NYPD Captain case studies

NYPD Captain · Put your knowledge to work in context.

The NYPD Captain's Examination is the promotion test that sergeants and lieutenants in the New York City Police Department take to be considered for the rank of captain - a command-level position carrying responsibility for a precinct, a specialized unit, or a major operational function. The exam is built for sworn members who already know Department procedure from the inside; it tests whether you can apply that knowledge at command level, where a wrong call on a roll-call decision, a search warrant, a demonstration, or a staffing plan has consequences well beyond one tour. The NYPD Captain case studies are 5 cases and about 3,694 words.

The Anonymous Tip, the Waistband, and the Missing UF-250

At 2140 hours on a Tuesday, Officer Ruiz stops a sedan in the 75th Precinct after an anonymous 911 caller reports a man with a gun at a nearby corner. Ruiz later states he saw the passenger exit the car, tug at his waistband, and look toward the officers twice before re-entering.

771 words, about 4 min 2

Glove Box, Tow Inventory, and the Loaded Pistol

At 0230 hours, Officer Patel arrests a driver for aggravated unlicensed operation in the third degree after a traffic stop. The driver is handcuffed in the back of the patrol car.

752 words, about 4 min 3

Three Hundred at the Precinct, Fifty Across the Street

At 1600 hours, a group of 300 demonstrators gathers outside the 40th Precinct without a permit; a permit for 100 people at a plaza three blocks away expires at 1800. A counterprotest of 50 people, including two off-duty officers in plain clothes, arrives.

756 words, about 4 min 4

Steam Pipe Rupture at 0715

At 0715 hours, a 24-inch steam pipe ruptures at a construction site two blocks from an elementary school. The plume sends debris 40 feet into the air; six workers are injured, two seriously.

719 words, about 4 min 5

The $210,000 Overtime Hole and the Diplomatic Motorcade

Six weeks before the fiscal year ends, your patrol borough is 210,000 over its overtime budget. The deputy commissioner’s office directs you to provide 140 officers for a diplomatic motorcade and a stadium event on the same Saturday.

696 words, about 3 min