Terminology & Tech
This 3-digit number is the standard emergency telephone number across the United States.
What is 911?
Operators frequently give over-the-phone pacing instructions for this life-saving technique when a patient's heart stops beating.
What is CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)?
At common law, this crime is defined as the breaking and entering of a dwelling house of another at night with the intent to commit a felony.
What is burglary?
Considered the absolute most critical piece of information an operator must get first, in case the call drops.
What is the location? (or Where?)
Most police work is reactive rather than proactive
True
What does the acronym PSAP stand for in emergency services?
Public Safety Answering Point
If a dispatcher asks you to check if an unconscious person is breathing, you should use these three senses.
What are Look, Listen, and Feel
This document, signed by a judge, gives law enforcement the legal authority to arrest a person or search a location.
What is a warrant?
This "W" determines which agencies to send, such as whether a caller needs a fire truck, an ambulance, or police officers.
What is the nature of the emergency? (or What?)
An arrest warrant is legally required in every single situation to make a valid arrest.
False
In dispatch lingo, the acronym "CAD" stands for this software system used to track field units and log calls.
What is Computer-Aided Dispatch?
You should apply direct pressure to a wound using a clean cloth or bandage to stop this.
What is bleeding?
Operators are trained to ask these types of questions—which cannot be answered with a simple "yes" or "no"—to gather detailed descriptions of a suspect.
What are open-ended questions?
This "W" helps responders know if a crime is actively happening right now, or if it occurred hours or days ago.
What is the timeline? (or When?)
Police officers spend the majority of their daily shift dealing with violent crimes like robberies and homicides.
False
This specific technology automatically provides the operator with the caller's phone number and physical location.
What is Enhanced 911 (or E911)?
A person experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, and pain radiating down their left arm may be having this medical emergency.
What is a heart attack?
An interview is conducted to gather information, but this type of questioning is specifically designed to extract a confession from a suspect.
What is an interrogation?
This "W" involves gathering physical descriptions, names, injuries, or weapons involved regarding the people at the scene.
What is the identity of the individuals? (or Who?)
Probable cause means having a reasonable belief that a specific person has committed a crime.
True
Telecommunicators use this type of wireless headset feature to temporarily stop their voice from being heard by the caller.
What is the mute button?
This is the first thing you should apply to a minor burn to cool the skin.
What is cool, running water? (Never ice).
This French legal phrase refers to an defense where the accused claims they were somewhere else when the crime took place.
What is an alibi?
This specific "W" question helps operators determine the presence of danger, asking if anyone has access to guns, knives, or other hazards.
What is weapons?
Federal law enforcement agencies have general, unlimited police jurisdiction across all 50 states.
False