AZ State Trooper cheat sheet

Written examination: scored on correct answers only; most agencies set a passing cut score and rank candidates, so unanswered items cost nothing but guessing is never penalized on a rights-only test.

Physical fitness: typical components are a vertical jump or standing long jump, sit-ups or push-ups in a fixed time, a 1.5-mile run or 300-meter sprint, and an agility or obstacle course; scores are age- and sex-normed percentiles.

Background investigation: a Personal History Statement is verified against criminal records, driving records, credit reports, employment files, and neighbor and reference interviews; disqualifiers include felony convictions, domestic violence convictions, and falsification of the application itself.

Polygraph: the examiner compares respiratory, electrodermal, and cardiovascular channels; a single inconclusive result usually triggers a second examination rather than automatic disqualification.

Interview: oral boards score communication, judgment, integrity, and stress tolerance on a fixed rating scale; answers should use specific past behavior (situation, action, result) rather than hypotheticals.

Conditional offer sequence: written test, physical test, background, polygraph, oral board, conditional job offer, psychological evaluation, medical examination, then academy.

Automatic disqualifiers commonly include any felony conviction, conviction for a crime of domestic violence, illegal drug sales, and dishonorable discharge from the military.

Written-test item types: reading comprehension, report writing, observation and memory, spatial orientation, and arithmetic reasoning; each is timed separately.

The three E's of traffic enforcement are engineering, education, and enforcement; patrol contributes primarily through enforcement and visible presence.

Reaction distance = speed x perception-reaction time; braking distance grows with the square of speed, so doubling speed roughly quadruples stopping distance.

At a crash scene, priorities are: render aid and request EMS, protect the scene, identify and separate witnesses, photograph and diagram, then clear the roadway.

A traffic stop begins with a safe location and positioning, a radio check of the plate, and an approach that keeps the officer off the traffic side when possible.

Radar and lidar readings must be supported by visual estimation, calibration records, and operator training to survive a court challenge.

Temporary traffic control uses the advance warning area, transition area, activity area, and termination area; flares and cones must be placed so drivers have time to react.

DUI investigation uses standardized field sobriety tests (horizontal gaze nystagmus, walk-and-turn, one-leg stand) plus driving observations and chemical testing.

An accident report records location, time, weather, road and light conditions, vehicle damage, injuries, and contributing factors, and is a public record in most states.

Fourth Amendment: a search requires a warrant supported by probable cause unless a recognized exception applies, such as consent, exigent circumstances, search incident to arrest, plain view, or automobile exception.

Terry stop: reasonable suspicion of criminal activity permits a brief detention and a pat-down for weapons only; probable cause permits arrest.

Fifth Amendment: custodial interrogation requires Miranda warnings (right to remain silent, right to counsel, warnings that statements can be used); invocation must be honored.

Sixth Amendment: the right to counsel attaches at the initiation of formal adversarial proceedings, such as arraignment or indictment.

Chain of custody: every transfer of evidence is documented with date, time, person, and purpose so authenticity can be established at trial.

Elements of a crime: act (actus reus), mental state (mens rea), concurrence, causation, and resulting harm; the prosecution must prove each beyond a reasonable doubt.

Exclusionary rule: evidence obtained through an unconstitutional search or seizure is generally inadmissible, subject to exceptions such as inevitable discovery and good faith.

Use of force is judged by objective reasonableness under the totality of the circumstances, including the severity of the offense, immediate threat, and active resistance.

A narrative report answers who, what, when, where, why, and how, written in the first person and past tense.

Use active voice and specific facts: 'the driver smelled of alcohol and slurred speech' rather than 'the driver appeared intoxicated.'

Quote statements verbatim in quotation marks; paraphrase without quotation marks only when the meaning is preserved and the source is identified.

Record times in 24-hour format and dates as month-day-year; note the source of each time (dispatch, officer's watch, video).

Separate observed facts from opinions and conclusions; label any opinion as such and give the basis for it.

Chronological order is standard; use short paragraphs and headings for each phase (arrival, investigation, arrest, disposition).

Document all evidence collected, with item numbers, description, and disposition, and cross-reference the property report.

Never alter a completed report without a documented supplement; corrections appear as a dated supplemental report.

Main idea: the controlling point the passage supports; it is usually stated in the first or last sentence of a paragraph.

Inference: a conclusion required by the text but not stated; reject choices that go beyond what the passage supports.

Detail questions: locate the sentence containing the keyword and read the sentence before and after it.

'Except' and 'not' questions: test each option against the passage and eliminate the three that are supported.

Tone and purpose: identify whether the author informs, persuades, or narrates, and look for evaluative adjectives.

Vocabulary in context: substitute each option into the sentence and keep the one that preserves the passage's meaning.

Sequence questions: track time markers (before, after, meanwhile, subsequently) to order events.

Beware extreme words in choices (always, never, all, only); correct answers usually match the passage's degree of certainty.

Observation is selective: expectation and attention determine what is encoded, so scan systematically rather than staring at one point.

Divide a scene into zones (left, center, right; foreground, background) and record details in each zone in a fixed order.

For persons, note in order: sex, approximate age, height, build, hair, facial hair, clothing, scars or tattoos, and distinguishing gait or speech.

For vehicles, record license plate first, then year, make, model, color, and damage or distinguishing features.

Memory decays quickly; write notes immediately and record descriptions before discussing them with other officers.

Weapon and hands: in any encounter, observe the hands first, since hands control weapons.

Stress narrows attention and can create weapon focus; cross-check your account with other witnesses and video.

Time estimation is unreliable under stress; anchor times to radio logs, dispatch records, or video timestamps.

Pursuit decision factors: seriousness of the offense, risk to the public, road and weather conditions, traffic density, and availability of alternatives such as air support.

Most agencies restrict pursuits to violent felonies or imminent danger; a supervisor may terminate any pursuit.

Emergency vehicle operation requires due regard for the safety of all persons; statutory privileges do not protect reckless driving.

Roadblocks and checkpoints must follow written policy and be conducted with a neutral, nondiscriminatory selection method.

Commercial vehicle inspection covers driver qualifications, hours of service, brakes, tires, lights, and load securement.

Hit-and-run investigation: preserve paint transfer, debris, and video; broadcast the vehicle description and check area body shops.

Crash reconstruction uses skid marks, momentum, and crush damage; measurements must be documented before the scene is cleared.