DC POST case studies
DC POST · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The DC POST (Police Officer Standards and Training) Certification Exam is the credential candidates in the District of Columbia work toward to demonstrate entry-level readiness for a sworn law enforcement career. This page is an independent study resource for candidates preparing for that certification pathway; it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the District of Columbia or the Metropolitan Police Department. The DC POST case studies are 5 cases and about 3,365 words.
1Knife in a Studio Apartment: De-escalation and Duty to Intervene
At 9:40 p.m., you and your partner respond to a domestic disturbance at a third-floor studio apartment in Ward 4. The caller, a 19-year-old daughter, reports that her 46-year-old father, who has diagnosed schizophrenia and has not taken medication for four days, is holding a chef's knife and talking about 'the signal.' The apartment is roughly 400 square feet; the kitchenette is about 8 feet from the front door.
743 words, about 4 min2Recording at the Traffic Stop: First Amendment, Frisk, and Consent
At 2:15 a.m., you stop a sedan on Georgia Avenue NW for a broken taillight and a failure to signal. The driver, 28, is calm and keeps his hands on the wheel.
708 words, about 4 min3Burglary Scene With a Low Battery and a Sergeant in a Hurry
At 7:30 a.m., you respond to a reported burglary at a ground-floor apartment in Shaw. The tenant, a 62-year-old woman, says she came home at 6:50 a.m.
663 words, about 3 min4DUI Refusal: Implied Consent, Warrants, and Blood Draw Force
At 1:20 a.m., you observe a sedan traveling 52 mph in a posted 30 mph zone on Benning Road NE. The car drifts over the lane line twice.
646 words, about 3 min5The Template Report and the Sergeant's Shortcut
You are a four-year officer. While reviewing a use-of-force packet, you read a colleague's report stating that the subject 'lunged' before the takedown.
605 words, about 3 min