Police Officer Exam Cram: Applying Geographical Orientation to the Police Exam
Date: Nov 24, 2009
Importance of Geographical Orientation in Police Work
A successful police officer must be able to find an address quickly. This skill can be easily developed over a period of time after understanding the basic principles of street layout in your assigned patrol area. Global Positioning System (GPS) devices are now very common and affordable. Furthermore, the majority of patrol cars are equipped with Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs). When an emergency call is dispatched, the dispatcher will usually broadcast the call over the police radio so that officers can start heading in the direction where the help is needed. The dispatcher then sends the details of the call on the MDTs. MDTs are mostly ruggedized laptop computers mounted on specially designed mounts for police cars. Along with the capability to receive call details from central dispatch, some of these laptops also have integrated GPS devices.
GPS devices allow dispatch to know your location at all times, which is a great advantage to officer safety. In police work, it’s very important to know where you are located at all times. You might wonder why you still need to be aware of your location at all times with all this advancement in technology—this is important for two reasons:
- If you need help from backup officers in case of an emergency, you might not have time to look at your portable GPS device to know your location, or you might be out of your vehicle and not have access to the GPS device. If you know where you are, you can easily tell the other officers your location.
- If you are given an emergency run, you will be able to figure out promptly where you need to go, and the fastest way to get there.
In police work, it’s also important to know your jurisdiction. If you’re out of your jurisdiction, you may or may not be able to enforce laws or make an arrest. Most of the time, law enforcement agencies work together and at times overlap in jurisdiction.
Also important is your assigned area of patrol. Because you are assigned to this area, you are responsible for the calls for help in that area. If the dispatcher dispatches a run, you should be able to recognize by the address whether it is in your assigned area of patrol and volunteer to take the run. This tells your supervisors that you are not just taking care of your district, you are also listening and paying attention to what is going on in and around your area of patrol.
The geographical orientation portion of the test is designed to test your ability to find your target location in a reasonable amount of time.
Basics of Street Layout
Before we get into the details of exam questions and approach you can take to maximize the score, let’s cover some basics of street layouts.
Most of the larger cities, and even smaller ones, are divided into grids. These grid lines are mostly city streets, dividing the city in small blocks. The street grid generally has a street that runs north and south and divides the city in east and west halves. Similarly, there is usually a street that runs east and west and divides the city into north and south halves. It is using these grid lines, or streets, that the street address numbering scheme is created. All the addresses that are located on the west side of the dividing line will have a west directional attribute associated with the address; for example, West 25th Street or West 19th Street. Similarly, the east side of the dividing line will have an east attribute associated with the address; for example, East Washington Street or East 42nd Street. The same principle is applied to north and south addresses.
Let’s take the grid organization a step further. In most major cities, if a street runs north and south, all the house or building addresses on the west side of the street are even numbers, and odd numbers are on the east side of the street. Similarly, if the street runs east and west, all the even addresses are on the north side of the street and odd addresses are on the south side of the street.
Let’s refer to the diagram in Figure 4.1 and apply the principles covered in the earlier paragraphs. This is a sample street layout we will use throughout this chapter. It is a six block street grid. Washington Street runs east to west and divides the grid into north and south quadrants. Meridian Street runs from north to south and divides the grid into east and west quadrants.
Figure 4.1 Sample street layout.
As you can see, Meridian Street runs north and south while dividing the sample city into east and west halves. Washington Street runs east and west, and divides the city into north and south halves, resulting in our four quadrants. That means all the residences or buildings that are east of Meridian Street will have an east attribute associated with the address and those houses and buildings that are south of Washington Street will have a south attribute associated with the address.
Applying Geographical Orientation to the Police Exam
Now that you have an understanding of how the streets are laid out, let’s take a look at the exam and how to approach geographical orientation questions.
In the exam, expect to see the following three most common geographical orientation type questions:
- Determine the most direct way of getting from point A to point B, while obeying all the traffic laws
- Follow the written directions to get from point A to point B
- Identify a landmark based on compass location
Direct Route Questions
In direct route questions, you’re required to head from one location using the most direct route, while following all the traffic laws. For example, you will not be allowed to make a right-hand–turn or a U-turn. In this type of question, you are given a scenario that describes your location and a location where you are headed. There might be some additional information, such as road closing, high water, or traffic jam problems. You are given multiple-choice answers to choose from. Let’s take a look at a couple of scenario questions to practice direct route questions.
Scenario 1
You and Officer Jones are at the intersection of Delaware Street and North Street. You both get a call for a person shot at the intersection of Capitol Street and Georgia Street.
Time is of value. You have to drive with emergency equipment and are required to take the most direct route to the crime scene. When answering the following question, refer to Figure 4.2. It is a six-block street grid. Washington Street runs east to west and divides the grid into north and south halves. Meridian Street runs from north to south and divides the grid into east and west halves. As you can see, north has been given for you. Based on this information, you need to determine other directions. Also given are your starting and stopping positions.
Figure 4.2 Six-street grid for a crime scene.
- Which one of the following describes the most direct route?
- Go west on North Street to Pennsylvania Street, and then south on Pennsylvania Street to Georgia Street. Then go west on Georgia Street to Capitol Street.
- Go south on Delaware Street to South Street, and then go east on South Street to Capitol Street.
- Go south on Illinois Street to Georgia Street.
- Go south on East Street to Georgia Street and then west on Georgia Street.
Answer A is correct because Pennsylvania Street is the first street that allows you to travel southbound. Even though you are standing by Delaware Street, you cannot travel south because the street is one way going north. Therefore, you will see that answers B and C are incorrect because no southbound traffic is allowed on Delaware and Illinois streets. Choice D is also incorrect because it is not a direct route. Even though you will get there following the directions, it is a much longer route than answer A.
Scenario 2
You are at the intersection of Georgia Street and Delaware Street. You get a personal injury accident call at the intersection of Michigan Street and Capitol Street.
First off, remember that time is of value. You will have to drive with emergency equipment and are required to take the most direct route to the accident scene. Figure 4.3 is similar to Figure 4.2. It has been modified to fit scenario 2 so that the starting point and stopping point are different. It, too, is a six-block street grid. Washington Street runs east to west and divides the grid into north and south halves. Meridian Street runs from north to south and divides the grid into east and west halves. When answering the following question, refer to Figure 4.3. As you can see, north has been provided for you. Based on this information, you need to determine the other directions.
Figure 4.3 Six-street grid for an accident scene.
- Which one of the following describes the most direct route?
- Go south on Delaware Street to South Street. Then go east on South Street to Capitol Street. Then go north on Capitol Street to Michigan Street.
- Go south on Capitol Street to South Street. Then go east on South Street to Delaware. Then go north on Delaware Street.
- Go west on Georgia Street to Illinois Street. Then go north on Illinois Street to Michigan Street. Then go west on Michigan Street to Capitol Street.
- Go north on Delaware street to Michigan Street. Then go east on Michigan Street to Capitol Street.
Answer C is correct because this choice gives you the most direct route. Answer A is incorrect because it asks you to go south on Delaware to South Street and then east on South Street to Capitol. If you refer to Figure 4.3, Capitol Street is west of Delaware Street. Answer B is incorrect because it asks you to go south on Capitol. If you follow these directions, it takes you away from your target location. Answer D is incorrect because it asks you to go north on Delaware Street and then east on Michigan Street. Michigan Street is one-way westbound. No eastbound traffic is allowed.
Follow the Path
In these types of questions, you’re given a set of directions to go from point A to point B. You are to follow these instructions to go to the target location. At that location is some type of landmark. Let’s practice these types of questions in the following scenarios.
Scenario 1
You and Officer Smith are dispatched to an area. The 911 caller does not know the address. When you arrive at the scene, you are to notify central communication of the address. Refer to Figure 4.4 when answering questions for scenario 1 and 2.
Figure 4.4 Six-block street grid for following a path.
Instructions
You are located at West Street and New York Street. You are to travel east on New York Street, turn south onto Meridian Street to South Street, and then turn east on South Street to East Street.
What is the address of the church located closest to you?
- 50 N. Alabama Street
- 300 W. South Street
- 220 E. South Street
- 200 E. New York Street
Answer C is correct. Follow the street with your finger while following the direction. Answer A is incorrect because the object is not located on Alabama Street. Furthermore, Alabama Street is not even on the map. Answer B is incorrect because the test asks you to travel east of Meridian. Knowing the numbering scheme, we know that all addresses east of the north and south dividing line will have an east attribute. Choice D is incorrect because the instruction says to travel south onto Meridian Street from New York Street. There is no possible way that the address could be on New York Street.
Scenario 2
You and Officer Jones are dispatched to an area. The 911 caller does not know the address. When you arrive at the scene, you are to notify central communication of the address.
Instructions
You are located at North Street and Capitol Street and travel south on Capitol to Maryland Street. You then turn east on Maryland Street, south on Pennsylvania Street, and then turn west on South Street to West Street.
What is the address of the office building closest to the intersection?
- 50 N. Alabama Street
- 200 E. New York Street
- 100 W. Ohio Street
- 300 W. South Street
Answer D is correct. If you follow the street lines with your fingertip while reading the instruction, you will travel south on Capitol Street to Maryland Street. To travel east of Maryland, you will take a right turn. To travel south on Pennsylvania, you will make another right turn. To travel west on South Street, you will make another right turn, taking to you to 300 W. South Street. Answer A is incorrect because Alabama Street is not even on the map. Answer B is incorrect because the instruction asks you to travel south on Capitol Street to Maryland Street. As you can see on the map, Maryland Street is south of Washington Street. As you travel to Maryland Street, you pass New York Street. Answer C is incorrect. Similar to answer B, you pass Ohio Street as you travel towards Maryland Street.
Landmark/Spatial Orientation Questions
In these types of questions, you are given a location. At the location, you’ll be asked to identify a landmark in any given direction. For example, you could be given an intersection. When you arrive at the intersection, you are required to identify a landmark to the east, west, north, south, southeast, southwest, northeast, or northwest of an intersection. The landmark could be some type of building, or an object such as a mailbox, fire hydrant, or street sign.
Scenario 1
Figure 4.5 is similar to Figure 4.4. It is a six-block street grid. Washington Street runs east to west and divides the grid into north and south halves. Meridian Street runs from north to south and divides the grid into east and west halves. When answering both of these questions, refer to Figure 4.5. As you can see, north has been provided for you. Based on this information, you need to determine the other directions.
Figure 4.5 Six-block street grid for landmark location.
- 1. If you are at the intersection of Pennsylvania Street and New York Street, what is the address of the building located in the northeast quadrant?
- 200 W. South Street
- 200 W. Washington Street
- 200 E. New York Street
- 100 N. Illinois
Answer C is correct. If you face north, east will be on your right side, west on your left, and south behind you. Based on these directions, there is a church located in the northeast quadrant with the caption 200 E. New York Street.
- 2. If you are at the intersection of Capitol Street and New York Street, what is the address of the building located in the southwest quadrant?
- 200 E. New York Street
- 200 W. South Street
- 100 N. Illinois
- 200 W. Washington Street
Answer D is correct. If you face north, the east will be on your right side, west on your left, and south behind you. Based on these directions, there is an office building located in the southwest quadrant with the caption 200 W. Washington Street.
Understanding the principles just discussed, use the “Exam Prep Questions” section to practice for the exam.
Exam Prep Questions
Refer to Figure 4.6 and the following instructions to answer questions 1 through 8.
Figure 4.6 is a map of the fictional town of Flagtown, Ohio. Points of interest include
1. |
Mercer County Industrial Complex |
2. |
Memorial Hospital |
3. |
Jefferson Grade School |
4. |
Lincoln Grade School |
5. |
Washington Grade School |
6. |
Monroe Grade School |
7. |
Jefferson Middle School |
8. |
Memorial High School |
9. |
Memorial Football Stadium |
10–13. |
Flagtown Medical Complex |
14. |
Private Parking (Abandoned Streets) |
15. |
Safety Building |
16. |
Municipal Building |
17. |
Water Treatment Facility |
18. |
Power Plant |
19. |
Flagtown Municipal Swimming Pool |
20. |
Founder’s Park |
21. |
Post Office |
22. |
Senior Towers Apartments |
23. |
Blue Rose Apartments |
24. |
Country Chef Supermarket |
25. |
Senor Manor Apartments |
26. |
Richfield Manor Apartments |
27. |
Old Towne Shoppes Plaza |
28. |
Founder’s Towers Apartments |
The Mercer County Industrial Park and the sides of the streets bordering that park are outside the city limits and are in the jurisdiction for the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department. Otherwise, the city limits extends to the east side of Old Mill Road, the south side of Hickory Street, the west side of Old Towne Road, and the north side of Superior Street. Note the following jurisdictional exception: Old Towne Road north of Main Street is State Route 683, and is handled by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. All other state routes that coexist on city streets are handled by the Flagtown Police Department.
The emergency entrance and exit for Memorial Hospital is on the north side of Maple Street.
The gray area (marked 14) in the Flagtown Medical Complex indicates abandoned streets that are now private parking for the complex.
- Officer Brewster, who is eastbound on Huron Street, receives a report of four juveniles doing some acts of vandalism to the northwest corner of Monroe Grade School. As she approaches the school, she observes Juvenile #1 run north on Monroe Avenue, Juvenile #2 run east on Huron Street, Juvenile #3 run west on Huron Street for a block and then run north on Hamilton Avenue, and Juvenile #4 run south on Monroe Avenue. Which youth is most likely to be found hiding in the shrubbery near the gates to Memorial Football Stadium?
- A. Juvenile #1
- B. Juvenile #2
- C. Juvenile #3
- D. Juvenile #4
- A pedestrian walks eastbound on Main Street from the southeast corner of the power plant for a block and then turns left. He continues in that direction for four blocks. Where is the Flagtown Municipal Swimming Pool in relation to the pedestrian’s final location?
- A. Northeast
- B. Northwest
- C. Southeast
- D. Southwest
- An accident occurs on Old Towne Road at the northwest corner of Elm Street between two vehicles both traveling southbound on Old Towne Road. Which law enforcement agency should respond to this accident?
- A. Flagtown Police Department
- B. Ohio State Highway Patrol
- C. Mercer County Sheriff’s Department
- D. Unable to determine from the information given
- In which direction is a vehicle traveling on Lincoln Avenue from Main Street toward Maple Street headed?
- A. North
- B. South
- C. East
- D. West
- Fearing that an altercation is about to break out over an accidental injury incident inside the Mercer County Industrial Park, the rescue squad requests officers respond to that location to handle crowd control. Which agency should respond?
- A. Flagtown Police Department
- B. Ohio State Highway Patrol
- C. Mercer County Sheriff’s Office
- D. Unable to determine from the information given
- An officer is needed for traffic control on Superior Street until a wrecker can remove his disabled vehicle. Which agency should respond?
- A. Flagtown Police Department
- B. Ohio State Highway Patrol
- C. Mercer County Sheriff’s Department
- D. Unable to determine from the information given
- Officer Baxter’s patrol unit is headed westbound on Elm Street from Hamilton Avenue when he receives a call to respond to the emergency entrance at Memorial Hospital where an altercation is in place. Based on the information given with the map, and obeying all traffic laws (in other words, no U-turns), what would be his most logical route to the hospital?
- A. West on Elm Street, north on Jefferson Avenue, and then east on Maple Street until he reaches the emergency entrance
- B. West on Elm Street, north on Jefferson Avenue, east on Maple Street, and then north on Lincoln Avenue until he reaches the emergency entrance
- C. West on Elm Street, north on Washington Avenue, east on Maple Street, and then north on Lincoln Avenue until he reaches the emergency entrance
- D. West on Elm Street, north on Washington Avenue, and then east on Maple Street until he reaches the emergency entrance
A report is received that the drivers involved in a traffic accident that occurred in the parking lot of the Flagtown Medical Complex are involved in a fight. Which agency should respond?
- A. Flagtown Police Department
- B. Ohio State Highway Patrol
- C. Mercer County Sheriff’s Department
- D. None; the accident took place on private property
The following is the key you need to follow for questions 9 and 10:
Moving vehicle.
Parked vehicle.
Pedestrian at a stationary location.
Pedestrian on the move; arrow indicates direction in which the pedestrian is walking.
- Upon investigating a motor vehicle accident, Officer Connelly ascertains that an eastbound vehicle on Commerce Street west of Ash Street ran the stoplight, made a left turn, and then attempted to make a right turn, subsequently causing his vehicle to be struck by a southbound and a westbound vehicle. Which diagram accurately portrays the direction of travel and subsequent accident?
- A.
- B.
- C.
- D.
- While walking west on Unity Street and about to cross 5th Street, which is a one-way street for northbound traffic, Linda Turner observed the driver of a vehicle north of her fail to stop at the stop sign on Grant at 5th Street. As that vehicle continued to travel westbound on Grant, it broadsided a vehicle that had the right of way and was headed north on 5th Street. Another witness, who was standing at the northwest corner of 5th and Unity Streets and waiting until it was safe to cross the street on foot, further corroborated this account. Which sketch is an accurate portrayal of the accident scene?
- A.
- B.
- C.
- D.
Exam Prep Answers
- Answer D is correct. The Memorial Football Stadium (9 on the map legend) is southwest of Monroe Grade School. The juveniles described in answers A, B, and C are running away from the stadium.
- Answer C is correct. Properly following the directions, the pedestrian will walk eastbound on Main Street from the southeast corner of the power plant and then head north on Jefferson Avenue for four blocks. (It doesn’t matter that Jefferson is a southbound one-way street because this is a pedestrian.) The pedestrian will end up at Jefferson Avenue and Beech Street; the Flagtown Municipal Swimming Pool (19 on the map legend) is at the northwest corner of Maple Street and Monroe Avenue, which is southwest of the pedestrian’s final location. Answers B, C, and D are incorrect because they name incorrect directions.
- Answer B is correct. The northwest corner of Elm Street and Old Towne Road is north of Main Street, which means that the accident occurred on State Route 683, which is the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s jurisdiction. Therefore, answers A, C, and D are incorrect.
- Answer A is correct. Maple Street is north of Main Street; therefore answers B, C, and D are incorrect.
- Answer C is correct. The Mercer County Industrial Park is outside the city limits and in the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department’s jurisdiction; therefore answers A, B, and D are incorrect.
- Answer D is correct. The north side of Superior Street is in the city limits, which is in the jurisdiction of the Flagtown Police Department, and the south side of Superior Street is outside the city limits and under the jurisdiction of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department. Answers A, B, and C are incorrect because the exact location of the vehicle on Superior Street is not given.
- Answer D is correct. Answer A is incorrect because Jefferson Avenue is a one-way southbound street, therefore Officer Baxter cannot travel north on that street. Answer B is incorrect for the same reasons that A is incorrect. In addition, it isn’t necessary for Officer Baxter to travel northbound on Lincoln Avenue because the emergency room entrance is on Maple Street. Answer C is incorrect because despite Officer Baxter traveling west of the one-way street to take a two-way street (Washington Avenue) northbound, it also has him traveling north on Lincoln Avenue from Maple Street when he should have continued traveling east on Maple until he reached the emergency entrance.
- Answer A is correct. Answers B and C are incorrect because the Flagtown Medical Center is located in the city limits and is under the jurisdiction of the Flagtown Police Department. Answer D is incorrect because officers are responding to a fight complaint, not to the traffic accident.
- Answer C is correct. Answer A is incorrect because the vehicle at fault is shown traveling westbound on Commerce Street, and both vehicles struck are shown to have been traveling the wrong way on one-way streets, which would have put those vehicles in violation as well. Answer B is incorrect because the vehicle at fault is shown to have begun travel from a location east of Ash Street instead of west of it, and the accident is shown at the wrong intersection. Answer D is incorrect because the vehicle at fault is shown to have begun travel from a location on Commerce Street that is east of Bay Street instead of west of Ash Street; the intersection of the collision is also incorrect.
- Answer A is correct. Answer B is incorrect because Grant is shown as a street that’s south of Unity when it should be north of it. The pedestrians are therefore at the wrong location and the vehicle shown traveling on 5th Street is headed the wrong way for the one-way traffic, which would mean it was at fault as well and did not have the right of way. Answer C is incorrect because the pedestrians and vehicles involved in the accident are shown at the wrong intersections. Answer D is incorrect because the pedestrians are shown at the wrong intersection.