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Mental Health Division

4201 Outside Agency Pretest

Officer T. Cogbill
March 24, 2025

The 4201 Mental Health Officer training requires a pretest.

To be eligible to sign up, you must complete the quiz with a minimum score of 80%.

THIS CLASS IS STILL IN DEVELOPMENT AND IS NOT YET AVAILABLE FOR REGISTRATION.

Agency

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What is the primary goal when dealing with a person in a mental health crisis?

Use verbal commands only

Ensure immediate hospitalization

Establish rapport and encourage voluntary compliance

Establish absolute control

Which of the following is a core component of de-escalation?

Speaking loudly to ensure compliance

Establishing command presence

Active listening and rapport-building

Immediately detaining the person

Which of the following is NOT a sign of a mental health crisis?

Calm and cooperative demeanor

Disorientation and poor hygiene

Extreme agitation

Talking to oneself

What does the 80/20 rule suggest in crisis communication?

Officers should talk 80% of the time and listen 20%

Officers should only use 20% of their training in de-escalation

People in crisis speak 80% of the time

Officers should listen 80% of the time and talk 20%

What is the best response when engaging with an agitated individual in crisis?

Stand with arms crossed for a strong presence

Move closer and increase volume

Engage with open-ended questions, active listening, and a non-threatening posture

Demand compliance immediately

What is the best way to show someone in crisis that you are listening and understanding their experience?

Using verbal commands

Changing the topic to help them focus on something positive

Acknowledging and validating their experiences and emotions

Giving advice based on similar experiences you’ve had

What is the significance of the Emotional-Rational Thinking Scale?

It indicates people in crisis cannot make decisions

It predicts violence in individuals

It shows that as emotions rise, rational thinking declines

It suggests officers should always remain neutral

Which phrase is an example of tactical transparency in communication?

'We can do this the easy way or the hard way.'

'You need to calm down now.'

'I want to help you, and for that, I need to understand what you're going through.'

'I don’t have time for this conversation.'

Under Texas Health and Safety Code 573.001, what must an officer believe to conduct a warrantless apprehension for emergency detention?

The person has been arrested before

The person is annoying others in public

The person is displaying signs & symptoms of a mental illness and poses a substantial risk of serious harm

The person has refused medication

10.

Which of the following is NOT a primary function of a Mental Health Officer (MHO)?

Diagnosing mental illness

Providing legal and procedural guidance

Coordinating with community mental health resources

Assisting with jail diversion strategies

11.

What is the role of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in mental health crisis response?

It mandates that officers take all individuals in crisis to jail

It allows law enforcement to diagnose individuals

It replaces an emergency detention order

It establishes formal agreements with mental health agencies for crisis intervention

12.

According to Texas Code of Criminal Procedure 16.23, what must officers consider when encountering a person with mental illness who has committed a non-violent misdemeanor?

They must refer them to a state hospital for forced admission

They must call for immediate SWAT assistance

They must consider diversion to mental health treatment whenever appropriate

They must arrest the individual

16.

An officer responds to a call about a person pacing and talking to themselves. They appear anxious and paranoid. What is the best initial approach?

Ignore them, as they are not committing a crime

Move in quickly to detain them for their safety

Speak calmly, introduce yourself, and ask how you can help

Order them to stop moving immediately

17.

A woman in distress is in a store, screaming about voices telling her to hurt herself. What is the best response?

Yell commands for her to stop making a scene

Give her plenty of space, avoid rushing, and engage in a calm conversation while calling for assistance

Handcuff her immediately to prevent self-harm

Tell her she is being unreasonable

18.

An officer responds to a call where an individual is exhibiting symptoms of psychosis, such as paranoia and hallucinations. The officer suspects the individual may be under the influence of drugs, but this is uncertain. The officer should:

Ask the individual to calm down and determine if they can go home safely

Decide the behavior is drug-induced and arrest the individual for Public Intoxication, as their behavior is dangerous

Transport the individual to the hospital and complete a Notification of Emergency Detention (EDO) form so medical professionals can determine the cause and provide appropriate treatment

Decide the behavior is drug-induced and transport the individual to a sobering/recovery center

19.

An individual experiencing a mental health crisis suddenly stops engaging with you and appears withdrawn. What should you consider?

They may be experiencing a flat affect, hallucinations, or a potential shift towards suicidal ideation

They are ignoring you and should be left alone

They are finally calming down

They are manipulating the situation

20.

An officer determines on scene that an individual meets the criteria for emergency detention and is a substantial risk of harm to themselves based on Texas Health and Safety Code 573.001. However, the individual is currently cooperative and states they want treatment. The officer should:

Allow the individual to transport themself to the hospital to check in voluntarily

Transport the individual to the hospital for voluntary admission only

Take no action since the individual is currently cooperative

Transport the individual to the hospital and complete the Notification of Emergency Detention (EDO) form anyway