Auxiliary Police Written flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Main idea

The central point a passage makes about its subject. It is broader than any single detail and is usually stated in the first or last sentence.

Supporting detail

A specific fact, name, date, or figure inside a passage that can be verified by rereading the text. Detail questions are answered by locating it directly.

Valid inference

A conclusion that must be true given only the stated facts. If reaching it requires outside knowledge or a guess, it is not a valid inference.

Subject-verb agreement

A singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb. Phrases between them, such as "of reports," do not change the verb.

Dangling modifier

An introductory phrase that fails to describe the subject of the main clause. "While on patrol, the officer saw" is correct; "While on patrol, the car" is not.

Parallel structure

Items joined in a series or by conjunctions must share the same grammatical form, such as all nouns, all gerunds, or all infinitives.

Chronological narrative

The report body presents events in the order they occurred, using past tense and clear time markers such as "at 1400 hours" or "immediately after."

Observed versus reported

Distinguish what the officer personally saw from what a witness said. Attribute secondhand information explicitly rather than presenting it as fact.

Supplemental report

A separate, dated document used to add or correct information after an original report is submitted. Original reports are never edited in place.

Active voice

The subject performs the action: "I observed the vehicle." Preferred in reports because it is shorter, clearer, and identifies who acted.

24-hour clock

Time is written as four digits without a.m. or p.m., from 0000 to 2359. 1:30 p.m. becomes 1330 hours, removing ambiguity in reports.

Verbatim quotation

A statement reproduced exactly as spoken, enclosed in quotation marks. Paraphrased statements omit the marks but still name the source.

Vague pronoun reference

A pronoun such as "he" or "they" with more than one possible referent. Replace it with the specific name or role for clarity.

Run-on sentence

Two independent clauses joined only by a comma. Fix by splitting into two sentences or joining with a semicolon or coordinating conjunction.

Report identification block

The header listing date and time, location, case number, persons involved, and reporting officer. It frames everything in the narrative.

Person description order

Describe sex, race, approximate age, height, weight, hair, eyes, complexion, then clothing from top to bottom. A consistent order prevents omissions.

License plate priority

The plate is the highest-value vehicle detail because it uniquely identifies the car. Capture it before color or make if time is short.

Chunking

Grouping items into meaningful units, such as a plate as three letters plus four digits, to hold more information in short-term memory.

Short-term memory capacity

Roughly five to nine items can be held for about fifteen to thirty seconds without rehearsal. Writing details down prevents loss.

Spaced rehearsal

Reviewing material at increasing intervals over time. It produces stronger long-term recall than a single long study session.

Mnemonic device

An acronym, rhyme, or linking story that attaches new facts to existing memory structures, making later retrieval easier.

Tunnel vision

Narrowed attention under stress that ignores peripheral detail. Officers counter it by consciously scanning left-right and near-far.

Hands-first observation

In any encounter, check hands and waistline first because they hold weapons, evidence, and objects a subject may discard.

Cognitive interview

A witness interview method using context reinstatement, reverse-order recall, and changed perspective to surface additional accurate detail.

Cardinal turn rule

Facing north, a right turn faces east, another right faces south, another faces west. Each right turn rotates ninety degrees clockwise.

Clock-face direction

Directions given relative to the observer: twelve o'clock is straight ahead, three is right, six is behind, nine is left.

Compass bearing

A direction measured in degrees clockwise from north. East is 90, south is 180, west is 270, and north is 0 or 360.

Reverse bearing

The opposite direction, found by adding or subtracting 180 degrees. A bearing of 45 degrees reverses to 225 degrees.

Map scale

The ratio of map distance to ground distance. At 1:50,000, one centimeter on the map equals 500 meters on the ground.

Net displacement

The straight-line result of several moves. Track north-south and east-west components separately, then combine them into one bearing and distance.

Problem sensitivity

The ability to recognize a problem, separate facts from assumptions, weigh consequences of options, and justify the chosen action.

Priority of life rule

Life safety outranks property protection, which outranks report completion. Immediate risk to a person justifies calling backup and medical aid first.