SSPO Situational Judgment and Reasoning 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: You are on patrol when a driver runs a red light at high speed. After stopping the vehicle, you smell alcohol and the driver claims they are rushing to the hospital because their spouse is in labor. What is your BEST course of action?
- Immediately arrest the driver for DUI without further inquiry.
- Let the driver go since the emergency justifies the traffic violation.
- Conduct a brief field sobriety assessment, contact dispatch to verify the hospital claim, and arrange a safe escort if appropriate. (Correct answer)
- Issue a written warning and follow the vehicle to the hospital.
Correct answer: Conduct a brief field sobriety assessment, contact dispatch to verify the hospital claim, and arrange a safe escort if appropriate.
Safety must be balanced with compassion; a quick assessment and verification protects all parties while addressing the stated emergency.
Question 2: During a community meeting, a resident accuses your department of racial profiling. Your supervisor is not present. How should you respond?
- Defend the department aggressively and dismiss the accusation.
- Acknowledge the resident's concern respectfully, listen fully, and inform them of the formal complaint process. (Correct answer)
- Promise the resident that the accused officers will be disciplined.
- Leave the meeting to avoid conflict and notify your supervisor later.
Correct answer: Acknowledge the resident's concern respectfully, listen fully, and inform them of the formal complaint process.
Listening respectfully and directing the resident to formal channels maintains trust while following proper procedure.
Question 3: You arrive at a domestic disturbance call. Both parties have visible injuries, each claiming the other is the aggressor. What should you do FIRST?
- Arrest both parties immediately to ensure safety.
- Separate the parties and interview each individually to gather facts. (Correct answer)
- Side with whoever appears more injured.
- Leave without action since fault is unclear.
Correct answer: Separate the parties and interview each individually to gather facts.
Separating parties prevents further conflict and allows for uninfluenced statements to identify the primary aggressor.
Question 4: A fellow officer tells you they are going to skip documenting a minor use-of-force incident because 'it was nothing.' What should you do?
- Agree, since minor incidents don't need reports.
- Tell the officer that all use-of-force incidents must be documented per policy and offer to help if needed. (Correct answer)
- Report the officer to internal affairs without speaking to them first.
- Ignore it because it is not your responsibility.
Correct answer: Tell the officer that all use-of-force incidents must be documented per policy and offer to help if needed.
All use-of-force incidents require documentation; addressing it directly with the officer first is the appropriate first step.
Question 5: You observe a juvenile shoplifting a small item from a convenience store. The store owner does not want to press charges. What is the MOST appropriate response?
- Arrest the juvenile to teach them a lesson regardless of the owner's wishes.
- Do nothing since the owner declined to press charges.
- Document the incident, speak with the juvenile and their guardians, and explore diversion options per department policy. (Correct answer)
- Confiscate the item and let the juvenile leave without any further action.
Correct answer: Document the incident, speak with the juvenile and their guardians, and explore diversion options per department policy.
Juvenile diversion and guardian notification address the root issue while respecting the owner's decision and following policy.
Question 6: While writing a report, you realize you made a factual error that could affect the outcome of a court case. The case has not yet gone to trial. What should you do?
- Leave the error since changing reports is suspicious.
- Correct the report through proper amendment procedures, notify your supervisor, and inform the prosecutor. (Correct answer)
- Delete the original report and rewrite it as if no error occurred.
- Wait to see if the defense attorney notices during discovery.
Correct answer: Correct the report through proper amendment procedures, notify your supervisor, and inform the prosecutor.
Transparency and proper amendment procedures uphold the integrity of the justice process and protect all parties.
Question 7: You are working a DUI checkpoint when a vehicle approaches and the driver begins recording you with a phone. What is the BEST response?
- Order the driver to stop recording and confiscate the phone.
- Ignore the recording and continue the checkpoint stop professionally. (Correct answer)
- Ask the driver to stop recording as a courtesy, then continue.
- End the checkpoint stop to avoid being recorded.
Correct answer: Ignore the recording and continue the checkpoint stop professionally.
Members of the public have the right to record police in public spaces; continuing professionally is the appropriate response.
