NTN Situational Judgment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: You arrive at the scene of a minor vehicle accident. One driver is clearly at fault and becomes verbally aggressive toward you. What is the BEST approach?
- Match the driver's aggressive tone to establish authority
- Remain calm, use a firm but professional tone, and give the driver space to de-escalate (Correct answer)
- Immediately place the driver under arrest for disorderly conduct
- Ignore the driver until they calm down on their own
Correct answer: Remain calm, use a firm but professional tone, and give the driver space to de-escalate
De-escalation through a calm, professional tone is the most effective way to manage verbal aggression while maintaining control of the scene.
Question 2: You are the first officer to arrive at a scene where a person is having a medical emergency. Backup and EMS are en route. What should you do FIRST?
- Secure and document the scene and wait for EMS to arrive
- Provide basic first aid within your training until EMS arrives (Correct answer)
- Check the person's identification to file a report
- Establish a perimeter and keep bystanders away before approaching the victim
Correct answer: Provide basic first aid within your training until EMS arrives
Providing basic first aid immediately can preserve life; scene documentation is secondary to the preservation of human life.
Question 3: While on foot patrol you notice a juvenile who appears to be under the influence of alcohol. The juvenile refuses to identify themselves. What is your BEST course of action?
- Let the juvenile go since minors cannot be detained
- Detain the juvenile for their safety, attempt to identify them, and notify a supervisor (Correct answer)
- Arrest the juvenile immediately for underage drinking
- Call the juvenile's school to have them identified
Correct answer: Detain the juvenile for their safety, attempt to identify them, and notify a supervisor
Detaining a juvenile who appears impaired is justified for their safety, and proper procedure requires notification of a supervisor and an attempt to reach parents or guardians.
Question 4: You are writing a report about an incident and realize you made a factual error in your initial report. What should you do?
- Leave the error since changing reports looks suspicious
- Submit a supplemental report correcting the error and note the change (Correct answer)
- Erase the error and rewrite that section without documenting the change
- Ask a colleague to submit the correction under their name
Correct answer: Submit a supplemental report correcting the error and note the change
Supplemental reports are the proper procedure for correcting documented errors; altering original reports without documentation is considered falsification.
Question 5: A store owner calls to report a shoplifter still on the premises. When you arrive, the suspect is a juvenile. The store owner wants the juvenile arrested. What factors should MOST influence your decision?
- The store owner's preference since they are the victim
- The severity of the offense, the juvenile's history, and departmental juvenile diversion policies (Correct answer)
- The race or appearance of the juvenile
- Whether the juvenile apologizes to the store owner
Correct answer: The severity of the offense, the juvenile's history, and departmental juvenile diversion policies
Law enforcement decisions involving juveniles should be guided by offense severity, prior history, and applicable diversion programs rather than victim preference alone.
Question 6: You are called to a scene where two neighbors are arguing over a property line. Neither party has broken any law. What is the MOST appropriate action?
- Arrest one neighbor to prevent escalation
- Mediate the dispute, advise both parties of their civil options, and document the contact (Correct answer)
- Tell both parties this is a civil matter and leave without documentation
- Side with the neighbor who called police since they are the complainant
Correct answer: Mediate the dispute, advise both parties of their civil options, and document the contact
Civil disputes require officers to document the contact, provide information on civil remedies, and attempt to de-escalate without taking sides.
Question 7: You are off duty and in uniform traveling to work. You witness a serious traffic accident. What is the MOST appropriate action?
- Drive past since you are not yet officially on duty
- Stop, render aid, call dispatch to report the accident, and remain until on-duty units arrive (Correct answer)
- Stop only to provide witness information and then continue to work
- Call 911 anonymously and continue to your shift without stopping
Correct answer: Stop, render aid, call dispatch to report the accident, and remain until on-duty units arrive
Officers in uniform have a duty to act in emergency situations regardless of duty status, and calling dispatch ensures proper resources are sent.
NTN Situational Judgment 2
You arrive at the scene of a minor vehicle accident.
One driver is clearly at fault and becomes verbally aggressive toward you.
What is the BEST approach?