Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Practice Exam

What is the primary responsibility of a law enforcement officer when responding to a call for service?

1. To conduct an interrogation as soon as possible

2. To issue citations for law violations

3. To preserve life first and then the scene for investigation

4. To collect evidence regardless of the situation

The correct answer is: To preserve life first and then the scene for investigation

The primary responsibility of a law enforcement officer when responding to a call for service is to preserve life first and then the scene for investigation. This principle underscores the ethical and practical obligations of law enforcement in emergency situations. Officers are often first responders and have a critical role in ensuring the safety of individuals involved in the incident, which includes administering first aid if necessary and providing assistance to those in need. Once immediate threats to life have been stabilized, the officer's responsibility shifts to securing the scene to protect it from contamination or destruction of evidence. This includes ensuring that the crime scene remains intact for subsequent investigation, allowing detectives and forensic experts to gather evidence that is crucial for understanding what occurred. This two-step priority—preserving life and then preserving the scene—reflects the essential duties of law enforcement in maintaining public safety and upholding justice. The other options do not align with these foundational responsibilities. Conducting interrogations, while important, typically happens later in the investigation process and is not the immediate priority upon responding to an emergency. Issuing citations is more relevant to enforcing laws in regular situations rather than in urgent calls where life may be at risk. Collecting evidence is indeed part of an officer's duties, but it should only occur after ensuring the safety of