o The steps taken by the resident to protect the area from view of
passerby
• No single factor is determinative
◉ Explain the differences between active and passive resistance.
Answer: - Passive resistance
, - When a person exhibits no resistive movement in response to
verbal and other direction
- Active resistance
- when a person exhibits resistive movement to avoid physical
control or, as a passive resistor, presents a credible threat to an
officer (lying on hands and refuses to make hands visible)
◉ Describe when handcuffing may be considered unreasonable
force.. Answer: The 4th amendment prohibits unduly tight or
excessively forceful handcuffing during the course of a seizure
- if the plaintiff complains about handcuffs being to tight and the
officer ignores the complaint and the plaintiff has experienced some
physical injury resulting from the cuffing, then it will hold up in
court
◉ Describe when use of a chemical weapon may be considered
unreasonable force.. Answer: Using chemical weapons on an
arrestee who has already been subdued and who poses no threat is
considered excessive force (not reasonable to use chemical weapon
on someone who has quit resisting)
◉ Explain the civil liability considerations associated with using
force against those with diminished capacity/mental illness..
Answer: - Different tactics should be employed against unarmed,
emotionally distraught individual who is resisting arrest or creating
