Define an APB and how it is used.

• A. All Patrol Briefing; a summary for officers.
• B. All Public Broadcast; a broadcast to the media.
• C. All Points Bulletin; a citywide or regional broadcast to locate a suspect or vehicle.
• D. Agency Police Brief; internal memo.

Answer: (C)

An APB is an All Points Bulletin—a rapid, citywide or regional broadcast among law enforcement to locate a suspect or vehicle. This kind of notice is shared across agencies and jurisdictions so officers in different areas can all be on the lookout, not just within one department. It usually includes key details like a description of the person or vehicle, license plate if available, last known location, direction of travel, time, and any distinguishing features, and it may reference the incident or reason for the alert. The message is distributed through police radios, computer systems, and other official channels to surface alerts quickly and coordinate enforcement actions.

Other options describe communications that aren’t specifically used to locate a suspect or vehicle across a broader area (for example, routine patrol briefings, public broadcasts to the media, or internal memos), so they wouldn’t fulfill the same urgent, cross-jurisdictional alert purpose that an APB serves.