Headline: POLICE QUIZZED FOR CREDENTIALS IN NATIONAL PROFICIENCY EXAM

 Date:     May 18, 1997              Section:    NEWS
 Page:     A3     KATHERINE RIZZO   AP

 Index Terms: A SAMPLING OF POLICE-EXAM QUESTIONS

 Text:
 WASHINGTON - Do police officers in small towns have the same skills as
 their big-city colleagues?
 
 
     Mike Rhett, who patrols the freeways of Columbus, Ohio, knows how he
 stacks up. He was among the first 94 officers to pass a voluntary
 national police proficiency test.
 
    "I wanted to prove I could do it," said Rhett. "It's not going to put
 any more money in my pocket; it's not going to give me an opportunity to
 transfer anywhere or do anything different but I wanted to do it.
 
    "The fact that I have been tested on a national basis and I'm one of
 the few people who passed says something."
 
     Rhett was among officers from 35 states lauded last week as "the
 cream of the crop of policing" by the new National Law Enforcement
 Credentialing Board, a private organization based in Columbus.
 
    At a luncheon honoring the officers, Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del.,
(call any member of Congress Toll Free 1-800-522-6721)
 called the credentialing process "a stroke of genius" and predicted that
 it will become the standard against which policing is judged.
 
    Police who fail to measure up don't wash out; they're sent back to
 brush up on their skills or their education or to do more community
 service before trying again.
 
    The credential acknowledges the accomplishments of officers who took
 it upon themselves to improve their educations, build connections with
 their neighbors and hone their police skills, he said.
 
    The idea for the board started with the Fraternal Order of Police.
 The order joined with other law-enforcement groups, scholars, judges and
 public officials who spent three years developing a set of standards by
 which to evaluate the people behind the badges.
 
    The result was a series of standards, including firearms proficiency;
 a record clear of disciplinary problems; at least 100 hours per year of
 community service; and after-the-academy education.
 
    Newly credentialed cops will have to be recertified in four years to
 maintain their status.
 
 -----------------------------------
 A sampling of police-exam questions
 -----------------------------------
 
     A sampling of some of the 200 questions on the examination passed by
 police officers designated as nationally credentialed:
 
 1. Upon arriving at the scene of a disturbance, an officer encounters an
 extremely agitated male who is irritated about the officer's presence.
 The officer should:
 
     A. Attempt to handcuff him as soon as possible to avoid possible
 physical confrontation.
 
    B. Give him strong commands to calm down.
 
    C. Approach him in a non-threatening way and attempt conversation.
 
    D. Utilize neighbors to assist in controlling him.
 
 2. While an officer is attempting to arrest a subject during a buy-bust
 for cocaine, the subject throws a 3-year-old child at the officer and
 flees. The subject cannot be located for three days. In addition to the
 narcotics charge, the subject could be charged with all of the following
 EXCEPT:
 
     A. Child abandonment.
 
    B. Child neglect.
 
    C. Endangering the welfare of a child.
 
    D. Child abuse.
 
 3. An officer is dispatched to a residence to complete a report on a
 burglary. While taking the report, the officer asks the owner for
 permission to use the restroom and is directed "down the hall to the
 room on the right." While passing an open bedroom door, the officers
 sees three potted marijuana plants growing next to the window. The
 officer should:
 
     A. Seize the marijuana plants as contraband but file no charges
 because permission was not given to enter the bedroom.
 
    B. Seize the plants in plain view and file charges against the owner,
 using marijuana as evidence.
 
    C. Ignore the marijuana, because permission was not given to enter
 the bedroom.
 
    D. Seize the marijuana and search the rest of the bedroom for
 additional contraband.
 
 4. "Officer A" frequently reports for duty smelling of alcohol, and
 recent carelessness on the officer's part has put the safety of "Officer
 B" in jeopardy. "Officer B" has confronted "Officer A," but the behavior
 has continued. The next action of "Officer B" should be to:
 
     A. Speak with "Officer A" again.
 
    B. Contact an appropriate agency for advice.
 
    C. Report "Officer A" to the immediate supervisor.
 
    D. Report the situation the next time "Officer A" shows up at work
 intoxicated.
 
 5. Which of the following is most likely to influence a radar
 speed-measurement reading?
 
     A. Aluminum paint on a vehicle.
 
    B. Chains hanging from a vehicle.
 
    C. The honking of a horn.
 
    D. The size of a vehicle.
 
 6. While conducting a traffic stop, a vehicle operator alleges that the
 officer is harassing him and making the stop because of his sexual
 orientation. Several other comments are made that anger the officer, who
 subsequently loses his temper and uses a derogatory name. This further
 upsets the subject, who demands the officer's name. The inference is
 that a complaint will be filed. Which of the following is the most
 appropriate course of action?
 
     A. If confronted by supervision, deny the comment since there were
 no witnesses.
 
    B. Notify the supervisor of the incident and attempt to apologize.
 
    C. If confronted by supervision, refuse to answer any questions
 unless charged with a violation.
 
    D. Apologize and tell the vehicle operator a citation will not be
 issued if he will forget the incident.
 
 Answers:
 
     1.C
 
     2.B
 
     3.B
 
     4.C
 
     5.D
 
     6.B
 
 Associated Press. Copyright or wrong 1997 The Seattle Times