Police Sergeant Sample Exam, Answered

Police Sergeant Sample Exam, Answered-Question 1 is an example of a test question designed to measure candidates' knowledge of N.J.S.A. 2C 1. Mrs. Harrison has not paid her rent in three months; as a result, she was served with an eviction notice. She became enraged, and in a fit of anger, recklessly kicked and damaged the bedroom and bathroom doors. The property owner comes to the police department for the purpose of signing complaints. According to the NJ Code of Criminal Justice, which is the MOST APPROPRIATE advice for the property owner? (a) The matter is landlord-tenant and civil in nature and not within the power of the police. (b) He should sign a criminal complaint for criminal mischief against Mrs. Harrison. (c) No criminal charge can be signed, because she recklessly damaged the property without the employment of fire, explosives, or other dangerous means. (d) He should sign a criminal complaint for theft. - Question #1 - Key is B NJ Title 2C questions will generally begin with a scenario that describes the elements of a crime or a detailed situation or interaction between two or more parties. Candidates will have to consider all the details presented in the scenario and answer the question based on the statutes presented in NJ Title 2C. Questions may require the candidates to determine if a statute in N.J.S.A 2C was violated, the reason or main cause of the violation, and in some cases, choose which charge is most appropriate. In this question, candidates need to consider the details given in the scenario to make the MOST APPROPRIATE choice from the options given. The candidate must consider the relationship (landlord/tenant) of the two parties involved, the damage caused by Mrs. Harrison, and the manner in which the damage was done. Option (a) is incorrect because, regardless of the relationship between the two parties involved, tangible property owned by the landlord was damaged which makes this a criminal case. Option (c) is incorrect because the use of "fire, explosives, or other dangerous means" is not required in order for Mrs. Harrison's actions to be considered criminal. Option (d) is incorrect because the details in this scenario do not meet the elements required for a charge of Theft. Given the flaws in the other options, option (b) is the MOST APPROPRIATE answer from the choices provided. According to N.J.S.A. 2C:17.3 Criminal Mischief, an individual is guilty of criminal mischief if he/she: (2) Purposely, knowingly, or recklessly tampers with tangible property of another so as to endanger person or property, including the damaging or destroying of a rental premises by a tenant in retaliation for institution of eviction proceedings. Question 2 is an example of a test question designed to measure candidates' knowledge of New Jersey Case Law 2. Must a police officer, who makes observations during a routine safety inspection of a commercial truck (tractor-trailer), which reasonably leads him to believe it houses a hidden compartment containing contraband, obtain a search warrant before searching that compartment? (a) Yes, once the officer has the commercial vehicle detained and has probable cause to believe it has a hidden compartment, a search warrant is required to further search that compartment. (b) No, a search of an area of a commercial truck that is within the scope of a proper safety inspection, may be conducted without a warrant, even though this area is concealed within a hidden compartment.