OPOTA FINAL EXAM (SPOS)
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
The3relationship3between3a3student3performance3objective3and3a3test3question3-3ans--
A3test3question3must3respond3directly3to3an3SPO3and3every3SPO3may3be3the3basis3of3a3t
est3question
The3ultimate3reason3for3law3enforcement3training3-3ans--
To3be3able3to3protect3life3and3property3of3yourself3and3the3public
A3peace3officer's3main3goals3-3ans--1.3Enforce3laws
2.3Preserve3the3peace
3.3Prevent3crimes
4.3Protect3civil3rights3and3liberties
5.3Provide3services
Considerations3when3exercising3discretion3-3ans--
•Use3sound3judgment3to3determine3which3laws3are3to3be3formally3enforced
•Determine3if3there3is3a3more3constructive3remedy3to3a3situation3without3an3arrest3or3citat
ion3(e.g.,3referring3a3homeless3person3to3a3shelter3rather3than3a3trespassing3arrest)
Factors3necessary3for3the3commission3of3a3crime3(crime3triangle)3-3ans--1.3Desire
•The3motivation3behind3criminal3behavior3(e.g.,3financial3gain,3power,3revenge,3fear,3narc
otics3usage)
•This3factor3is3the3most3difficult3to3change
2.3Victim
•The3potential3target
•Criminals3prefer3an3easy3target3that3is3unaware3of3his/
her3surroundings3or3lacking3proper3security3precautions
•Difficult3to3change3this3factor3due3to3individual3personalities
3.3Opportunity
•Removing3opportunity3for3crime3with3proper3security3measures3applied3to3the3victim's3e
nvironment3(e.g.,3locking3doors/
windows,3removing3valuables3from3open3view,3good3lighting)
•Most3effective3area3to3concentrate3crime3prevention3strategies
Core3concepts3of3community3policing3-3ans---
3a3partnership3between3the3police3and3the3community
,-3crime3prevention
-3organizational3change3of3the3agency
-3a3problem-3solving3approach3to3the3police3role3that3is3proactive
Considerations3for3off3duty3situations3-3ans--1.3Behavior
•An3officer's3behavior3is3often3scrutinized3by3the3community3even3when3not3on3duty
•Not3only3does3this3refer3to3physical3and3verbal3actions,3but3also3online3activity3on3social3
media
•An3officer3is3expected3to3uphold3the3law3enforcement3code3of3ethics
2.3Situational3awareness
•An3officer3should3make3every3effort3to3remain3alert3even3when3not3working
•You3never3know3when3you3may3need3to3transition3quickly3from3a3private3citizen3to3a3pea
ce3officer
•Make3certain3to3preplan3with3your3family3should3a3situation3arise3while3together.3Create3
a3number3of3scenarios3for3your3family3to3practice
•Familiarize3yourself3with3your3agency's3off3duty3weapon3policy
Be3a3good3witness3if3a3situation3arises3when3police3intervention3is3necessary
•If3the3situation3involves3a3reasonable3belief3of3serious3physical3harm,3provide3a3respons
e3as3soon3as3practical
•However,3if3the3situation3is3less3serious,3the3best3course3of3action3is3to3observe3the3inci
dent3until3uniformed3officers3respond
•If3you3become3involved,3make3contact3withdispatch3as3soon3as3possible3to3provide3infor
mation3about3the3incident3and3information3about3yourself3(e.g.,3clothing3you3are3wearing,
3car3you3are3driving,3description3of3offenders3and3victims,3pertinent3officer3safety3informa
tion)
State3the3purpose3of3the3bill3of3rights3-3ans---3protect3an3individual's3freedoms
-3prevent3the3government3from3interfering3in3protected3rights
Describe3the3major3components3of3the3criminal3justice3system3-3ans--
1.3Law3enforcement
2.3Courts
3.3Corrections
List3the3goals3of3sentencing3-3ans--
1.3punish3the3offender3and3in3many3cases,3rehabilitate3the3offender
2.3Protect3society
3.3Restore3the3victim3as3much3as3possible
The3concepts3of3lawful3actions3and3police3legitimacy3-3ans--1.3Lawful3-
3defined3by3laws3and3standards
•Criminal3law3-3identifies3what3actions3are3prohibited
•Rules3of3agency3(e.g.,3administrative3rules,3general3orders,3standard3operating3procedu
res)
•Constitutional3law3(e.g.,3Fourth,3Fifth,3Sixth3Amendments)
,•Officers3can3act3lawfully3and3within3the3parameters3of3agency3policy3and3the3citizenry3sti
ll3not3perceive3there3to3be3police3legitimacy3-3there3can3be3lawful,3but3awful3interactions
2.3Police3legitimacy3-
3exists3when3the3public3views3the3police3as3authorized3to3exercise3power3in3order3to3mai
ntain3social3order,3manage3conflicts,3and3solve3problems3in3the3community
Three3resulting3judgments3of3police3legitimacy3in3action3that3translate3into3positive3result
s3-3ans--Judgment3
-
3Public3trust3and3confidence3in3the3police3as3being3honest,3trying3to3do3jobs3well,3trying3to
3protect3the3community
Result3-3Individuals3are3more3likely3to3become3actively3involved3in3police-
community3partnerships
Judgment3-3Public3willingness3to3defer3to3the3law3and3police3authority
Result3-
3There3is3a3correlation3between3those3who3obey3the3laws3and3those3who3view3the3police3
as3legitimate;3in3addition,3those3who3see3the3police3as3legitimate3have3an3increased3willi
ngness3to3cooperate3by3reporting3crimes3and3providing3valuable3information3about3know
n3and3suspected3offenders
Judgment3-3Public3belief3that3police3actions3are3morally3justified3and3appropriate
Result3-3Citizens3are3more3likely3to3cooperate3and3defer3in3moments3of3crisis
Circumstances3when3filming3police3officers3is3permissible3-3ans--
•At3least3one3party3to3the3encounter3consents3or
•When3officers3are3carrying3out3their3duties3in3public,3so3long3as3it3does3not3interfere3with
3the3officers3carrying3out3their3duties
The3relationship3between3race,3genetics,3and3physical3characteristics3-3ans--
•Race3is3a3modern3concept3used3to3classify3people3by3similar,3observable3physical3char
acteristics
•It3is3not,3as3many3people3think,3based3on3genetics
•Despite3surface3appearances,3humans3are3one3of3the3most3genetically3similar3of3all3spe
cies3and3...
•Within3the3human3species,3there3is3no3distinct3genetic3profile3that3completely3distinguish
es3one3so-called3race3from3another
•This3is3because3most3genetically3influenced3traits,3like3skin3color,3hair,3eye3shape,3bloo
d3type,3athleticism,3and3intelligence,3are3inherited3completely3independent3of3one3anothe
r
The3connection3between3in-groups,3out-groups3and3police3legitimacy3-3ans--
•Some3individuals3interpret3their3encounters3with3police3in3terms3of3their3group's3societal3
position3rather3than,3or3in3addition3to,3the3immediate3circumstances3of3the3police3contact
, Types3of3racism3-3ans--Individual3racism3-
3Internalized,3unexpressed3biases3and3prejudices3based3on3race
Interpersonal3racism3-
3Occurs3between3individuals.3Includes3public3expressions3of3racial3prejudice3and3hate3m
ade3by3individuals
Institutional3racism
•Race3based3discriminatory3policies3and3treatment3that3are3produced3and3perpetuated3b
y3institutions3(e.g.,3schools,3mass3media,3governments,3banks)3that3result3in3inequitable3
opportunities3and3impacts
•Occurs3within3and3between3institutions
•Includes3the3discriminatory3actions3of3individuals3exercising3the3authority3of3the3instituti
on3(e.g.,3a3bank3loan3officer,3representing3a3banking3institution,3treating3someone3with3ra
cial3bias;3a3police3officer,3representing3a3law3enforcement3institution,3treating3someone3w
ith3racial3bias)
Structural3racism
•Refers3to3the3collective3way3history,3culture,3and3institutions3reinforce3and3perpetuate3ra
cializedoutcomes,3even3in3the3absence3of3racist3intent
•It3is3broadly3encompassing3-
3it3touches3on3all3aspects3of3society3(e.g.,3history,3politics,3economics)3and3is3the3foundati
on3from3which3the3other3types3of3racism3emerge
•Indicators3include3power3inequalities,3unequal3access3to3opportunities,3and3differing3poli
cy3outcomes3by3race,3whether3or3not3intentional
Components3of3bias3-3ans--•Stereotypes3-
3generalizations3about3the3perceived3"typical"3characteristics3of3a3social3category3(i.e.,3c
ognitive3component)
‒We3categorize3people3by3age,3gender,3race,3and3role
‒
Stereotypes3do3not3necessarily3have3to3have3a3negative3connotation,3as3social3scientists
3point3out3that3it3is3just3a3way3for3our3brain3to3quickly3sort3people3into3recognizable3group
s
•Prejudices3-
3an3often3negative3prejudgment3based3on3characteristics3such3as3race,3age,3etc.3that3is3n
ot3necessarily3reasonable3or3logical
•Attitude3-
3positive3or3negative3feelings3associated3with3individuals3or3groups;3the3tendency3to3like3
or3dislike,3or3to3act3favorably3or3unfavorably,3toward3someone3or3something
Bias-based3profiling3and3criminal3profiling3-3ans--•Bias-
based3profiling,3racial3profiling,3and3illegal3profiling3have3the3same3meaning3and3are3use
d3interchangeably