DCJS Community Policing and Communication 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which communication technique involves restating a speaker's words in your own words to confirm understanding?
- Active listening
- Paraphrasing (Correct answer)
- Reflective questioning
- Verbal mirroring
Correct answer: Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing restates the speaker's message in the officer's own words to verify accurate understanding.
Question 2: When engaging with a community advisory board, an officer's PRIMARY role is to:
- Direct the board's agenda and priorities
- Listen to concerns and share information transparently (Correct answer)
- Enforce compliance with department policies
- Report board members who criticize the department
Correct answer: Listen to concerns and share information transparently
Officers should serve as a conduit for two-way communication, listening to community concerns and sharing information openly.
Question 3: Problem-Oriented Policing (POP) differs from traditional policing primarily because it:
- Relies solely on increased patrol presence
- Focuses on identifying and addressing underlying causes of crime (Correct answer)
- Emphasizes reactive responses to calls for service
- Prioritizes arrests over community engagement
Correct answer: Focuses on identifying and addressing underlying causes of crime
POP targets the root causes and conditions that produce recurring crime or disorder rather than simply responding to incidents.
Question 4: A witness is reluctant to provide information about a crime in their neighborhood. The BEST initial approach is to:
- Inform them they are legally required to cooperate
- Threaten to list them as a potential suspect
- Build rapport and explain the importance of their information (Correct answer)
- Conduct the interview at the police station to increase compliance
Correct answer: Build rapport and explain the importance of their information
Building rapport and explaining the value of cooperation is more effective than coercive tactics when dealing with reluctant witnesses.
Question 5: The SARA model used in community policing stands for:
- Scan, Analyze, Respond, Assess (Correct answer)
- Survey, Assess, React, Archive
- Search, Arrest, Report, Audit
- Screen, Align, Resolve, Advise
Correct answer: Scan, Analyze, Respond, Assess
SARA (Scan, Analyze, Respond, Assess) is the problem-solving framework central to community and problem-oriented policing.
Question 6: Which behavior BEST demonstrates cultural competency during a police-citizen encounter?
- Assuming all members of a cultural group share identical beliefs
- Adapting communication style while treating individuals with equal respect (Correct answer)
- Avoiding contact with unfamiliar cultural groups
- Applying a single standard approach regardless of cultural context
Correct answer: Adapting communication style while treating individuals with equal respect
Cultural competency means adjusting communication approaches while maintaining consistent respect and equitable treatment for all individuals.
Question 7: During a community meeting, a resident makes accusations that officers feel are unfair. The officer should FIRST:
- Interrupt and correct the resident immediately
- Remain calm, listen fully, and acknowledge the resident's perspective (Correct answer)
- Dismiss the complaint as outside the meeting's scope
- Request the resident submit concerns in writing only
Correct answer: Remain calm, listen fully, and acknowledge the resident's perspective
Remaining calm and fully listening before responding models professionalism and shows the community member their concerns are valued.
DCJS Community Policing and Communication 2
Which communication technique involves restating a speaker's words in your own words to confirm understanding?