Can You Answer All of These Questions About Law Enforcement?

By: Alex Wittman
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Answer All of These Questions About Law Enforcement?
Image: Mario Gutiérrez/Moment/GettyImages

About This Quiz

It's difficult (OK, impossible) to imagine a world without law enforcement officers. Heck, it's even tough to picture TV without them! From shows like "Cops" and "Law & Order" to programs like "Hawaii Five-0" and "CSI," there's no arguing that people enjoy the drama of law enforcement work. Can you name a more iconic duo that "SVU'"s Benson and Stabler? We'll wait. But how does TV stack up to the realities of the job?

Think you know a thing or two about crime statistics and police work? You got a ticket for jaywalking once, so now, you're an expert? Maybe you've worked in law enforcement! Let's find out just how much you know about the history of policing and law enforcement agencies around the world. You don't need probable cause to take this quiz, but it will sure help if you know what that means. Along the way, you'll learn fascinating facts about past and present law enforcement. You might just have a knack for this, kid!

So, what are you waiting for? Take this quiz and see how much you know about law enforcement! Police must use their wits to catch bad guys, and you'll need to do the same to answer all these questions. 




In what year did the first modern police officers begin operating?
1629
1729
1829
1929
Which country is home to the Royal Mounted Police?
United States
England
Australia
Canada
In the United States, which state had the first female sheriff?
North Carolina
New York
California
Massachusetts

Advertisement

Which famous basketball player has served as a reserve police officer?
Michael Jordan
Shaquille O'Neal
Jason Kidd
Dwyane Wade
Approximately how many law enforcement officers are currently serving in the United States?
1 million
900,000
800,000
700,000
In England, what are police officers often called?
Watchers
City boys
Bobbies
Blue Buddies

Advertisement

About what percentage of law enforcement officers in the United States are women?
5 percent
12 percent
17 percent
37 percent
What is the minimum age for police officer applicants?
18
21
25
No minimum
Which of the following evaluations do police officer applicants NOT need to pass?
Background investigation
Psychological screening
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
Medical exam

Advertisement

In North America, which of the following is NOT a common police vehicle?
Ford Crown Victoria
Fiat
Chevrolet Caprice
Dodge Charger
During police academy training, which weapon are recruits required to test on themselves?
Pepper spray
Firearm
Nightstick
Rubber bullets
In the 1880s, which country began developing the practice of police sketching?
Ireland
United States
England
France

Advertisement

According to American law, what do police need to make an arrest?
A strong hunch
Probable cause
Concrete evidence
A reliable witness
In which Asian country do police officers use nets and paintballs to catch fleeing criminals?
Asia
Thailand
Japan
South Korea
What typical law enforcement tool do 90 percent of London police officers NOT carry?
Firearm
Handcuffs
Nightstick
Badge

Advertisement

Approximately how many law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty?
21,000
16,000
10,000
7,000
Which American city has recorded the most police deaths?
Los Angeles
Boston
New York City
Chicago
About how much of a police officer's time is spent enforcing criminal law?
25 percent
33 percent
50 percent
66 percent

Advertisement

Law enforcement is just one of how many major components of the criminal justice system in the United States?
12
Eight
Five
Three
Which of the following is the oldest federal law enforcement agency in the United States?
United States Marshals Service
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The passage of what act increased federal investigate powers for law enforcement agencies?
Dawes Act
Coercive Acts
Patriot Act
Wagner Act

Advertisement

Formed in 1870, which federal executive department of the U.S. government is responsible for the majority of federal law enforcement duties?
Department of Justice
Department of Defense
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Homeland Security
Who served as the first FBI Director?
John Dillinger
Herbert Hoover
Clyde Tolson
J, Edgar Hoover
In Texas, what is the name of the state investigative law enforcement agency?
Lone Star Patrol
Texas Rangers
Texas Troopers
Texas State Police

Advertisement

As it relates to law enforcement, what does the acronym SWAT stand for?
Special Winning Attitude Team
Swift Action Team
Special Weapons and Tactics
Strength, Weaknesses, Achievements & Threats
Even without making an arrest, what legal process allows law enforcement officers to confiscate items from a person they suspect of committing a crime?
Civil forfeiture
Protective search
Order maintenance
Background investigations
While on duty, what type of firearm do law enforcement officers generally carry for daily use?
Revolver
Semiautomatic pistol
Shotgun
Sub-machine gun

Advertisement

In what U.S. city is the National Law Enforcement Museum located?
New York City
Los Angeles
Washington D.C.
Detroit
What is the list the Federal Bureau of Investigation maintains with the names of its "toughest guys" currently alluding capture?
Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitives
Top Threats
Suspects on the Run
Most Dangerous Criminals
Of the following nonlethal weapons, which uses electric shocks to subdue a suspect?
Pepper spray
Rubber bullets
Taser gun
Tear gas

Advertisement

What other federal executive department of the U.S. government oversees federal law enforcement duties?
Department of Labor
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Agriculture
Department of the Interior
Which U.S. law enforcement agency becomes a part of the Department of Defense during wartime?
Coast Guard
Secret Service
Drug Enforcement Administration
Federal Bureau of Investigation
As part of the Department of Homeland Security, which federal law enforcement agency protects the country's leaders?
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Transportation Security Administration
Secret Service
Federal Bureau of Investigation

Advertisement

Which U.S. president served as a deputy sheriff in North Dakota?
George W. Bush
Teddy Roosevelt
Richard Nixon
William Henry Harrison
In what month does America honor its law enforcement officers?
January
May
September
November