Police Sergeant Exam flashcards

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

Span of Control

The number of subordinates a supervisor directly manages. In patrol, a sergeant typically supervises 6-10 officers; wider spans reduce feedback frequency and increase delegation risk.

Garrity Protection

A compelled administrative statement cannot be used in a criminal prosecution against the officer, but may support discipline. The officer must be advised of the compelled nature and use restriction.

Weingarten Rights

Unionized employees may request representation during an investigatory interview that could lead to discipline. The employer may stop the interview rather than allow representation.

Progressive Discipline

A documented sequence from verbal counseling through written reprimand, suspension, demotion, and termination. Each step requires notice of the deficiency, a corrective period, and a written record.

FLSA 7(k) Work Period

A work period of 7 to 28 days for law enforcement. Under a 28-day period, overtime is owed after 171 hours rather than after 40 hours in a workweek.

Probable Cause

Facts and circumstances that would lead a reasonable officer to believe an offense was committed and the person to be arrested committed it. Required for a full arrest.

Reasonable Suspicion

Specific, articulable facts plus rational inferences that criminal activity may be occurring. Supports a Terry stop and frisk; a bare hunch is insufficient.

Miranda Custody Test

Custody exists when a reasonable person would not feel free to terminate the encounter. It is required together with interrogation before the warning is triggered.

Graham v. Connor

Use of force is judged by objective reasonableness from the perspective of a reasonable officer on scene, weighing offense severity, immediate threat, and active resistance.

Exclusionary Rule

Evidence obtained through an unlawful search or seizure is suppressed unless an exception applies, such as inevitable discovery, independent source, or attenuation.

Hot-Spot Deployment

Directing patrol resources to micro-places with concentrated crime and repeat calls. Deployment is weighted by calls-for-service density and time of day rather than equal coverage.

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 cover, broadcast the location and plate before contact, approach from the passenger side when tactically sound, and maintain a reactionary gap.

Incident Command Assumption

The first arriving unit assumes command until relieved. Command transfer requires a briefing on situation, objectives, resources, and strategy, announced over the radio.

Crime Scene Sequence

Secure and log entry, render aid, conduct a walk-through, photograph before touching, document, collect, package, and maintain chain of custody throughout.

Chain of Custody

A record of every transfer of evidence with date, time, from and to names, and purpose. An unbroken chain supports admissibility; a break can lead to suppression.

Biological Evidence Packaging

Air-dry before packaging, use paper containers, avoid heat and sunlight, and refrigerate. Never package wet biological items in plastic because moisture degrades the sample.

Digital Evidence Integrity

Photograph the screen, preserve power state, use write-blocking tools for device acquisition, and document the hash value to prove the data was not altered.

Sequential Lineup

Witnesses view suspects one at a time with instructions that the perpetrator may not be present. This reduces misidentification compared with simultaneous, suggestive procedures.

SARA Model

Scanning identifies and prioritizes the problem, Analysis finds causes and actors, Response implements tailored interventions, and Assessment measures outcomes and adjusts the approach.

Crime Triangle

Offender, victim or target, and place. Removing any one element reduces opportunity, and adding guardianship addresses the place element of the triangle.

Procedural Justice Elements

Voice, neutrality, respect, and trustworthy motives. Perceived fairness raises compliance and cooperation more than the favorability of the outcome itself.

Displacement Types

Spatial, temporal, target, tactical, and crime-type displacement. Diffusion of benefits occurs when an intervention reduces crime in nearby areas as well.

Problem-Oriented Policing

An approach targeting underlying conditions rather than individual incidents. Success is measured by reduced repeat calls and victimization, not by arrest counts alone.

Policy Hierarchy

Constitution and statute, then state licensing or POST standards, then department general orders, then unit-level standard operating procedures. Lower levels cannot conflict with higher ones.

Early Intervention System

Flags officers for repeated complaints, use-of-force incidents, or vehicle collisions within a defined period, triggering a documented supervisory review and possible support plan.

Body-Worn Camera Activation

Recording begins before arrival on scene and continues through the encounter. Any deactivation requires a documented justification in the report and system log.

Section 1983 Supervisor Liability

Failure to train, supervise, or intervene in misconduct can create civil liability when it amounts to deliberate indifference to the rights of persons.

Report Narrative Standard

Chronological past tense, active voice, first person. Avoid opinion, jargon, and conclusory statements; state the observed facts that support each offense element.

NIBRS Classification

Offenses are classified under the hierarchy rule and the most serious offense. Supervisors verify classification and completeness before statistical submission.

Records Retention

Follow state retention schedules and department policy. Never destroy records under litigation hold or an open investigation, and log every public records request.

Unified Command

Multiple agencies with jurisdiction share command authority while retaining individual agency responsibility. Used for multi-agency critical incidents and planned events.