POST Community Policing Principles 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following BEST describes the 'broken windows' theory as it relates to community policing?
- Arresting all vandals immediately reduces major crimes
- Visible signs of disorder left unaddressed signal that crime is tolerated, leading to more serious offenses (Correct answer)
- Broken windows indicate poverty, which is the root cause of crime
- Officers should focus exclusively on property crimes before addressing violent crimes
Correct answer: Visible signs of disorder left unaddressed signal that crime is tolerated, leading to more serious offenses
The broken windows theory holds that visible disorder, if unchecked, signals neglect and invites escalating criminal behavior.
Question 2: A community policing officer wants to build trust with a neighborhood experiencing high gang activity. What is the MOST effective first step?
- Conduct surprise raids to show force
- Attend community meetings and listen to residents' concerns (Correct answer)
- Increase vehicle patrol frequency in the area
- Issue more citations to demonstrate law enforcement presence
Correct answer: Attend community meetings and listen to residents' concerns
Attending community meetings and listening establishes rapport, which is foundational to gaining community trust.
Question 3: Under the SARA problem-solving model, what occurs during the 'Analysis' phase?
- Officers implement a chosen solution and monitor results
- Officers scan for emerging crime trends
- Officers gather and examine data to understand the problem's causes and conditions (Correct answer)
- Officers assess whether the response reduced the problem
Correct answer: Officers gather and examine data to understand the problem's causes and conditions
The Analysis phase involves collecting and interpreting data to identify root causes and contributing factors of a problem.
Question 4: Which agency function is MOST consistent with a community policing philosophy?
- Rapid response to calls only after crimes are committed
- Centralized decision-making by command staff
- Decentralized patrol with officers assigned to consistent geographic areas (Correct answer)
- Rotating officers frequently to prevent bias
Correct answer: Decentralized patrol with officers assigned to consistent geographic areas
Decentralized, consistent geographic assignment allows officers to know their community and build lasting relationships.
Question 5: A resident tells a community policing officer that drug sales are occurring in a park but refuses to give a formal statement out of fear. What should the officer do FIRST?
- Dismiss the complaint since no formal statement exists
- Reassure the resident of available protections and document the information for follow-up (Correct answer)
- Immediately conduct a sweep of the park
- Require the resident to testify before any action is taken
Correct answer: Reassure the resident of available protections and document the information for follow-up
Officers should validate concerns, explain confidentiality options, and document tips to enable further investigation.
Question 6: Which of the following is a key characteristic that distinguishes community policing from traditional policing?
- Emphasis on rapid response times
- Focus on reactive enforcement after incidents occur
- Proactive partnerships with community members to prevent crime (Correct answer)
- Strict adherence to a centralized command structure
Correct answer: Proactive partnerships with community members to prevent crime
Community policing is fundamentally proactive, relying on partnerships and prevention rather than reactive enforcement alone.
Question 7: When a community policing officer develops a neighborhood watch program, what role should residents ideally play?
- Act as unpaid police officers with arrest authority
- Observe and report suspicious activity to law enforcement (Correct answer)
- Confront suspected criminals directly to deter crime
- Gather evidence independently and submit it to the DA
Correct answer: Observe and report suspicious activity to law enforcement
Neighborhood watch members serve as the eyes and ears of the community, reporting observations to trained officers rather than intervening directly.
POST Community Policing Principles 2
Which of the following BEST describes the 'broken windows' theory as it relates to community policing?