2025 Sergeant Exam (MPD) Definitions – Study Guide for Law Enforcement Promotional Exam
Vocabulary Review
1st Amendment - correct answer ✔✔Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and
Petition
2nd Amendment - correct answer ✔✔Right to keep and bear arms
4th Amendment - correct answer ✔✔Protection against Unreasonable Search and Seizure
5th Amendment - correct answer ✔✔Protects the rights of the accused
6th Amendment - correct answer ✔✔Defendant has a right to a speedy trial by an impartial
jury, the right to be informed of the charges against him, and the right to confront the witnesses
against him or her
8th Amendment - correct answer ✔✔Forbids the use of excessive bails or fines in criminal trials,
as well as punishments considered to be "cruel and unusual
Affidavit of Complaint - correct answer ✔✔A document that a sergeant submits to the court to
attempt to obtain an Arrest Warrant
A written document that requests permission to arrest a particular person for a particular crime.
AFIS - correct answer ✔✔Automated Fingerprint Identification System
Arrest Warrant - correct answer ✔✔The document that the court issues so that an officer can
effect an arrest
, articulable facts - correct answer ✔✔Actions described in clear, distinct statements
Articulation Rule - correct answer ✔✔When the court asks the police officer to state the facts
upon which the probable cause determination was made, the officer must clearly lay the facts
on the line.
Basic question of an investigation - correct answer ✔✔Who, What, Where, When, How, and
Why/
Belton Search - correct answer ✔✔Incident to a lawful arrest, a law enforcement officer may
search the inside of a vehicle that is immediately accessible to the driver. (New York v. Belton
1981)
Administrative Sergeant/Bookperson - correct answer ✔✔An administrative Sergeant who is
responsible for assigning cases in the bureau, reviewing cases, and tracking crime for that
bureau
Carroll Stop - correct answer ✔✔Permits searches and seizures of any constitutionally protected
area when probable cause exits to believe that the area contains evidence of a crime; and
exigency exists arising out of the mobility and imminent disappearance of the same
constitutionally protected area.
contemporaneous - correct answer ✔✔"occurring at the same time"
contradict - correct answer ✔✔to speak against; to say the opposite
corroborate - correct answer ✔✔(v.) to confirm, make more certain, bolster, substantiate, verify
Vocabulary Review
1st Amendment - correct answer ✔✔Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and
Petition
2nd Amendment - correct answer ✔✔Right to keep and bear arms
4th Amendment - correct answer ✔✔Protection against Unreasonable Search and Seizure
5th Amendment - correct answer ✔✔Protects the rights of the accused
6th Amendment - correct answer ✔✔Defendant has a right to a speedy trial by an impartial
jury, the right to be informed of the charges against him, and the right to confront the witnesses
against him or her
8th Amendment - correct answer ✔✔Forbids the use of excessive bails or fines in criminal trials,
as well as punishments considered to be "cruel and unusual
Affidavit of Complaint - correct answer ✔✔A document that a sergeant submits to the court to
attempt to obtain an Arrest Warrant
A written document that requests permission to arrest a particular person for a particular crime.
AFIS - correct answer ✔✔Automated Fingerprint Identification System
Arrest Warrant - correct answer ✔✔The document that the court issues so that an officer can
effect an arrest
, articulable facts - correct answer ✔✔Actions described in clear, distinct statements
Articulation Rule - correct answer ✔✔When the court asks the police officer to state the facts
upon which the probable cause determination was made, the officer must clearly lay the facts
on the line.
Basic question of an investigation - correct answer ✔✔Who, What, Where, When, How, and
Why/
Belton Search - correct answer ✔✔Incident to a lawful arrest, a law enforcement officer may
search the inside of a vehicle that is immediately accessible to the driver. (New York v. Belton
1981)
Administrative Sergeant/Bookperson - correct answer ✔✔An administrative Sergeant who is
responsible for assigning cases in the bureau, reviewing cases, and tracking crime for that
bureau
Carroll Stop - correct answer ✔✔Permits searches and seizures of any constitutionally protected
area when probable cause exits to believe that the area contains evidence of a crime; and
exigency exists arising out of the mobility and imminent disappearance of the same
constitutionally protected area.
contemporaneous - correct answer ✔✔"occurring at the same time"
contradict - correct answer ✔✔to speak against; to say the opposite
corroborate - correct answer ✔✔(v.) to confirm, make more certain, bolster, substantiate, verify
