Free State Trooper Reading Comprehension and Reasoning Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read the following departmental policy excerpt: **General Order 2024-08: Use of Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs)** "The use of MDTs is restricted to official law enforcement duties. This includes, but is not limited to, accessing criminal justice databases, communicating with dispatch, filing reports, and viewing departmental bulletins. Any brief, incidental use that does not interfere with assigned duties, does not incur cost to the department, and is not for commercial gain may be permissible, subject to supervisor discretion." Trooper Allen is posted at a stationary traffic control point for a road closure. After two hours with no incidents, he uses his MDT to check the weather forecast for his patrol area for the remainder of his shift. According to General Order 2024-08, which of the following best describes Trooper Allen's action?
- A clear violation, as checking the weather is not an enumerated law enforcement duty.
- Permissible, as it is a brief, incidental use related to duty conditions that does not interfere with his post. (Correct answer)
- A violation, because he did not receive prior supervisor approval for the action.
- Permissible, but only if he files a report documenting the non-official use of the MDT.
Correct answer: Permissible, as it is a brief, incidental use related to duty conditions that does not interfere with his post.
The policy allows for 'brief, incidental use that does not interfere with assigned duties.' Checking the weather for the patrol area is relevant to the Trooper's operational awareness and safety, is brief, and does not detract from his stationary duty. It clearly falls within the exception clause of the policy. The policy mentions supervisor discretion generally but does not mandate pre-approval for every minor, incidental use.
Question 2: A Trooper is investigating a hit-and-run in a parking lot and gathers the following statements: * **Witness #1:** "I saw a dark green sedan, maybe a Honda, with a large dent in the passenger door hit the car. The driver was a man with a red hat." * **Witness #2:** "I heard the crash and saw a dark-colored car speeding away. I'm sure it was a Toyota, and the driver was wearing a baseball cap. I got a partial license plate: 'LPR-7'." The Trooper's query of the partial plate reveals a potential match: a dark green Honda Accord registered to a woman living two blocks away. Based on this information, which statement represents the most significant challenge the Trooper must address in the investigation?
- The two witnesses disagree on the exact make of the sedan (Honda vs. Toyota).
- One witness described a 'red hat' while the other said 'baseball cap'.
- The partial license plate only provides a possible match, not a definite one.
- The vehicle most closely matching the evidence is registered to a woman, but both witnesses described a male driver. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The vehicle most closely matching the evidence is registered to a woman, but both witnesses described a male driver.
Minor discrepancies in witness statements, such as the exact make of a common sedan or the specific type of hat, are expected. However, a direct contradiction between two witnesses describing a male driver and the primary lead vehicle being registered to a female is a major investigative hurdle. This discrepancy must be resolved to determine if the owner was not the driver or if the witnesses were mistaken.
Question 3: Read the following excerpt from a state vehicle code: **Section 40-6-49. Following Too Closely.** "(a) The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway." A Trooper observes a commercial truck traveling 65 mph in a 70 mph zone on a dry, clear, uncongested interstate. The truck is approximately 150 feet behind the car in front of it. Safety guidelines suggest a following distance of at least four seconds for commercial vehicles, which at this speed is over 350 feet. Based *only* on the text of Section 40-6-49, what is the strongest basis for a traffic stop?
- The driver has not violated the statute because the road is uncongested and dry.
- No stop can be made unless the Trooper first measures the exact distance with a laser device.
- The Trooper can justify a stop because the distance could be articulated as not 'reasonable and prudent' given the vehicle's size and speed. (Correct answer)
- The driver has clearly violated the statute because 150 feet is less than the recommended safety guideline distance.
Correct answer: The Trooper can justify a stop because the distance could be articulated as not 'reasonable and prudent' given the vehicle's size and speed.
The statute uses the subjective terms 'reasonable and prudent' rather than a specific distance or time gap. While safety guidelines are useful, they are not the law itself. A Trooper can use their training and experience to articulate why, in their judgment, a 150-foot following distance for a large truck at highway speed is not 'reasonable and prudent,' thereby establishing the reasonable suspicion needed to initiate a stop and investigate the potential violation.
Question 4: At 2:00 AM, a Trooper observes a vehicle parked behind a closed business in an area known for burglaries. The Trooper pulls in behind the vehicle without activating emergency lights. As the Trooper approaches on foot, the driver shoves an object under the passenger seat. The Trooper asks the driver for identification, but the driver refuses and asks if he is being detained. The Trooper then orders the driver out of the vehicle. Which piece of information initially justified the Trooper's decision to conduct a consensual encounter?
- The vehicle being parked behind a closed business in a high-crime area. (Correct answer)
- The driver's furtive movement of shoving an object under the seat.
- The driver's refusal to provide identification.
- The Trooper did not have justification to initiate an encounter.
Correct answer: The vehicle being parked behind a closed business in a high-crime area.
A consensual encounter requires no level of suspicion, but an officer needs a legitimate reason to be there. The time of day, location behind a closed business, and the area's reputation for crime provide a valid, non-coercive reason for the Trooper to approach the vehicle and initiate a conversation. The other events (furtive movement, refusal to ID) happened *after* the encounter began and served to escalate it to an investigative detention.
Question 5: An internal memo outlines the procedure for submitting evidence: "All evidence must be properly packaged. Each item must have a completed evidence tag (Form 901) securely attached, detailing the case number, item number, date/time of collection, and collecting officer's name. Before the end of shift, the evidence must be logged into the digital tracking system. The officer must then physically deposit the item into the appropriate temporary evidence locker and secure the locker. The key for that specific locker is then deposited into the master key drop box." Which of the following actions would be a violation of this procedure?
- The Trooper asks a partner to witness the collection of high-value evidence.
- The Trooper places two small, related items into a single evidence bag.
- The Trooper waits until the following morning to log the collected evidence into the digital system. (Correct answer)
- The Trooper deposits the evidence locker key into the drop box immediately after securing the locker.
Correct answer: The Trooper waits until the following morning to log the collected evidence into the digital system.
The passage explicitly states, 'Before the end of shift, the evidence must be logged into the digital tracking system.' Waiting until the next morning is a direct violation of this written procedural timeline. The other options are not addressed or prohibited by the provided text.
Question 6: A Trooper receives a BOLO ("Be On the Lookout") alert that reads: "Attempt to locate a silver 2022 Ford F-150, license plate 7B4-NKL. Vehicle may be occupied by a white male, approx. 30 years old, brown hair, armed with a handgun. Subject is wanted for questioning in relation to an armed robbery. Use caution." An hour later, the Trooper spots a silver 2021 Ford F-150 with the license plate 7B4-NKL, driven by a white male who appears to be in his 30s. What is the most reasonable interpretation of the situation?
- The information is unreliable due to the model year discrepancy, so no action should be taken.
- The totality of matching identifiers provides sufficient reasonable suspicion to initiate a traffic stop. (Correct answer)
- The Trooper must visually confirm the driver has brown hair before initiating a stop.
- The Trooper should disregard the vehicle, as the BOLO specified a 2022 model, not a 2021.
Correct answer: The totality of matching identifiers provides sufficient reasonable suspicion to initiate a traffic stop.
Law enforcement decisions are based on the totality of the circumstances. The make, color, license plate, and driver description are all significant matching points. A one-year difference in the model year is a minor discrepancy that is likely an error in the original report. The overwhelming number of matching critical identifiers creates more than enough reasonable suspicion to believe this is the vehicle from the felony alert, justifying an investigative stop.
Free State Trooper Reading Comprehension and Reasoning Questions and Answers
Read the following departmental policy excerpt:
**General Order 2024-08: Use of Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs)**
"The use of MDTs is restricted to official law enforcement duties.
This includes, but is not limited to, accessing criminal justice databases, communicating with dispatch, filing reports, and viewing departmental bulletins.
Any brief, incidental use that does not interfere with assigned duties, does not incur cost to the department, and is not for commercial gain may be permissible, subject to supervisor discretion."
Trooper Allen is posted at a stationary traffic control point for a road closure.
After two hours with no incidents, he uses his MDT to check the weather forecast for his patrol area for the remainder of his shift.
According to General Order 2024-08, which of the following best describes Trooper Allen's action?