MA Statewide Police Captain Promotional Exam

Under Massachusetts G.L. c. 276, §1, a search warrant must be executed within how many days of issuance?

• A3 days
• B5 days
• C7 days
• D10 days

A captain reviews a multi-jurisdictional drug investigation spanning three MA cities. Under MGL c. 41, §99, what is the legal basis allowing an officer to act outside their primary jurisdiction?

• AHot pursuit only
• BWritten mutual aid agreement between municipalities under MGL c. 41, §99
• CVerbal request from another chief
• DFederal task force assignment alone

Under MA law, a Terry stop must be supported by what legal standard?

• AProbable cause
• BReasonable suspicion based on specific, articulable facts
• CMere hunch
• DOfficer's training and experience alone

Massachusetts requires Miranda warnings when which two conditions are both present?

• AArrest and station house
• BCustody and interrogation
• CFelony charge and counsel request
• DBooking and fingerprinting

Under MGL c. 209A, an emergency protective order may be issued by a judge when which standard is met?

• APreponderance of evidence
• BProbable cause to believe abuse has occurred and substantial likelihood of immediate dang…
• CBeyond a reasonable doubt
• DOfficer's discretion alone

In complex financial-crime investigations, MA grand juries are convened under which authority?

• AMGL c. 277
• BMGL c. 265
• CMGL c. 90
• DMGL c. 138

A captain oversees wiretap evidence collection. Under MGL c. 272, §99, MA wiretap orders require:

• AChief's approval only
• BApplication by the Attorney General or specially designated assistant district attorney w…
• CSergeant-level approval
• DNo prior authorization in emergencies

Under Commonwealth v. Long (2020), MA officers conducting traffic stops must:

• ADocument race and ethnicity for every stop to address discriminatory enforcement
• BAvoid all traffic stops at night
• CUse only marked vehicles
• DObtain supervisor approval before every stop

MA's automobile exception to the warrant requirement requires:

• AProbable cause that the vehicle contains evidence of a crime AND exigent circumstances un…
• BMere reasonable suspicion
• CDriver's consent only
• DProbable cause alone, as in federal courts

A captain reviews a use-of-force report involving a chokehold. Under MGL c. 6E, §14 (Police Reform Act 2020):

• AChokeholds are permitted with supervisor approval
• BChokeholds are prohibited except as necessary to prevent imminent harm of death or seriou…
• CChokeholds are permitted only during arrests
• DChokeholds require a written report only

Under MGL c. 268A, a captain who accepts a gift exceeding $50 from a vendor seeking department contracts may have violated which type of law?

• ACivil service law
• BConflict of interest law
• CPublic records law
• DOpen meeting law

In a complex narcotics conspiracy investigation, the captain considers requesting a court order for cell-site location information. Carpenter v. United States (2018) requires:

• ANo warrant — third-party doctrine applies
• BA search warrant supported by probable cause
• CSubpoena to the carrier
• DConsent of the carrier

Under MA law, the chain of custody for digital evidence must document each transfer with:

• AOfficer name only
• BDate, time, name of transferring/receiving party, and reason for transfer
• CSupervisor signature only
• DReason for transfer only

A captain reviews an Article 14 (MA Declaration of Rights) search issue. Article 14 generally provides:

• AIdentical protection to the Fourth Amendment
• BGreater protection in some areas than the Fourth Amendment
• CLess protection than the Fourth Amendment
• DNo protection against searches

Under MGL c. 90, §24(1)(a), the OUI threshold for a per se violation is:

• A0.05% BAC
• B0.08% BAC
• C0.10% BAC
• D0.15% BAC

A captain receives a Brady disclosure request from a defense attorney. Under MA Rules of Criminal Procedure, exculpatory evidence:

• ANeed not be disclosed if collected after arrest
• BMust be disclosed to the prosecution for transmission to the defense
• CIs confidential under personnel rules
• DIs disclosed only upon court order

In a kidnapping investigation crossing the MA/NH border, which federal statute applies if the victim is transported across state lines?

• A18 U.S.C. § 1201 (Federal Kidnapping Act)
• B18 U.S.C. § 922 (firearms)
• C42 U.S.C. § 1983 (civil rights)
• D18 U.S.C. § 1030 (computer fraud)

Under MGL c. 265, §13B, assault and battery on a child under 14 is treated as:

• AA civil infraction
• BA misdemeanor with no mandatory reporting
• CA felony with mandatory reporting under c. 119, §51A
• DA diversion-eligible offense

A complex investigation involves a confidential informant. Under MA case law, the Aguilar-Spinelli test for informant reliability requires:

• AVeracity OR basis of knowledge
• BBoth veracity AND basis of knowledge
• COfficer's intuition
• DFederal Gates totality test only

Under MGL c. 90, §25, refusal to submit to a chemical breath test results in:

• ANo consequence
• BAutomatic license suspension under MA implied consent law
• CMisdemeanor arrest
• DCivil fine only

A captain plans a department-wide reorganization across three shifts and four geographic sectors. The primary tool for visualizing span of control is:

• AOrganizational chart
• BBudget spreadsheet
• CPatrol log
• DUse of force report

During a multi-shift critical incident, the captain establishes a unified command structure. Under NIMS Type 3 IC, the unified command:

• AReplaces all agency commanders with one
• BAllows multiple agencies to jointly establish objectives without losing authority
• CEliminates the need for an Incident Action Plan
• DOperates without ICS forms

In a regional task force investigation, MA officers operate alongside DEA agents. The captain's primary concern regarding federal-state jurisdiction is:

• AFederal officers always supersede state authority
• BMaintaining state-law-compliant search and seizure standards even when federal agents may…
• CWhether to use marked or unmarked vehicles
• DUse of state vs. federal radios

A captain coordinates a mutual aid response for a major incident in a neighboring municipality. Mutual aid in MA is governed by:

• AMGL c. 41, §99 and the MA Statewide Mutual Aid Compact
• BFederal regulations only
• CDepartment policy alone
• DVerbal agreement

A captain manages 60 officers across three shifts. Optimal span of control under standard management theory is approximately:

• A1 supervisor to 1 subordinate
• B1 supervisor to 3-7 subordinates
• C1 supervisor to 20 subordinates
• DNo supervisor needed

A captain reviews shift staffing models. Power shifts (overlapping shifts during peak demand) are designed primarily to:

• ACut overtime costs
• BIncrease officer staffing during high-call-volume hours
• CReduce paperwork
• DEliminate weekends