PELLET B Observation Skills & Memory Recall 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An officer sees a silver Honda Accord, plate 4XYZ789, at a fire hydrant at 1430 hrs. Driver: female, red hair, green jacket. Which detail is MOST needed for a citation?
- License plate number 4XYZ789 (Correct answer)
- The driver has red hair
- The driver is wearing a green jacket
- The time is 1430 hours
Correct answer: License plate number 4XYZ789
The license plate links the violation to the registered vehicle owner.
The plate number is the primary enforcement identifier, linking to vehicle registration and the responsible party.
Question 2: Three witnesses estimate a robbery suspect's height: W1 'about 5'10"', W2 'around 6 feet', W3 'maybe 5'11".' Best way to report?
- Approximately 5'10" to 6'0" based on multiple witness estimates (Correct answer)
- Exactly 5'10" per the first witness
- 6 feet per the most recent witness
- 5'11" as the average
Correct answer: Approximately 5'10" to 6'0" based on multiple witness estimates
The range represents all statements and acknowledges estimation variation.
Reporting the range avoids privileging one witness while being maximally useful for identification.
Question 3: During a vehicle pursuit, rank these for radio priority: (A) color, (B) direction, (C) speed, (D) plate number.
- B, A, D, C — direction first, then identifying features (Correct answer)
- D, C, A, B — plate most important
- C, B, A, D — speed determines urgency
- A, B, C, D — color easiest to see
Correct answer: B, A, D, C — direction first, then identifying features
Direction of travel allows other units to position. Color identifies at distance. Plate confirms identity. Speed conveys risk.
Direction (where to go), color (visual ID from distance), plate (confirmation), speed (risk level).
Question 4: Crime scene: broken east window, toppled lamp near couch, blood drops toward kitchen, open back door. Which suggests the suspect's exit route?
- The open back door (Correct answer)
- The broken window
- The toppled lamp
- The blood drops to the kitchen
Correct answer: The open back door
An open back door was opened from inside, suggesting someone left through it.
The sequence: entry through window, struggle (lamp), movement to kitchen (blood), exit through back door.
Question 5: A person exits a store quickly, looks both ways, jogs to a car parked facing away, and drives off immediately. Which behavior is LEAST consistent with normal shopping?
- Looking both directions combined with jogging to the vehicle (Correct answer)
- Exiting a store
- Walking to a parked car
- Driving away from a store
Correct answer: Looking both directions combined with jogging to the vehicle
The combination of scanning, urgency, and an escape-positioned vehicle suggests awareness of guilt.
The combination of scanning for witnesses, urgency, and a vehicle positioned for quick escape collectively suggests criminal behavior.
Question 6: Which detail is MOST reliably recalled 30 minutes after a brief encounter?
- The person's approximate height and build (Correct answer)
- The exact shade of eye color
- The specific brand of shoes
- The number of buttons on the shirt
Correct answer: The person's approximate height and build
General physical characteristics are processed holistically and recalled more reliably than specific details.
General characteristics (height, build) are encoded as 'gist' and persist longer. Specific details fade rapidly.
PELLET B Observation Skills & Memory Recall 2
An officer sees a silver Honda Accord, plate 4XYZ789, at a fire hydrant at 1430 hrs.
Driver: female, red hair, green jacket.
Which detail is MOST needed for a citation?