Deck 12: Becoming a Law Enforcement Professional

Question 1

Critical physical tasks required of law enforcement officers include

A) walking.
B) running up and down stairs.
C) heavy lifting.
D) jumping.
E) all of these choices.

Answer 1

E

Question 2

According to the text, a possible reason there is a lack of qualified recruits for law enforcement positions is

A) police use-of-force cases.
B) negative media publicity.
C) applicants are joining the military.
D) all of these choices.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which of the following steps in the hiring process is usually completed first?

A) medical examination
B) background investigation
C) interview
D) formal application
E) psychological examination

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Use of a testing or assessment center in the selection process is also called

A) the multiple hurdle procedure.
B) situational testing.
C) bona fide occupational qualifying.
D) probationary testing.
E) psychoevaluation.

Question 5

All are hindrances to police recruiting except

A) smaller age group cohorts.
B) lack of diversity.
C) unattractiveness of law enforcement.
D) low salary.
E) all of these choices are hindrances.

Question 6

The probationary period for a police officer is usually

A) one month.
B) three months.
C) one year.
D) two years.
E) three years.

Question 7

The oral interview is used to evaluate all except

A) judgment.
B) technical knowledge.
C) emotional stability
D) social adaptability.
E) appearance.

Question 8

Most police agencies require that a candidate to become a police officer

A) be a U.S. citizen.
B) have a valid driver's license.
C) not have been convicted of a felony.
D) be a U.S. citizen, have a valid driver's license, and not have been convicted of a felony.
E) none of these choices.

Question 9

When someone is consumed; rendered unserviceable or ineffectual by maximum use; exhausted; or made listless through overwork, stress, or intemperance, that person is said to be suffering from

A) posttraumatic stress disorder.
B) burnout.
C) multiple hurdle syndrome.
D) psychosomatic disease.
E) aggravated depletion.

Question 10

The background investigation usually includes all except

A) fingerprinting.
B) reviewing the military record.
C) interviewing the candidate.
D) checking on past school performance.
E) interviews with personal references, past employers, neighbors, and teachers.

Question 11

Studies show that women perform as well as men in police work and are

A) lacking integrity more often than male officers.
B) easier to hire.
C) less apt to use excessive force.
D) involved in more pursuits.

Question 12

CALEA was formed in 1979 to

A) eliminate political interference in law enforcement operations.
B) develop a set of law enforcement standards and administer the accreditation process.
C) control membership in police unions.
D) handle sexual harassment suits out of court.
E) conduct promotional assessments for upper level management.

Question 13

A legally recognized type of sexual harassment that involves a supervisor's demand for sexual favors from an employee in return for a job benefit is called

A) hostile-environment harassment.
B) quid pro quo harassment.
C) reverse discrimination.
D) disparity.
E) profiling.

Question 14

Unwelcome sexual behavior such as jokes, cartoons, and repeated requests for sexual favors can result in

A) hostile-environment harassment.
B) quid pro quo harassment.
C) reverse discrimination.
D) disparity.
E) profiling.

Question 15

Polygraph examinations of candidates are

A) used to exclude information given on the application.
B) used as a follow-up to the psychological investigation.
C) used to determine if a candidate has ever engaged in criminal activity or was ever released prior to filing of charges.
D) used to corroborate information given on the application, used as a follow-up to the background investigation, and used to determine if a candidate has ever engaged in criminal activity or was ever apprehended.
E) not legally allowed, as they violate a candidate's privacy.

Question 16

Physical fitness tests can evaluate a candidate's ability to

A) jump.
B) climb.
C) chase.
D) all of these choices.

Question 17

In some states the officer must have at least how much education to be eligible for promotion?

A) bachelor's degree
B) associate's degree
C) certificate
D) prior military experience

Question 18

A qualification that is reasonably necessary to perform the job is called a

A) minimum qualification.
B) bona fide occupational qualification.
C) educational qualification.
D) hiring imperative.
E) employment imperative.

Question 19

An approach being used to ensure police accountability, whereby individual officers are evaluated by a national board, is called

A) moonlighting.
B) accreditation.
C) credentialing.
D) privatization.
E) affirmative action.

Question 20

Written examinations usually test for

A) basic skills in reading and math.
B) knowledge of police work and procedure.
C) common sense and street smarts.
D) basic skills in reading and math, knowledge of police work and procedure, and common sense and street smarts.
E) none of these choices.

Question 21

Sexual harassment is prohibited by the

A) Bill of Rights.
B) U.S. Constitution.
C) Civil Rights Act.
D) Equal Opportunity Act.
E) Victims of Harassment Act.

Question 22

Unions are strongest

A) in the Northeast.
B) in the South.
C) on the West Coast.
D) both in the Northeast and in the South.
E) both in the Northeast and on the West Coast.

Question 23

An inability to hold continuous employment may indicate trouble getting along with supervisors.

Question 24

EEOC legislation allows for questions regarding race, religion, and national origin on applications for employment.

Question 25

Stress can be either positive or negative.

Question 26

Salaries among police departments nationwide are surprisingly uniform.

Question 27

A police officer's job is highly stressful and may result in a________________________  for the officer.

Question 28

Acute stress is continuous, lasts indefinitely, and may become debilitating.

Question 29

Dr. Hans Selye said________________________is simply the wear and tear caused by living.

Question 30

A________________________ is an agency where people must belong to or join to be hired.

Question 31

Civil lawsuits related to training and law enforcement commonly fall into two categories: failure-to-train litigation and civil liability for injuries sustained during training.

Question 32

occurs when someone is consumed, rendered ineffective, or exhausted through overwork or stress.

Question 33

Finding qualified police recruits has become much tougher since the September 11, 2001, attacks.

Question 34

is the ability to control entrance into the profession, to define the content of the knowledge to be obtained, and to be responsible for self-monitoring and disciplining.

Question 35

A(n)________________________ is any group authorized to represent the members of the law enforcement agency in negotiating such matters as wages, fringe benefits, and other conditions of employment.

Question 36

tests are administered to determine if a person is emotionally suited for a career in law enforcement.

Question 37

Working at a part-time job while fulfilling the obligations of a full-time position is called ___________________.

Question 38

It is always preferred, and sometimes required, that police officers live in the community they serve.

Question 39

Cities and municipalities have waived residency requirements to obtain better candidates.

Question 40

Under EEOC legislation, applicants may be asked if they have ever been convicted of a crime.

Question 41

What elements are common to most selection processes? Describe each element in detail.

Question 42

What are some factors an individual should consider when seeking employment in law enforcement? What do you consider the five most important factors? What do you believe are traits that are most desirable in a law enforcement officer?

Question 43

Draw a flowchart showing the primary steps one takes when trying to become a police officer. Briefly explain what happens at each step and why that step is necessary.

Question 44

List and discuss the advantages for law enforcement agencies that hire and retain more female officers.

Question 45

Discuss the various types of stress that may affect police officers and their impact on officers, paying special attention to those that are unique to law enforcement.

Question 46

What are some external reasons police officers leave their agencies? Internal reasons? How have police agencies attempted to retain officers by addressing either external or internal reasons?

Question 47

List and discuss the elements of professionalism. Do you think law enforcement qualifies as a profession? Why or why not?

Question 48

What is the purpose of a union? What does collective bargaining entail? Describe the oldest and most influential law enforcement officers' organization. What are some criticisms of unions?

Question 49

Explain the importance of having a racially balanced and integrated police department in today's society.

Question 50

Why did finding qualified police recruits become more difficult after September 11, 2001? In what ways has increased competition for recruits caused organizations to lower their standards? Other than a decreasing number of applicants, what other challenges do departments face in recruiting applicants?

Question 51

Explain what happens during the probationary period for officer recruits.

Question 52

The____________ states that a person who negligently starts a fire is not liable to a firefighter injured while responding to that fire.

Question 53

Discuss the arguments for and against higher educational standards for law enforcement officers. Do you support the requirement of higher education for new hires? For promotion? Defend your position.