Police Officer Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Police Officer facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. A crime scene is rectangular and measures 15 feet by 20 feet. What is the total area of the crime scene? → 300 square feet
2. A police department has 240 officers and needs to staff 3 patrol shifts equally. How many officers will be assigned per shift? → 80
3. A terrorist organization commandeers an aircraft and alters its trajectory. → hijacking
4. A citizen approaches an officer and voluntarily hands over a bag of marijuana. The officer must: → Accept it, document the encounter, and follow department evidence procedures
5. When writing the narrative portion of an incident report, which of the following is the MOST critical element to ensure the report is objective and credible? → Using direct quotes from witnesses and clearly attributing all information to its source.
6. On an entrance exam, choose the correct word to complete this sentence: The officer _____ the report before submitting it. → reviewed
7. Complete the following equation: 18 - 3 + (- 5) = → 10
8. What is the legal standard required for a police officer to make a lawful arrest? → Probable cause to believe the suspect committed or is committing a crime
9. On a city map, 1st Avenue is parallel to 2nd Avenue, and Oak Street is perpendicular to both avenues. Which statement is true? → Oak Street intersects both avenues at 90-degree angles
10. Your home is broken into by a thief through a window. → burglary
11. Which of the following is a recognized exception to the warrant requirement that allows officers to enter a residence without a warrant? → Exigent circumstances
12. Recidivism in criminal justice refers to: → The tendency of convicted criminals to reoffend after release
13. An officer pulls over a vehicle for a broken tail light. During the stop, the officer smells marijuana. This gives the officer: → Probable cause to search the vehicle
14. Under most state laws, at what BAC level is a non-commercial adult driver in the US legally presumed to be impaired? → 0.08%
15. An officer interviews a victim who describes her attacker as about 6 feet tall. When recording this in the report, the officer should write: → Victim estimated attacker's height as approximately 6 feet tall
16. An officer witnesses a fellow officer use what appears to be excessive force against a suspect who is no longer resisting. The officer should: → Intervene to stop the use of force and report the incident through proper channels
17. An officer observes a blue sedan parked in front of a building. When writing the report, the officer should record the vehicle as: → A blue sedan with a partial description of distinguishing features observed
18. Which sentence uses active voice correctly in a police report? → Officer Jones observed the suspect enter the vehicle
19. A dispatcher says the suspect was last seen at 3rd and Main heading southwest. If the suspect continues in that direction, which area will they approach? → An area southwest of 3rd and Main
20. Choose the sentence that is written correctly. → Officer Jan and I drove to the scene of the crime.
21. What does the reporting framework Who, What, When, Where, Why, How help officers ensure in a report? → All essential elements of a complete and thorough incident report are captured
22. In 0.72 liters, how many milliliters of morphine can be found? → 720mL
23. When writing a police incident report, which element must always be included to establish the timeline of events? → Date and time of the incident
24. What is the recommended approach when an officer encounters a barricaded subject with no immediate hostage or threat? → Establish a perimeter, request specialized units, and attempt negotiation
25. Officer Aljem's prior year's pay was $59,800. In 2020, he received a 10% raise in wages. In 2020, how much did Officer Aljem earn? → $65,780
26. An officer who regularly patrols the same beat should pay special attention to what does not belong. This skill is known as: → Pattern recognition through baseline observation
27. A driver's license is suspended after a DUI conviction. If an officer pulls over that driver, what charge applies? → Driving while license suspended (DWLS)
28. Which federal law prohibits operating a commercial motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.04% or higher? → Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (49 CFR Part 382)
29. Which of the following best describes the correct order for writing an incident report narrative? → Chronological order from first arrival to scene clearance
30. A witness to an assault says it happened so fast I did not get a good look. This statement indicates: → The witness's observation time was short, which may reduce description accuracy