Police Sergeant Exam cheat sheet

Span of control: a first-line sergeant typically directly supervises 6-10 officers; wider spans reduce feedback frequency and increase delegation risk.

Progressive discipline sequence: documented verbal counseling, written reprimand, suspension, demotion, termination; each step requires notice of the deficiency, a corrective period, and a written record.

Weingarten rights apply to unionized employees in investigatory interviews that may lead to discipline; the employee must request representation, and the employer may choose to stop the interview rather than allow it.

Garrity rule: statements compelled under threat of discipline cannot be used in a criminal prosecution but may be used for administrative discipline; the officer must be advised of the compelled nature and use restriction.

Four leadership styles in situational leadership: directing (high task, low relationship), coaching, supporting, and delegating, selected by the follower's demonstrated competence and commitment.

Performance deficiency analysis distinguishes will-do problems (motivation, consequences) from can-do problems (training, resources, selection); the remedy differs for each.

FLSA rules: nonexempt employees earn overtime after 40 hours per workweek; a 7(k) work period of 28 days allows overtime after 171 hours for law enforcement.

Documentation standard for counseling: date, time, location, specific behavior observed, policy or standard violated, prior notice given, corrective action agreed, and signatures of supervisor and employee.

Fourth Amendment seizure of a person occurs when a reasonable person would not feel free to leave; probable cause is required for a full arrest, reasonable suspicion for a Terry stop.

Reasonable suspicion requires specific, articulable facts plus rational inferences; a bare hunch or anonymous uncorroborated tip is insufficient under Terry v. Ohio.

Search warrant exceptions: consent, search incident to lawful arrest, exigent circumstances, plain view, automobile, inventory, and stop-and-frisk; the State bears the burden of proving the exception applies.

Miranda custody plus interrogation triggers the warning; the test for custody is whether a reasonable person would feel free to terminate the encounter, and the test for interrogation is words or actions reasonably likely to elicit an incriminating response.

Chain-of-custody and Fourth Amendment exclusion: evidence obtained through an unlawful search is suppressed unless an exception such as inevitable discovery, independent source, or attenuation applies.

Fifth Amendment: a suspect may invoke the right to silence at any time and questioning must cease; counsel invocation requires questioning to stop until counsel is present or the suspect reinitiates.

Use-of-force standard: objective reasonableness judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, weighing the severity of the crime, immediate threat, and active resistance (Graham v. Connor).

Sixth Amendment right to counsel attaches at formal charging and applies to all critical stages; it is offense-specific and does not bar questioning about uncharged crimes.

Directed patrol allocation: weight deployment toward high-crime places and times using calls-for-service density and hot-spot analysis rather than equal geographic coverage.

Field supervision checklist: uniform and equipment compliance, radio and body-worn camera activation, report timeliness, and scene command presence.

Radio discipline: priority traffic preempts routine traffic; the field supervisor monitors the assigned channel, assumes incident command on arrival, and assigns unit designations.

Pursuit decision factors: offense severity, danger to the public, traffic and pedestrian density, weather and road conditions, officer familiarity with the area, and availability of air support.

Vehicle stop tactics: position offset for officer cover, call in the location and plate before contact, use the passenger-side approach when tactically sound, and maintain a reactionary gap.

Response priority levels typically run from emergency (lights and siren, life threat) to routine (no emergency equipment); supervisors audit whether priority matches the call classification.

Officer safety and welfare: supervisors rotate personnel on prolonged scenes, ensure hydration and relief, and document injuries and exposure incidents.

Traffic crash scene: protect the scene, render aid, identify and interview witnesses, photograph and diagram, and measure skid and debris evidence before clearing.

Crime scene sequence: secure and log entry, render aid, conduct a walk-through, photograph before touching, document, collect, and package, then maintain chain of custody.

Chain of custody entries must include each transfer with the date, time, from and to names, and the purpose; a break in the chain can render evidence inadmissible.

Biological evidence: air-dry before packaging, use paper containers, avoid heat and sunlight, and refrigerate; never package wet items in plastic.

Digital evidence: photograph the screen, preserve power state, use write-blocking tools for device acquisition, and document the hash value to prove integrity.

Interview versus interrogation: interviews are non-accusatory fact gathering; interrogations are accusatory and require Miranda if custody and interrogation elements are present.

Eyewitness identification: use sequential or blinded lineups, instruct the witness that the perpetrator may not be present, and avoid suggestive procedures to reduce misidentification.

Case file standard: offense elements, victim and witness statements, suspect statements, evidence inventory, photographs, and follow-up assignments with deadlines.

Follow-up supervision: supervisors review open cases for solvability factors, assign leads, set review dates, and audit whether evidence was submitted to the lab within policy deadlines.

SARA model: Scanning (identify and prioritize the problem), Analysis (identify causes and actors), Response (implement tailored interventions), Assessment (measure outcomes and adjust).

Problem-oriented policing targets underlying conditions, not just individual incidents; success is measured by reduction in repeat calls, not by arrest counts alone.

Crime triangle: offender, victim or target, and place; removing any one element reduces opportunity, and guardianship addresses the place element.

Broken windows and hot-spot policing: concentrated disorder and repeat victimization predict crime; directed patrol at micro-places reduces calls without displacement in most studies.

Community engagement metrics: attendance at meetings, citizen complaints, survey trust scores, and participation in neighborhood watch; supervisors track trends rather than single events.

Procedural justice elements: voice, neutrality, respect, and trustworthy motives; perceived fairness raises compliance and cooperation more than outcome favorability.

Displacement types: spatial, temporal, target, tactical, and crime-type; diffusion of benefits occurs when interventions reduce crime nearby as well.

Partnership roles: coordinate with code enforcement, schools, businesses, and social services; document referral outcomes to justify sustained resources.

Policy hierarchy: constitution and statute, then state POST or licensing standards, then department general orders, then unit-level standard operating procedures.

Use-of-force reporting thresholds: any reportable force requires a written report, supervisory notification, medical evaluation, and a review board or chain-of-command review.

Body-worn camera policy: activation before arrival on scene, continuous recording through the encounter, and documented justification for any deactivation.

Early intervention system: flags officers for repeated complaints, use-of-force incidents, or vehicle collisions within a defined period, triggering a supervisory review.

Confidentiality: personnel records, internal affairs files, and medical information are restricted; release only per public records law and department legal review.

Grievance procedure: file within the policy deadline, attempt informal resolution first, then formal written grievance, then arbitration or appeal as defined by the labor agreement.

Off-duty conduct and social media: policy restricts conduct that discredits the agency or compromises operations; supervisors document and refer to internal affairs when warranted.

Supervisor liability: failure to train, supervise, or intervene in misconduct can create civil liability under 42 U.S.C. 1983 for deliberate indifference.

Report elements: who, what, when, where, why, and how, plus offense elements, victim, suspect, witnesses, evidence, and disposition.

Chronological narrative in past tense, active voice, first person; avoid opinion, jargon, and conclusory statements such as 'the subject was disorderly' without observed facts.

Report review standard: supervisor verifies completeness, accuracy, and consistency with the offense elements; returns deficient reports with specific corrections.

Records retention: follow state retention schedules and department policy; never destroy records under litigation hold or open investigation.

Evidence and property inventory: log item number, description, location, and disposition; conduct periodic audits and reconcile discrepancies.

Statistical reporting: UCR/NIBRS offense classification follows the hierarchy rule and the most serious offense; supervisors verify classification before submission.

Public records requests: log the request, apply exemptions, respond within the statutory time frame, and route legal questions to the records custodian or legal counsel.

Administrative deadlines: report submission, evidence submission, and court notification timelines are tracked and escalated when missed.

ICS principles: unity of command, span of control, common terminology, and management by objectives; the first arriving unit assumes command until relieved.

Command transfer: the incoming commander is briefed on situation, objectives, resources, and strategy, and transfer is announced over the radio.

Active shooter priority: the first officers move to the threat and neutralize it; rescue task forces follow with medical support after the scene is stabilized.

Hostage or barricade: contain, isolate, and negotiate; tactical entry requires the incident commander's authorization and a negotiated or imminent-threat justification.

Emergency management phases: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery; NIMS and the incident command system apply to planned events as well as emergencies.

Unified command: multiple agencies with jurisdiction share command authority while retaining individual agency responsibility.

Critical incident stress: activate peer support and employee assistance programs, rotate personnel, and document exposures and injuries.

After-action review: collect timelines, radio logs, and statements, identify strengths and corrective actions, and assign responsible parties with deadlines.