LEAB Written Comprehension Skills Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. 'Internal Affairs Division (IAD) Policy 5.2 states that all complaints of misconduct against an officer, regardless of the source, must be documented on Form 87-B and forwarded to the IAD supervisor within 24 hours of receipt. The receiving officer must obtain a detailed statement from the complainant, but should not conduct any further investigation beyond collecting this initial information. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all allegations are reviewed by a specialized division to maintain objectivity and procedural consistency.' Officer Miller receives a verbal complaint about Officer Smith's conduct from a citizen at 3:00 PM on Tuesday. Officer Miller has the citizen write a detailed statement. By what time and day must Officer Miller forward the completed Form 87-B to the IAD supervisor?
- 3:00 PM on Wednesday (Correct answer)
- End of his shift on Tuesday
- Within 48 hours of the complaint
- Immediately upon receiving the written statement
Correct answer: 3:00 PM on Wednesday
The policy explicitly states that the complaint must be forwarded 'within 24 hours of receipt.' Since Officer Miller received the complaint at 3:00 PM on Tuesday, the deadline for forwarding the form is 3:00 PM on Wednesday.
Question 2: A departmental directive reads: 'Officers responding to a non-violent domestic dispute must first separate the involved parties to de-escalate the situation. The primary responding officer is responsible for interviewing the complainant, while the secondary officer interviews the other party. If children are present, their welfare should be assessed immediately, but they should only be interviewed by an officer with specialized juvenile training, if available.' Officers Rodriguez and Chen respond to a non-violent domestic dispute. Rodriguez is the primary officer. No juvenile-trained officers are on duty. Based on the directive, which of the following is the most appropriate initial action for Officer Chen?
- Interview the complainant alongside Officer Rodriguez.
- Interview the party who is not the complainant. (Correct answer)
- Interview the children to assess their welfare.
- Secure the perimeter of the location.
Correct answer: Interview the party who is not the complainant.
The directive clearly assigns roles: the primary officer interviews the complainant, and the secondary officer interviews the other party. As the secondary officer, Chen's responsibility is to interview the person who is not the designated complainant.
Question 3: Read the following paragraph from a training manual: 'The principle of 'plain view' allows an officer to seize evidence without a warrant if three conditions are met: the officer must be lawfully in the location from which the evidence can be viewed; the incriminating character of the item must be immediately apparent; and the officer must have a lawful right of access to the object itself.' Based on this text, which of the following scenarios would NOT meet the requirements for a 'plain view' seizure?
- An officer, while executing a search warrant for stolen TVs, sees illegal narcotics on a coffee table.
- An officer, after being given consent to enter a home to look for a suspect, sees a weapon believed to be used in a recent robbery on the kitchen counter.
- An officer looks through the window of a private residence from the street and sees what he suspects might be a bag of stolen diamonds, though he cannot be sure without getting closer. (Correct answer)
- During a routine traffic stop, an officer sees a handgun partially visible under the driver's seat.
Correct answer: An officer looks through the window of a private residence from the street and sees what he suspects might be a bag of stolen diamonds, though he cannot be sure without getting closer.
This scenario fails the 'immediately apparent' condition. The officer only 'suspects' the item is incriminating and cannot be sure. The incriminating nature must be obvious without further inspection for the plain view doctrine to apply.
Question 4: An excerpt from a penal code states: 'A person is guilty of Burglary in the Third Degree when he knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in a building with intent to commit a crime therein.' According to this statute, which element is essential to prove Burglary in the Third Degree?
- The use of force to enter the building.
- The successful theft of property from the building.
- The presence of another person in the building at the time of entry.
- The intention to commit a crime inside the building. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The intention to commit a crime inside the building.
The text explicitly states that the person must enter or remain unlawfully 'with intent to commit a crime therein.' This intention is a critical component of the offense, regardless of whether a crime was actually completed or what type of crime was intended.
Question 5: Read the following witness statement: 'The car sped through the intersection just as the light turned red. It was a dark blue sedan, maybe a Honda or a Toyota, and it had a large dent in the passenger side door. The driver was wearing a red baseball cap, but I couldn't see their face clearly. The car turned right on Elm Street immediately after the intersection.' Which of the following details is the witness LEAST certain about?
- The color of the car.
- The make of the car. (Correct answer)
- The location of the damage on the car.
- The color of the driver's hat.
Correct answer: The make of the car.
The witness states the car was 'maybe a Honda or a Toyota,' which indicates uncertainty and presents two possibilities. The other details (dark blue color, dent on passenger door, red baseball cap) are stated with more certainty.
Question 6: A preliminary incident report states: 'Upon arrival at 22:45 hours, I observed the front door of the residence was ajar. A preliminary search of the ground floor revealed overturned furniture in the living room and a broken window in the kitchen. The homeowner, Mrs. Gable, reported that her jewelry box was missing from the upstairs bedroom. No suspects were on the scene.' Based on the information in this report, what is the most accurate summary of the situation?
- A home invasion occurred, and the suspects fled before police arrived.
- Police responded to a call and found evidence of a possible burglary and a report of stolen property. (Correct answer)
- Mrs. Gable was robbed at 22:45 hours, and her jewelry box was taken.
- The residence was vandalized by an unknown suspect who broke a window to gain entry.
Correct answer: Police responded to a call and found evidence of a possible burglary and a report of stolen property.
This answer choice accurately summarizes the known facts from the report without making assumptions. The officer found signs of a potential burglary (ajar door, overturned furniture, broken window) and took a report of a stolen item. The other options make assumptions not supported by the text, such as labeling it a 'home invasion' or 'robbery' (which implies force against a person) or stating definitively how entry was gained.
LEAB Written Comprehension Skills Questions and Answers 1
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows.
'Internal Affairs Division (IAD) Policy 5.2 states that all complaints of misconduct against an officer, regardless of the source, must be documented on Form 87-B and forwarded to the IAD supervisor within 24 hours of receipt.
The receiving officer must obtain a detailed statement from the complainant, but should not conduct any further investigation beyond collecting this initial information.
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all allegations are reviewed by a specialized division to maintain objectivity and procedural consistency.'
Officer Miller receives a verbal complaint about Officer Smith's conduct from a citizen at 3:00 PM on Tuesday.
Officer Miller has the citizen write a detailed statement.
By what time and day must Officer Miller forward the completed Form 87-B to the IAD supervisor?