EPD Answer Key | Dispatch Tools

#1

A quality control specialist at an ice cream plant reports that the batch of ice cream she just tested contained unusually high quantities of Salmonella bacteria. She believes the Salmonella had to have been purposefully added by an employee but she has no idea who did it. What is the most appropriate Determinant Code?

Answer: 108-D-5

#2

The caller reports that her neighbor’s dog has been barking off and on all night. She would like someone to come take the dog away so she can get some sleep. What is the most appropriate Chief Complaint Protocol?

Answer: 105: Animal

#3

Which of the following is the best definition of a “wake-effect collision”?

Answer: A traffic accident caused by the passage of an emergency vehicle that does not directly involve (hit) the emergency vehicle

#4

Minutes after an officer arrives at the scene of a DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE, you get a call from that location. During Case Entry, the caller explains that when she opened the door for the officer, her boyfriend pulled a gun out of his coat, shot the officer, and then took off in his car. The caller does not know where the suspect might be going. What is the most appropriate Determinant Code?

Answer: 124-E-1G

#5

Key Question 2 on Protocol 102 is: “Where’s the suspect/person now?” According to ED-Q standards, it is acceptable for the EPD to read this question as: “Where’s the suspect or person now?”

Answer: True

#6

Your agency is being flooded with calls concerning an ACTIVE ASSAILANT situation at a local high school. You take a call from a frantic teacher who is reporting that she is in her classroom with 24 students. She says she hasn’t seen the shooter but can hear gunshots. In response to question 4 on Protocol 136, she states that she doesn’t think they can safely evacuate. What should you do next?

Answer: Go to Protocol S-2.

#7

The caller reports during Case Entry that an ACTIVE ASSAILANT situation is occurring at a shopping mall. What should you do after sending 136-E-1?

Answer: Provide Case Entry Post-Dispatch Instruction b, complete Case Entry interrogation, and then go to Protocol 136 Active Assailant (Shooter).

#8

The caller reports that a young girl was sexually assaulted by her stepfather. What is the most appropriate Chief Complaint Protocol to use for this case?

Answer: 106: Assault/Sexual Assault

#9

The caller reports that one of her garage windows was broken out during the night and some expensive tools are missing from inside. What is the most appropriate Chief Complaint Protocol?

Answer: 110: Burglary (Break-and-Enter)/Home Invasion

#10

The Determinant Code is derived using which of the following formulas?

Answer: Chief Complaint Protocol number + Determinant Level letter + Determinant Descriptor number + Determinant Suffix letter (when appropriate)

#11

The International Academies of Emergency Dispatch recommends that emergency dispatchers verify the address and callback number by repeating the information back to the caller.

Answer: False

#12

The caller reports that someone punched him in the face and then took his wallet by force. What is the most appropriate Chief Complaint Protocol?

Answer: 126: Robbery/Carjacking

#13

The caller reports that a large load of wood has fallen off a truck and is blocking the right lane of traffic on the highway. What is the most appropriate Determinant Code?

Answer: 132-C-2

#14

The caller reports that a DANGEROUS animal is walking along a high-traffic canyon road and creating a traffic hazard. What is the most appropriate Determinant Code?

Answer: 105-D-2

#15

The caller reports a witnessed murder. The victim is unquestionably dead. What is the most appropriate Chief Complaint Protocol?

Answer: 106: Assault/Sexual Assault

#16

The caller has discovered an unexploded hand grenade in an open field and would like someone to take care of it. What is the most appropriate Chief Complaint Protocol to use for this case?

Answer: 103: Administrative (Lost or Found Property, Found Unexploded Ordnance, Messages, Transports)

#17

When a caller is having difficulty understanding you over the phone, speaking slower is generally more helpful than speaking louder.

Answer: True

#18

When speaking with a hostage taker, the EPD should ask the hostage taker to come out of the building.

Answer: False

#19

Which of the following lists contains the four elements necessary to prove negligence in a court of law?

Answer: Duty, breach of duty, damage, causation

#20

The caller is reporting that she just found a plastic baggie containing what appears to be several roaches in her son’s bedroom. She is pretty sure it’s marijuana. What is the most appropriate Determinant Code?

Answer: 116-B-1

#21

A convenience store clerk reports that she was just robbed at knifepoint. In response to Key Question 3a on Protocol 126, the caller tells you that the suspect drove away in a vehicle. What should you do next?

Answer: Obtain a vehicle description.

#22

When developing your own personal stress management strategy, you should:

Answer: Do things you honestly enjoy and develop a flexible schedule.

#23

If the caller is unable to provide all DESCRIPTION ESSENTIALS information, bolded items must still be asked unless it is obvious that the caller has never seen or does not have any information about the person(s) or vehicle(s).

Answer: True

#24

Which of the following is the best definition for “repetitive persistence”?

Answer: A calming technique in which the calltaker repeats a phrase verbatim using a firm but caring tone. The statement should contain both an action and a reason for the action.

#25

When you suspect that weapons may be at the scene, you should use a weapons suffix, even if weapons have not been seen or mentioned by the caller.

Answer: False

#26

When a victim is assaulted during the commission of another crime, the EPD should choose the protocol that addresses the primary event.

Answer: True

#27

When the caller reports a suspicious package, the EPD should go to Protocol C (Caller in Danger) immediately after initiating dispatch.

Answer: False

#28

The caller reports that her neighbor is playing his music way too loud. She says this has happened before, and when she asks him to turn it down, he just ignores her. What is the most appropriate Determinant Code?

Answer: 113-B-3

#29

The caller reports that her husband and 23-year-old son are fighting. It started as a verbal argument, but they have now started throwing punches. No weapons were involved or mentioned. What is the most appropriate Determinant Code?

Answer: 114-D-3

#30

Words or phrases printed in ALL UPPERCASE TEXT (all capital letters) in the PPDS® Key Questions indicate that:

Answer: A dispatch definition is available for the word or phrase in the Additional Information section.

#31

When using the PPDS®, all actual response assignments and emergency modes (lights-and-siren vs. no lights-and-siren) are predetermined by:

Answer: Local Police & Emergency Services Administration.

#32

A manager at a check cashing service is reporting that a customer in the store is trying to cash a forged check. The suspect is currently standing at the counter. What is the most appropriate Determinant Code?

Answer: 118-D-2

#33

Instructions about following a suspect’s vehicle should be handled according to local policy.

Answer: True

#34

The caller reports that his daughter saw a suspicious-looking stranger looking in their neighbor’s mailbox yesterday (PAST). He says that the neighbors are away on vacation. The suspect is not currently in the area. The first Key Question you should ask is:

Answer: Key Question 3 on Protocol 129.

#35

The caller reports that he just returned home from work to find his 61-year-old wife obviously dead on the kitchen floor. He says he has no idea what might have caused her death. What is the most appropriate Determinant Code?

Answer: 112-D-1

#36

The caller reports that she is out for her morning run and a man just exposed himself to her and made a sexually explicit remark. The caller says that the suspect is currently hiding behind a nearby shed. No weapons were involved or mentioned. After initiating a 120-D-1 response and completing Key Questioning, which Post-Dispatch Instructions should you provide the caller?

Answer: A and b

#37

The caller reports that some kids are sledding down an extremely steep and bumpy hill in a park near her house, and she’s worried that someone is going to get hurt. What is the most appropriate Chief Complaint Protocol?

Answer: 125: Public Service (Lock-out/Lock-in, Peace, Welfare, Reckless Activity)

#38

According to the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch, the motto of any quality improvement effort should be: “Do it right or be penalized!”

Answer: False

#39

A manager is reporting a bomb threat received at a small restaurant. In response to Key Question 6 on Protocol 109, the caller states that they will be evacuating the building. What should you do next?

Answer: Provide Case Exit Instructions on Panel X-4.

#40

The caller is reporting that he can see an ASSAULT occurring across the street. After sending 106-D-5, you continue Key Questioning on Protocol 106. In the middle of giving you a description of the suspects, the caller reports that the suspects have just spotted him and are now coming toward him. What should you do next?

Answer: Go to Protocol C (Caller In Danger) immediately.

#41

When speaking with callers, EPDs should avoid using jargon, acronyms, slang, or codes.

Answer: True

#42

The caller reports that a small brown dog came limping into her yard a few minutes ago. It’s obvious that its leg was recently broken, but she can’t tell how it happened. She has no idea who the dog belongs to, but it seems pretty friendly. The dog is currently resting on the caller’s patio. What is the most appropriate Determinant Code?

Answer: 105-C-4

#43

The caller reports that he has just planted several bombs filled with chemical nerve agents inside a public high school. What is the most appropriate Determinant Code?

Answer: 109-C-1C

#44

The caller wants to report some additional evidence he just discovered related to a forgery case he reported a week earlier. What is the most appropriate Chief Complaint Protocol?

Answer: 128: Supplemental

#45

Which one of the following is a concept of law that considers the Emergency Dispatcher’s limited ability to predict events based solely on information provided by the caller?

Answer: Foreseeability

#46

The caller reports that a maintenance worker just found what he believes to be a bomb inside a maintenance closet. In response to Key Question 1 on Protocol 108, the caller indicates that a HIGH OCCUPANCY office building is involved. What should you do next?

Answer: Send 108-D-1, provide all appropriate Post-Dispatch Instructions, and return to questioning.

#47

Security personnel at a shopping mall report that they have detained a shoplifter who stole a phone charger. No weapons were involved or mentioned, and the suspect is currently detained and cooperative. What is the most appropriate Determinant Code?

Answer: 130-C-1

Emergency Police Dispatch Answer Key

The caller reports that her neighbor’s dog has been barking off and on all night. She would like someone to come take the dog away so she can get some sleep. What is the most appropriate Chief Complaint Protocol?

Which of the following is the best definition of a “wake-effect collision”?

Key Question 2 on Protocol 102 is: “Where’s the suspect/person now?” According to ED-Q standards, it is acceptable for the EPD to read this question as: “Where’s the suspect or person now?”

The caller reports during Case Entry that an ACTIVE ASSAILANT situation is occurring at a shopping mall. What should you do after sending 136-E-1?

The caller reports that a young girl was sexually assaulted by her stepfather. What is the most appropriate Chief Complaint Protocol to use for this case?

The caller reports that one of her garage windows was broken out during the night and some expensive tools are missing from inside. What is the most appropriate Chief Complaint Protocol?

The Determinant Code is derived using which of the following formulas?

The International Academies of Emergency Dispatch recommends that emergency dispatchers verify the address and callback number by repeating the information back to the caller.

The caller reports that someone punched him in the face and then took his wallet by force. What is the most appropriate Chief Complaint Protocol?

The caller reports that a large load of wood has fallen off a truck and is blocking the right lane of traffic on the highway. What is the most appropriate Determinant Code?

The caller reports that a DANGEROUS animal is walking along a high-traffic canyon road and creating a traffic hazard. What is the most appropriate Determinant Code?

The caller reports a witnessed murder. The victim is unquestionably dead. What is the most appropriate Chief Complaint Protocol?

The caller has discovered an unexploded hand grenade in an open field and would like someone to take care of it. What is the most appropriate Chief Complaint Protocol to use for this case?

When a caller is having difficulty understanding you over the phone, speaking slower is generally more helpful than speaking louder.

When speaking with a hostage taker, the EPD should ask the hostage taker to come out of the building.

Which of the following lists contains the four elements necessary to prove negligence in a court of law?

The caller is reporting that she just found a plastic baggie containing what appears to be several roaches in her son’s bedroom. She is pretty sure it’s marijuana. What is the most appropriate Determinant Code?

A convenience store clerk reports that she was just robbed at knifepoint. In response to Key Question 3a on Protocol 126, the caller tells you that the suspect drove away in a vehicle. What should you do next?

When developing your own personal stress management strategy, you should:

If the caller is unable to provide all DESCRIPTION ESSENTIALS information, bolded items must still be asked unless it is obvious that the caller has never seen or does not have any information about the person(s) or vehicle(s).

Which of the following is the best definition for “repetitive persistence”?

When you suspect that weapons may be at the scene, you should use a weapons suffix, even if weapons have not been seen or mentioned by the caller.

When a victim is assaulted during the commission of another crime, the EPD should choose the protocol that addresses the primary event.

When the caller reports a suspicious package, the EPD should go to Protocol C (Caller in Danger) immediately after initiating dispatch.

The caller reports that her neighbor is playing his music way too loud. She says this has happened before, and when she asks him to turn it down, he just ignores her. What is the most appropriate Determinant Code?

The caller reports that her husband and 23-year-old son are fighting. It started as a verbal argument, but they have now started throwing punches. No weapons were involved or mentioned. What is the most appropriate Determinant Code?

Words or phrases printed in ALL UPPERCASE TEXT (all capital letters) in the PPDS® Key Questions indicate that:

When using the PPDS®, all actual response assignments and emergency modes (lights-and-siren vs. no lights-and-siren) are predetermined by:

A manager at a check cashing service is reporting that a customer in the store is trying to cash a forged check. The suspect is currently standing at the counter. What is the most appropriate Determinant Code?

Instructions about following a suspect’s vehicle should be handled according to local policy.

The caller reports that his daughter saw a suspicious-looking stranger looking in their neighbor’s mailbox yesterday (PAST). He says that the neighbors are away on vacation. The suspect is not currently in the area. The first Key Question you should ask is:

The caller reports that he just returned home from work to find his 61-year-old wife obviously dead on the kitchen floor. He says he has no idea what might have caused her death. What is the most appropriate Determinant Code?

The caller reports that some kids are sledding down an extremely steep and bumpy hill in a park near her house, and she’s worried that someone is going to get hurt. What is the most appropriate Chief Complaint Protocol?

According to the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch, the motto of any quality improvement effort should be: “Do it right or be penalized!”

A manager is reporting a bomb threat received at a small restaurant. In response to Key Question 6 on Protocol 109, the caller states that they will be evacuating the building. What should you do next?

When speaking with callers, EPDs should avoid using jargon, acronyms, slang, or codes.

The caller reports that he has just planted several bombs filled with chemical nerve agents inside a public high school. What is the most appropriate Determinant Code?

The caller wants to report some additional evidence he just discovered related to a forgery case he reported a week earlier. What is the most appropriate Chief Complaint Protocol?

Which one of the following is a concept of law that considers the Emergency Dispatcher’s limited ability to predict events based solely on information provided by the caller?

The caller reports that a maintenance worker just found what he believes to be a bomb inside a maintenance closet. In response to Key Question 1 on Protocol 108, the caller indicates that a HIGH OCCUPANCY office building is involved. What should you do next?

Security personnel at a shopping mall report that they have detained a shoplifter who stole a phone charger. No weapons were involved or mentioned, and the suspect is currently detained and cooperative. What is the most appropriate Determinant Code?