RCMP Problem Solving 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: You are dispatched to a reported domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, both parties are calm and deny any altercation. A neighbor who called it in insists she heard shouting. What is your best course of action?
- Leave immediately since both parties deny any incident
- Speak to each party separately to assess the situation independently (Correct answer)
- Arrest both parties as a precaution
- Only speak to the neighbor who called it in
Correct answer: Speak to each party separately to assess the situation independently
Speaking to parties separately reduces social pressure and may reveal details they would not share in front of each other.
Question 2: While on patrol you notice a vehicle parked outside a closed bank with its engine running. The driver appears to be watching the entrance. Which action is most appropriate first?
- Ram the vehicle to prevent a potential getaway
- Run the plate and request backup before approaching (Correct answer)
- Ignore it as there is no confirmed crime
- Immediately arrest the driver for suspicious behavior
Correct answer: Run the plate and request backup before approaching
Running the plate and calling for backup gathers information and ensures officer safety before any contact is made.
Question 3: A witness to a robbery provides two conflicting descriptions of the suspect in separate statements. How should you handle this discrepancy in your report?
- Use the first description and discard the second
- Use the second description as it was given after reflection
- Document both descriptions accurately and note the inconsistency (Correct answer)
- Combine both descriptions into a single composite
Correct answer: Document both descriptions accurately and note the inconsistency
Accurate reporting requires documenting all information as given, including inconsistencies, so investigators can assess credibility.
Question 4: You arrive at a scene where a crowd is blocking traffic following a minor collision. No one is injured. What is your priority?
- Immediately write the collision report
- Clear the roadway to restore traffic flow and prevent secondary incidents (Correct answer)
- Interview all bystanders before doing anything else
- Wait for a supervisor before taking any action
Correct answer: Clear the roadway to restore traffic flow and prevent secondary incidents
Restoring traffic flow prevents secondary collisions and protects public safety, which takes priority over paperwork.
Question 5: During an investigation you find that a key piece of evidence contradicts your initial theory about a suspect. What should you do?
- Ignore the evidence to maintain a consistent case
- Re-evaluate your theory in light of the new evidence (Correct answer)
- Destroy the evidence to avoid confusion
- File the evidence without noting the contradiction
Correct answer: Re-evaluate your theory in light of the new evidence
Investigations must follow the evidence, and any theory must be revised when new facts contradict it.
Question 6: You are the first officer on scene at a suspicious fire. What is your immediate priority before the fire department arrives?
- Begin photographing the scene for evidence
- Ensure all persons are safely evacuated and the perimeter is secured (Correct answer)
- Attempt to extinguish the fire yourself
- Identify and arrest the arson suspect
Correct answer: Ensure all persons are safely evacuated and the perimeter is secured
Life safety and scene security are the first priorities at any emergency scene before investigative steps begin.
Question 7: A complainant tells you they were defrauded online but cannot name the suspect or provide a physical description. Which step would most advance this investigation?
- Close the file due to insufficient suspect information
- Obtain transaction records, IP logs, and platform communications as evidence (Correct answer)
- Advise the complainant to confront the suspect themselves
- Wait for the suspect to commit another fraud before acting
Correct answer: Obtain transaction records, IP logs, and platform communications as evidence
Digital fraud investigations rely on electronic evidence trails such as IPs, transaction logs, and platform data rather than physical descriptions.
RCMP Problem Solving 2
You are dispatched to a reported domestic disturbance.
Upon arrival, both parties are calm and deny any altercation.
A neighbor who called it in insists she heard shouting.
What is your best course of action?