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The Police Entrance Exam - Vehicle Pursuits
Sergeant George Godoy
Vehicle Pursuit Quiz
All answers should be based on the information above.
1. An officer observes a vehicle drive through a red light and attempts to stop the vehicle to cite the traffic violation. The operator of the vehicle flees at a high rate of speed through heavy rush hour traffic. The officer recognizes the driver and obtained the vehicle’s license plate number. This officer’s best course of action would be:
a) pursue the vehicle because traffic violators should not be allowed to escape
b) not pursue because the vehicle operator has been identified and can be arrested later
c) not pursue because the risks outweigh the violation
d) both b and c
The correct answer is d). Because of traffic volume, the minor traffic violation involved and the officer’s identification of the suspect, the officer should not initiate a pursuit.
2. An officer is involved in a high-speed vehicle pursuit. Which of the following conditions should not be considered by the pursuing officer when deciding to continue or break off the pursuit:
a) The nature of the violation
b) The type of headlights on the fleeing vehicle
c) The volume of the traffic
d) The pursuit environment: residential, commercial, school zone, open highway
e) The population density
The correct answer is b). The remaining answers should be considered when determining whether to continue a pursuit.
3. An officer initiating a pursuit notifies the dispatcher that a pursuit is underway and gives all the following information, EXCEPT:
a) Police unit identification
b) Location, speed and direction of travel
c) Reason for the pursuit
d) Suspect vehicle description, including license number
e) The last time the officer was involved in a vehicle pursuit
The correct answer is e). Only information pertinent to the vehicle pursuit that aids the dispatcher or backup officers in the apprehension of the suspect is transmitted.

denestu
about 1 month ago
24 Comments
In pursuit of criminals, law enforcement officers sometimes must give chase, and that includes on foot and in vehicles. Police pursuits on foot might result in someone near the officer and suspect taking an accidental fall when one or both of them go down in a scuffle. Pursuits in a police vehicle, however, pose the greatest risk to all involved, including the general public, and can end in deaths and the destruction of property or an automobile donation.
StarkFace
over 1 year ago
30 Comments
Very good stuff to think about. Kinda disappointed to hear about Denver PD's restrictions, though.
ojidbs55
over 1 year ago
14 Comments
The major of police exams don't have vehicle pursuit questions. I'd wager that 90% don't. However there are a lot of situational questions and memory recognition questions. I don't think this article does a good job in terms of preparing would be cops for the oral exam. I'd suggest looking over sample exam questions at http://passthepoliceexam.com
jerseyaaa
about 2 years ago
28 Comments
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stehen
over 2 years ago
2 Comments
How can anybody take a decision like that, a wise decision, when they actually have like 2 seconds. The majority of police officers think about that the person driving that car is a dangerous one and he can hurt others. Can a police officer be charged if something goes wrong during the pursuit?
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Anonymous
over 3 years ago
good info
spastic
almost 4 years ago
10 Comments
I think that everyone that is considering a career in law enforcement should definately take this exam,but before taking the exam they should look at the overview then take the quiz.It most definately helpful to take criminal justice courses as well to better understand the true aspects of what to exspect in the law enforcement field.
spastic
almost 4 years ago
10 Comments
I Think that this is good information to know considering I am a Criminal Justice major at Indian River State College and working for the Indian River County Sheriffs department as a volunteer deputy in their general services department.
Anonymous
about 4 years ago
My department's pursuit policy is somewhat lenient. We are authorized to pursue any offender if they are, in fact, fleeing from justice for any violation of the law. As soon as a pursuit becomes too dangerous or unneeded we are to use our common sense and good judgement to either continue/discontinue.
JoelAHermanson
about 4 years ago
28 Comments
good info
Anonymous
over 4 years ago
Excuse me add to this to former post. It helps a lot to know the LAW!
Anonymous
over 4 years ago
This is so good. Basic and common sense applys. It takes experience to form a basic instint that requires action. Definitely a start. Thanks
shielding_wings
over 4 years ago
2 Comments
Im a student of Criminal justice at Itt-technical... funny thing is this is more helpful than the text on the related issues O.O
Anonymous
over 4 years ago
This helped clarify a lot of questions I had!
rickykirkham
over 4 years ago
244 Comments
Great information. I just learned alot.