APCAT - Alberta Police Cognitive Ability Problem Analysis and Resolution Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: You are the only officer available in your zone. Three calls are pending: A) A report of a stolen bicycle from a garage that occurred overnight. B) A noise complaint about a loud party that has been ongoing for an hour. C) A report of two individuals yelling at each other in a public park, with no mention of physical violence. Which of the following represents the most logical order to address these calls?
- A, B, C
- B, A, C
- C, B, A (Correct answer)
- A, C, B
Correct answer: C, B, A
The primary duty of a police officer is to preserve peace and prevent harm. The report of yelling individuals (C) carries the most immediate risk of escalating into a physical altercation and requires intervention. The ongoing noise complaint (B) is a current disturbance affecting community quality of life and should be addressed next. The stolen bicycle (A) is a report of a crime that has already occurred, and while important, it does not have the same urgency as the other two active situations.
Question 2: An officer is repeatedly dispatched to a specific convenience store for loitering complaints involving teenagers after school. Simply dispersing the teens provides only a temporary solution. Which of the following demonstrates the most effective problem-oriented policing approach to this recurring issue?
- Increasing patrols and issuing trespassing tickets to any teen who loiters.
- Arranging a meeting with the store owner, school officials, and community youth program leaders to find alternative activities or locations for the teens. (Correct answer)
- Advising the store owner to hire private security to deal with the issue.
- Documenting each call and informing the teens that continued loitering will result in arrests.
Correct answer: Arranging a meeting with the store owner, school officials, and community youth program leaders to find alternative activities or locations for the teens.
Problem-oriented policing focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of recurring crime and disorder. Arranging a meeting with stakeholders (store owner, school, youth programs) is a proactive, collaborative approach that seeks a long-term solution by understanding why the teens are there and finding a constructive alternative. The other options are reactive, punitive, or simply shift the responsibility without solving the core problem.
Question 3: You respond to a domestic dispute. Person A claims Person B pushed them during an argument. Person B claims Person A tripped accidentally while walking away and is now making a false accusation. Both are calm upon your arrival, and there are no visible injuries or independent witnesses. What is the most critical next step in analyzing this situation?
- Arrest Person B based on Person A's statement, as it alleges an assault.
- Tell them to resolve the issue themselves as no one was visibly injured.
- Conclude that it's a he-said/she-said situation and warn both parties to stay away from each other.
- Separate the individuals and interview them in detail about the sequence of events, looking for inconsistencies. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Separate the individuals and interview them in detail about the sequence of events, looking for inconsistencies.
The immediate priority is to conduct a thorough investigation. By separating the parties and interviewing them in detail, the officer can probe for inconsistencies in their stories, gather more specific details about the environment and the argument, and assess their credibility. This detailed information gathering is essential before determining if reasonable grounds exist for an arrest or other action. The other options are either premature, neglectful, or fail to fulfill the officer's investigative duty.
Question 4: A dispatcher reports a 'suspicious person' call. The caller states a person is 'walking back and forth and looking into parked cars' on a residential street at 2:00 AM. The caller provides a vague description and then hangs up without leaving their name. As you approach the area, what is the most prudent course of action?
- Park a short distance away and observe the area discreetly to verify the reported activity before making contact. (Correct answer)
- Immediately stop and question the first person you see who matches the vague description.
- Drive through the area with your spotlight on to deter any potential criminal activity.
- Disregard the call as it is anonymous and lacks specific details.
Correct answer: Park a short distance away and observe the area discreetly to verify the reported activity before making contact.
The best approach is to first seek to corroborate the anonymous tip through independent observation. Parking discreetly allows the officer to safely assess the situation, verify if the described behaviour is occurring, and develop their own reasonable grounds for suspicion before deciding to make contact. This method balances the need to investigate with the rights of citizens and enhances officer safety by providing a better understanding of the situation before engagement.
Question 5: You are investigating a minor theft and identify a clear suspect from security footage. You recognize the suspect as the sole caregiver for their elderly, infirm parent. Arresting the suspect will likely result in the parent being left without care. Which of the following is the most appropriate resolution?
- Ignore the theft because of the suspect's difficult personal circumstances.
- Arrest the suspect immediately and let social services handle the parental care issue later.
- Contact a supervisor to discuss the situation and coordinate with social services *before* making the arrest to ensure the parent has care arranged. (Correct answer)
- Confront the suspect and tell them to return the stolen item, agreeing not to press charges if they do.
Correct answer: Contact a supervisor to discuss the situation and coordinate with social services *before* making the arrest to ensure the parent has care arranged.
This situation requires balancing the duty to investigate a crime with the community caretaking function of the police. The most professional solution is to involve a supervisor and coordinate with the appropriate social services agency *before* taking action. This ensures the law is enforced while also fulfilling the ethical responsibility to ensure the vulnerable parent is not left unattended, preventing a secondary crisis.
Question 6: An officer is using the SARA model for problem-solving a recurring issue. What is the crucial first step in this process?
- Response (Implementing a solution).
- Scanning (Identifying and defining the problem). (Correct answer)
- Assessment (Evaluating the effectiveness of the response).
- Analysis (Determining the cause of the problem).
Correct answer: Scanning (Identifying and defining the problem).
The SARA model is a common problem-solving method used in policing that stands for Scanning, Analysis, Response, and Assessment. The first and most fundamental step is **Scanning**, which involves identifying and defining the specific problem with as much detail as possible. Without a clear identification of the problem, any subsequent analysis or response will be ineffective.
APCAT - Alberta Police Cognitive Ability Problem Analysis and Resolution Questions and Answers
You are the only officer available in your zone.
Three calls are pending: A) A report of a stolen bicycle from a garage that occurred overnight.
B) A noise complaint about a loud party that has been ongoing for an hour.
C) A report of two individuals yelling at each other in a public park, with no mention of physical violence.
Which of the following represents the most logical order to address these calls?