APCO TEST WITH ALL CORRECT
ANSWERS A+ GRADED 2024/2025
Describe one special liability concern related to media inquiries. - CORRECT ANSWER
You never want to give away information to the media that is not public, so before you
give anything out be sure to refer to your PSAP's Policies and procedures.
When speaking of a civil case, like liability, what does the term "damages" refer to? -
CORRECT ANSWER The term damages refers to any money being taken/owed in the
civil situation.
What is meant by the "reasonable and prudent person" standard? How is this standard
used by the courts? - CORRECT ANSWER This is the difference between civil court
and criminal court, civil court whoever has more evidence wins, in criminal court it is the
jury's opinion.
Describe why shift work is stressful on the mind and body. - CORRECT ANSWER It
forces your body out of its biological clock.
List the most apparent signs of mental stress. - CORRECT ANSWER Headaches, sleep
disturbances, short temper, job dissatisfaction, low morale, and difficulty concentrating.
List the most apparent signs in physical stress. - CORRECT ANSWER Soreness in the
back, neck, shoulders or joints, indigestion or heartburn, headaches, weight gain, and
sleeplessness.
List and describe the most apparent signs of secondary stress. - CORRECT ANSWERA
loss of innocence, cognitive distortion, more aware of what actually goes on in the
world.
Describe three strategies for coping with secondary stress. - CORRECT ANSWER Do
self assessments regularly, ask yourself how am i doing, ect...
List and describe tips for reducing stress. - CORRECT ANSWER Eat good meals
before going to work
Make sure you get lots of sleep
Schedule vacations
Alternate between workstations and stand up
Leave work problems at work and home problems at home
Accept that one cannot solve every single problem.
Describe three essential success factors in teamwork in the PSAP. - CORRECT
ANSWER Team leadership that clearly identifies the common goal.
,All team members must communicate and coordinate efforts.
All team members must know their role.
List three possible sources for interpersonal conflict in a PSAP. - CORRECT ANSWER
Personal clashes, discrimination, or harassment.
State who has ultimate control over your state of mind. - CORRECT ANSWER You are
the only one who has ultimate control over your state of mind.
Explain the purpose of critical incident stress debriefing (CISD). - CORRECT ANSWER
This is a process that helps employees get through highly stressful, traumatic times.
The CISD is designed to lessen the overall impact of the event.
Describe why tele communicators need continuing education. - CORRECT ANSWER
Because there is always something new to learn when it comes to dispatching, and
technology can sometimes change rapidly.
Describe three ways telecommunicators can have ongoing professional development. -
CORRECT ANSWER Training, professional affiliations, and community outreach.
Describe what is involved in law enforcement communications. - CORRECT ANSWER
Dispatch communications and resource management of law enforcement units such as:
Police personnel
Detective bureaus
Tactical support/hostage rescue teams
Crime scene investigation units
Explosive ordnance disposal units, ect.
Communicators handling requests for law enforcement assistance require specialized
training in officer safety, handling reports of crime and handling special situations such
as foot or vehicle pursuits
List and describe the informational resources available in a PSAP. - CORRECT
ANSWER The telephone book: things such as area codes, neighborhood listings, and
campus maps can be found here
Cross reference or city directory: Can help match a name to a phone number and
address or vice versa. Can also show cross streets in connection to buildings and
house numbers.
Maps: Some jurisdictions have clearer maps that could include footprints and addresses
in rural locations, private roads and dirt paths.
Internet: Contains a large amount of information that can be useful in any situations
Other resources: route books, street maintenance guides, warrants, CAMEO software,
weather services, and language lines
Explain the term service area in the context of law enforcement. - CORRECT ANSWER
Operate within certain geographical areas defined by local, regional, provincial or
federal limits
, The area in which the officer has jurisdiction to arrest.
They could be asked to cross these lines in the event of a contact or emergency.
Explain the term service area in the context of fire service.
May differ between jurisdictions.
Could be local or rural services. Arrangements can be made under certain
circumstances such as; emergency, disaster or volunteer situations
Know your geographical area
Explain the term service area in the context of EMS. - CORRECT ANSWER Depending
on the size and severity of the incident; different levels of providers such as, ALS, BLS
units, fire department or volunteer may be dispatched
Explain the difference between a policy and a procedure.
A policy is a system of principles to guide decisions and arrive at rational outcomes
A procedure is the method or official way of achieving the policy.
Name three actions agencies might take as part of their disaster preparedness.
Determine the conditions of the location
Dispatch TERT teams if needed
Deploy the correct response units
What do TERT teams do? - CORRECT ANSWER Tele communicator Emergency
Response Taskforces (TERT) is an initiative that works with state and local emergency
planning authorities to establish predetermined and selected teams of individuals who
can be mobilized quickly and deployed to assist communications centers during
disasters.
They leave on a short notice and "serve for the duration" of the emergency
What do telecommunicators need to know about agency emergency plans? -
CORRECT ANSWER Telecommunicators should be aware of how the emergency
plans are activated and what the plans are.
Explain what an automated vehicle locator system provides - CORRECT ANSWER
Automated vehicle locator picks up the location of a vehicle and corresponds the closest
unit to the vehicle
Explain how a logging recorder relates to quality assurance. - CORRECT ANSWER If
the call taker can not understand the caller the first time the call taker can use the
playback mode to rehear the part they missed
List the combined verbal and nonverbal elements that communicate to the
telecommunicator the situation being reported - CORRECT ANSWER Comfortable
tone
Encourages conversation
Demonstrates interest
Signals understanding
Message format
ANSWERS A+ GRADED 2024/2025
Describe one special liability concern related to media inquiries. - CORRECT ANSWER
You never want to give away information to the media that is not public, so before you
give anything out be sure to refer to your PSAP's Policies and procedures.
When speaking of a civil case, like liability, what does the term "damages" refer to? -
CORRECT ANSWER The term damages refers to any money being taken/owed in the
civil situation.
What is meant by the "reasonable and prudent person" standard? How is this standard
used by the courts? - CORRECT ANSWER This is the difference between civil court
and criminal court, civil court whoever has more evidence wins, in criminal court it is the
jury's opinion.
Describe why shift work is stressful on the mind and body. - CORRECT ANSWER It
forces your body out of its biological clock.
List the most apparent signs of mental stress. - CORRECT ANSWER Headaches, sleep
disturbances, short temper, job dissatisfaction, low morale, and difficulty concentrating.
List the most apparent signs in physical stress. - CORRECT ANSWER Soreness in the
back, neck, shoulders or joints, indigestion or heartburn, headaches, weight gain, and
sleeplessness.
List and describe the most apparent signs of secondary stress. - CORRECT ANSWERA
loss of innocence, cognitive distortion, more aware of what actually goes on in the
world.
Describe three strategies for coping with secondary stress. - CORRECT ANSWER Do
self assessments regularly, ask yourself how am i doing, ect...
List and describe tips for reducing stress. - CORRECT ANSWER Eat good meals
before going to work
Make sure you get lots of sleep
Schedule vacations
Alternate between workstations and stand up
Leave work problems at work and home problems at home
Accept that one cannot solve every single problem.
Describe three essential success factors in teamwork in the PSAP. - CORRECT
ANSWER Team leadership that clearly identifies the common goal.
,All team members must communicate and coordinate efforts.
All team members must know their role.
List three possible sources for interpersonal conflict in a PSAP. - CORRECT ANSWER
Personal clashes, discrimination, or harassment.
State who has ultimate control over your state of mind. - CORRECT ANSWER You are
the only one who has ultimate control over your state of mind.
Explain the purpose of critical incident stress debriefing (CISD). - CORRECT ANSWER
This is a process that helps employees get through highly stressful, traumatic times.
The CISD is designed to lessen the overall impact of the event.
Describe why tele communicators need continuing education. - CORRECT ANSWER
Because there is always something new to learn when it comes to dispatching, and
technology can sometimes change rapidly.
Describe three ways telecommunicators can have ongoing professional development. -
CORRECT ANSWER Training, professional affiliations, and community outreach.
Describe what is involved in law enforcement communications. - CORRECT ANSWER
Dispatch communications and resource management of law enforcement units such as:
Police personnel
Detective bureaus
Tactical support/hostage rescue teams
Crime scene investigation units
Explosive ordnance disposal units, ect.
Communicators handling requests for law enforcement assistance require specialized
training in officer safety, handling reports of crime and handling special situations such
as foot or vehicle pursuits
List and describe the informational resources available in a PSAP. - CORRECT
ANSWER The telephone book: things such as area codes, neighborhood listings, and
campus maps can be found here
Cross reference or city directory: Can help match a name to a phone number and
address or vice versa. Can also show cross streets in connection to buildings and
house numbers.
Maps: Some jurisdictions have clearer maps that could include footprints and addresses
in rural locations, private roads and dirt paths.
Internet: Contains a large amount of information that can be useful in any situations
Other resources: route books, street maintenance guides, warrants, CAMEO software,
weather services, and language lines
Explain the term service area in the context of law enforcement. - CORRECT ANSWER
Operate within certain geographical areas defined by local, regional, provincial or
federal limits
, The area in which the officer has jurisdiction to arrest.
They could be asked to cross these lines in the event of a contact or emergency.
Explain the term service area in the context of fire service.
May differ between jurisdictions.
Could be local or rural services. Arrangements can be made under certain
circumstances such as; emergency, disaster or volunteer situations
Know your geographical area
Explain the term service area in the context of EMS. - CORRECT ANSWER Depending
on the size and severity of the incident; different levels of providers such as, ALS, BLS
units, fire department or volunteer may be dispatched
Explain the difference between a policy and a procedure.
A policy is a system of principles to guide decisions and arrive at rational outcomes
A procedure is the method or official way of achieving the policy.
Name three actions agencies might take as part of their disaster preparedness.
Determine the conditions of the location
Dispatch TERT teams if needed
Deploy the correct response units
What do TERT teams do? - CORRECT ANSWER Tele communicator Emergency
Response Taskforces (TERT) is an initiative that works with state and local emergency
planning authorities to establish predetermined and selected teams of individuals who
can be mobilized quickly and deployed to assist communications centers during
disasters.
They leave on a short notice and "serve for the duration" of the emergency
What do telecommunicators need to know about agency emergency plans? -
CORRECT ANSWER Telecommunicators should be aware of how the emergency
plans are activated and what the plans are.
Explain what an automated vehicle locator system provides - CORRECT ANSWER
Automated vehicle locator picks up the location of a vehicle and corresponds the closest
unit to the vehicle
Explain how a logging recorder relates to quality assurance. - CORRECT ANSWER If
the call taker can not understand the caller the first time the call taker can use the
playback mode to rehear the part they missed
List the combined verbal and nonverbal elements that communicate to the
telecommunicator the situation being reported - CORRECT ANSWER Comfortable
tone
Encourages conversation
Demonstrates interest
Signals understanding
Message format
