Skip to content
Certification Guides

Police Officer Exam For Dummies, 2nd Edition (2022)

Get certified faster with Police Officer Exam For Dummies, 2nd Edition (2022), a top-rated exam prep guide.

Preview 31 of 387 pages

See the first 31 pages exactly as they appear in the document.

  1. Page 1
  2. Page 2
    Read page 2 as text

    Downloaded from StudyXY.com [eee Ww + StudyXY oi as . Za \ Rr ' BE \ Stu dy Anything This ContentHas been Posted On StudyXY.com as supplementary learning material. StudyXY does not endrose any university, college or publisher. Allmaterials posted are under the liability of the contributors. | 8) www.studyxy.com

  3. Page 3
  4. Page 4
    Read page 4 as text

    S Police Officer 2nd Edition by Tracey Vasil Biscontini, Northeast Editing, Inc. Consultant, Raymond E. Foster, Ret. Lt. for . © dummies

  5. Page 5
    Read page 5 as text

    Police Officer Exam For Dummies®, 2nd Edition Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, ww. wi ley .com Copyright © 2022 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey Published simultaneously in Canada No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 748-6011, fax (201) 748-6008, or online at http: //www.wiley.com/go/permissions. Trademarks: Wiley, For Dummies, the Dummies Man logo, Dummies.com, Making Everything Easier, and related trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and may not be used without written permission. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. is not associated with any product or vendor ‘mentioned in this book. LIMIT OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: WHILE THE PUBLISHER AND AUTHORS HAVE USED THEIR BEST EFFORTS IN PREPARING THIS WORK, THEY MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS WORK AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. NO WARRANTY MAY BE CREATED OR EXTENDED BY SALES REPRESENTATIVES, WRITTEN SALES MATERIALS OR PROMOTIONAL STATEMENTS FOR THIS WORK. THE FACT THAT AN ORGANIZATION, WEBSITE, OR PRODUCT IS REFERRED TO IN THIS WORK AS A CITATION AAND/OR POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FURTHER INFORMATION DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE PUBLISHER AND AUTHORS ENDORSE. THE INFORMATION OR SERVICES THE ORGANIZATION, WEBSITE, OR PRODUCT MAY PROVIDE OR RECOMMENDATIONS IT MAY MAKE. THIS WORK IS SOLD WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PUBLISHER IS NOT ENGAGED IN RENDERING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. THE ADVICE AND STRATEGIES CONTAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUR SITUATION. YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH A SPECIALIST WHERE APPROPRIATE. FURTHER, READERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT WEBSITES LISTED IN THIS WORK MAY HAVE CHANGED OR DISAPPEARED BETWEEN WHEN THIS WORK WAS WRITTEN AND WHEN IT 1S READ. NEITHER THE PUBLISHER NOR AUTHORS SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS OF PROFIT OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR OTHER DAMAGES. For general information on our other products and services, please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 877-762-2974, outside the U.S. at 317-572-3993, or fax 317-572-4002. For technical support, please visit https: //hub.wiley com/community/support/dummies. Wiley publishes in a variety of print and electronic formats and by print-on-demand. Some material included with standard print versions of this book may not be included in e-books or in print-on-demand. If this book refers to media such as a CD or DVD that is not included in the version you purchased, you may download this material at http: //booksupport .wi ley . com. For ‘more information about Wiley products, visit ww. wi ley .com. Library of Congress Control Number: 2021951959 ISBN 978-1-119-86055-6 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-119-86056-3 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-119-86057-0 (ebk) 1 Study?

  6. Page 6
    Read page 6 as text

    Contents at a Glance Introduction... Part 1: The Road to Landing a Job as a Police Officer......................5 cHapTER 1: Signing Up, Getting Screened, and Other PrepWork ...............................7 cHapTer 2: Taking a Closer Look at the Police Officer Tests ..................................21 Part 2: Breaking Down the National Police Officer Selection Test (POST)and the NYC Test. .........................coiiiiiiiiii29 cHAPTER 3: Solving Basic Math Questionsonthe POST ........................ooooioa..l0 31 cHapTEr 4: Reading Between the Lines: Reading Comprehension. ............................51 cater s: Expressing Yourself with Proper Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling ..............75 cHapTEr 6: Stretching Your Memory and Visualization Skills. .................................95 cHapTer 7: Reading and Writing Incident Reports. ......................... ool... 125 cHapTER 8: Acing the Law Enforcement Essay Exam......................... o.oo... 143 carter 9: Completing the Personal History Statement ....................................151 Part 3: After the Written Test: Meeting Other Requirements .........161 cHAPTER 10: Putting Your Physical Ability tothe Test ........................................163 cHAPTER 11: Presenting Yourself Well in the Oral Board Interview. ............................175 cHapTER 12: Preparing for Medical and Psychological Evaluations. ............................181 Part 4: Practice Police Officer Exams......................................19% cHAPTER 13: Practice Test 1: The National Police Officer Selection Test (POST) ..................193 cHAPTER 14: Answers and Explanations for Practice Test 1...................................213 cHAPTER 15: Practice Test 2: The National Police Officer Selection Test (POST) ..................221 cHAPTER 16: Answers and Explanations for Practice Test2..........................oo..... 0240 cHAPTER 17: Practice Test 3: The National Police Officer Selection Test (POST) ..................247 cHAPTER 18: Answers and Explanations for Practice Test3...................................269 cHAPTER 19: Practice Test 4: The New York City Police Officer's Entrance Exam .................275 cHAPTER 20: Answers and Explanations for Practice Test4...................................317 Part5:ThePartofTens.....................................................325 cHAPTER 21: Ten Tips to Help You Succeed onthe Exam .....................................327 cHapTER 22: Ten Things to Expect at the Police Academy ....................................331 Part 6: Appendixes... 337 appeNDIX A: Law Enforcement Terminology and Resources..................................339 appenpix 8: Climbing the Law Enforcement Ladder.........................................345 Index... 389

  7. Page 7
  8. Page 8
    Read page 8 as text

    INTRODUCTION ................. About This BOOK. . o.oo Foolish Assumptions. ...................... cc. iii. 3 Icons Used in This BOOK +... ..oovuie iii 3 Beyond the BOOK. ......... coo. iii 3 Where to GofromHere .............ooiiiiiiiiii ee A PART 1: THE ROAD TO LANDING A JOB AS A POLICE OFFICER. .........5 euaerer: Signing Up, Getting Screened, and Other Prep Work.............7 Starting with the Notice of Examination (NOE). .................................8 Completing a Job Application. ........................ lll 9 Rounding up required info and paperwork.................................10 Understanding what will get you disqualified. ..............................11 Acting professionally.................. Taking the Written Test. .......... oii... 14 National Police Officer Selection Test (POST) .......c.vvviieriennnennnnn.... 14 New York City Police Officer's Entrance Exam. ..............................15 Adding the Law Enforcement Essay Exam..................................17 Completing the Personal History Statement. ..................................17 Passing the Physical Ability Test (PAT) .........................oooie.......18 Making a Dynamite Impression during the Oral Board Interview .................19 Undergoing the Medical and Psychological Evaluations .........................19 Medical evaluation... een. 20 Psychological evaluation. ...............................oll 20 What if | Get Eliminated during the Screening Process? .........................20 euarerz Taking a Closer Look at the Police Officer Tests .................21 Knowing What You're Up Against on the Written Test. ..........................22 The structure of the National Police Officer Selection Test (POST) .............22 The structure of the New York City (NYC) Police Officer's Entrance Exam .......24 Getting the Lowdown on the Other Police Officer Tests.........................26 The physical ability test (PAT)... 26 The oral interview ............. ooo... 26 The medical exam... 27 The psychological evaluation. ..............................oll 27 PART 2: BREAKING DOWN THE NATIONAL POLICE OFFICER SELECTION TEST (POST) AND THENYC TEST .............................29 euarrers: Solving Basic Math Questionsonthe POST ......................31 What Do Math Questions Look Like? .....................coiiiiii.....32 Ditching your calculator ................. 32 Addition questions ............. LL 32 Subtraction QUeSEIONS. ........... iia... 34 Multiplication questions................................ ol... 35 Division questions. .............. iii. 37 BR + study |

  9. Page 9
    Read page 9 as text

    Determining Percentages. .................ovuiiieiaiiaiieneeienaeena.....39 Whatisapercent?................ iii. 39 How to finda percentage. ...........................oiielln 39 Finding Averages ........... coi 42 Whatisanaverage?................ooiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii i. 42 Howtofindanaverage........................oiiiiii LL 42 Picking an Answer if You Don't Know It ......................... ol... 44 Practice Math QUESHIONS .......uuttit iii ii aie iieenneenneaneennn.. 45 wuarers: Reading Between the Lines: Reading Comprehension..........51 Comprehending the Reading Comprehension Section on the POST...............51 LONGI PASSAEES . ott eee ei ieee ieee... 53 Definition passages. ............... oii. 54 Practice Questions for the POST Reading Comprehension Section................56 Examining the Reading Comprehension Questions on the New York City Test .....59 Written comprehension passages ......................cooiiiiiiaa...... 60 Information ordering passages.......................oiiiiiiiiia...... 61 Inductive reasoning Passages .............ooueiiiiaiiaiiiiaiiaieia.... 62 Deductive reasoning passages .................ieiiiiiiiaiiiiaiie.......64 Problem sensitivity questions ......................... iil... 66 Practice Questions for the NYC Reading Comprehension Section. ................67 carters: Expressing Yourself with Proper Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling............................................75 Acing Grammar Questions. ................ ci iia... 76 Choosing the correctverbtense..........................................76 Watching out for subject-verb agreement..................................78 Picking the correct pronoun... 79 Using the right adjective.................................................82 Identifying complete sentences and fragments .............................83 Pluralizingnouns. .............. ie... 84 Excelling at Spelling Questions .............................oi...... 87 Practice Grammar and Spelling Questions ....................................89 cuarrers: Stretching Your Memory and Visualization Skills................95 Getting the Lowdown on Memory and Observation Questions on the NYC Test ....95 Improving Your Memory... ee... 96 Digging deep for memorization questions .................................96 Using your mind's eye for visualization questions ..........................100 Straightening out information ordering questions. .........................106 Determining the best course of action. ...................................109 Getting your bearings..................... oo. 110 Recalling and interpreting letters and numbers. ...........................111 Practice Observation and Memory Questions ................................113 wwrerz: Reading and Writing Incident Reports ..........................125 Tackling POST Questions about Incident Reports .............................125 Demonstrating comprehension of incident reports onthe POST .............126 Answering written questions about incident reports on the POST ............130 Practice POST Incident Report Questions ....................................133 Mastering Questions about Incident Reports onthe NYC Test ..................137 Practice NYC Incident Report Questions .........................oooeoe...... 140 Vl Police Officer Exam For Dummies

  10. Page 10
    Read page 10 as text

    cuarrers: ACing the Law Enforcement Essay Exam .........................143 Following the Proper Steps to Craft a Winning Essay. ..........................143 Prewriting ......... aL 144 Proofreading. ................ iii... 145 Understanding How Essays Are Scored. ......................oooiiao...... 147 Warming Up to Sample Essay Prompts ......................oooeeaea....... 149 Practice Law Enforcement Essay Exam Question and Answer. ..................150 carers: Completing the Personal History Statement ....................151 Becoming Familiar with the Personal History Statement .......................152 Getting Ready to Complete the Personal History Statement ....................156 Gathering the necessary information.....................................156 Collecting the necessary documents ...........................ooou..... 157 Writing the Personal History Statement......................................157 Understanding that honesty is the best policy .............................158 Following directions and reading questions carefully .......................159 Checking yourwork. ................. icici... 160 PART 3: AFTER THE WRITTEN TEST: MEETING OTHER REQUIREMENTS................... 18 cuarter 10: PUtting Your Physical Ability tothe Test .........................163 Let's Get Physical: The Whys and Wherefores of the Physical Ability Test .........164 Understanding why police officers need the physical ability test .............164 Breaking down the skill areas of the typical test. ...........................164 Getting the lowdown onthe local test ....................................165 Getting in Shape beforetheTest............................................166 What You Should Know and Do the Day of Your Test ..........................167 Showing Them What You Can Do: Test Events................................168 One-minute sit-ups. ......... o.oo... 168 One-minute push-ups... 169 Vertical jump ...... eee. 170 T.5-milerun Lo. eee 170 440-yard mobility/agilityrun ..................ooo IT Modified squatthrust................... o.oo 172 Vehicle exit... 172 Stairclimb. o.oo 172 Fenceobstacles .................ooiiiiiiiii el 173 Triggerpull o.oo 173 Dummy drag. .........oiii eee. 173 cuarrer 11: Presenting Yourself Well in the Oral Board Interview .........175 Comporting Yourself Well .............................................. 175 Dressing professionally. .....................................l 176 Acting professionally..................... ol 176 Speaking in frontofothers...................... o.oo 177 Honing Your Question and Answer Skills. ....................................178 Expecting the right types of questions. ...................................178 Answering truthfully .................. 179 Table of Contents

  11. Page 11
    Read page 11 as text

    cuarrer 12 Preparing for Medical and Psychological Evaluations. .........181 Getting Tested, Poked, and Prodded in the Medical Evaluation. .................182 What can you see? Testing your vision. ...................................182 Can you hear me now? Testing your hearing ..............................183 Not for the squeamish: Taking blood and urinetests.......................184 Breathe in, breathe out: Checking your heartand lungs.....................184 How low can you go? Monitoring muscular and skeletal disorders. ...........185 Looking for other conditions... 185 Understanding What Happens during the Psychological Evaluation. .............186 Taking the personality test..................oooiiiiiiiiiiiiaen..... 186 Interviewing with a psychologist... 187 PART 4: PRACTICE POLICE OFFICEREXAMS .....................co 191 curren 13: Practice Test 1: The National Police Officer Selection Test (POST)... 193 cuarrer 1: ANSwWers and Explanations for Practice Test1...................213 Section I: Mathematics ............coooiiiiiiiiii eel 213 Section II: Reading Comprehension .........................................215 Section lll: Grammar. ..........oiiiiiii eee 217 Section IV: Incident Report Writing. .........................................218 curren 15: Practice Test 2: The National Police Officer Selection TeSt (POST)... 220 cuarrer 16: ANSWers and Explanations for Practice Test 2...................241 Section I: Mathematics ...........ooiiiiiiiiii el 28] Section Il: Reading Comprehension .........................................243 Section lll: Grammar. ........ooiuiiiiii iia. 244 Section IV: Incident Report Writing. .........................................245 curren 17: Practice Test 3: The National Police Officer Selection TeSt (POST) oo 247 cuarrer 1: ANSwers and Explanations for Practice Test 3...................269 Section I: Mathematics ............ooiiiiiiiiii LL .. 269 Section Il: Reading Comprehension .....................................l270 Section lll: Grammar. ........oouiiiii ieee 272 Section IV: Incident Report Writing. .........................................273 cuarter 10: Practice Test 4: The New York City Police Officer's Entrance Exam ..............................275 cuarter 20. ANSwers and Explanations for Practice Test4.................. 317 PART 5: THEPART OF TENS... 325 cuarter 21: Ten Tips to Help You Succeed onthe Exam .....................327 Prepare Yourself .............. i ....327 GetPlentyof ZZZs ............ i iieia........328 EatHealthfully .............................................328 Arrive Early... oi ie.......328 viii Police Officer Exam For Dummies : —~ StudyXY

  12. Page 12
    Read page 12 as text

    Relax!... oo eee 0 328 Carefully Read or Listen to Directions .......................................329 Read the QUESHIONS First ... uuu ett ii ieee ene. ..329 Pace Yourself .......... 0329 Mark the Right Spot! ..............................................329 Take @ GUESS o.oo tt iii. 2 330 cuarrer 22. Ten Things to Expect at the Police Academy.................... 331 Rigorous Rule Enforcement. ...................................lll0330 Physical Challenges.............................. iiiiiiie......332 Strength Training. ................. i iiiie......332 Firearms Training. .................. co iii... 333 Emergency Vehicle Operations Training .....................................333 Academic Integrity. ............... iii... 333 Language Training. ...............oiiiiiiii iia... 334 Ethics Training ............ i... 334 Human Relations. ........... cocoon 00 335 Field Training Program ..........................c.cciiiiiieiieaean......335 PART 6: APPENDIXES......................... 337 aevenoix a: LaW Enforcement Terminology and Resources. .................339 Law Enforcement Terminology .........................ooiiiiiioo......339 Law Enforcement Codes. ...........ooiuiiiiiiiiiiiiaiiiieeiiaaiaee... 2.341 Additional ReSOUrces .............ooiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iia... 343 aevenoixe: Climbing the Law Enforcement Ladder..........................345 Starting on the Bottom Rung: Unranked .....................................345 Officer... ee... 346 Detective/Investigator. ............ o.oo... 346 Sergeant ...... ieee... 346 Moving to Middle Management: Bars .......................................346 Lieutenant. ........ooiiii eee... 346 Captain «oe... 346 Major/Deputy iNSPector ...............ooiiiiiiiiiiiiiie.. 347 Becoming the Top Dog: Stars ..............ooooiiiiiiiiiiaienaenao......347 Inspector/Commander................ co... 347 Assistant chief ......... 347 Deputy chief... .. L347 Chief of police. ........ cL... 347 INDEX oo 349 BR - tucyx

  13. Page 13
  14. Page 14
    Read page 14 as text

    Introduction hances are that if you're reading this book, you're considering pursuing a career as a police officer. Good for you! Police work is both challenging and rewarding. As a police officer, you'll earn a good salary — police officers in the United States average about $67,000 a year. Police officers receive overtime pay and excellent benefits such as paid sick leave and vaca- tion time, medical and life insurance, and outstanding retirement benefits. A police officer’s duties vary somewhat depending on the location of the police department. An officer in a small town may perform a variety of duties, while a cop in a large city may have more specific, routine duties. However, all police officers share a common goal: to keep people safe by enforcing the law. The police officer hiring process is unlike that of any other job. It consists of much more than simply filling out a job application or sending a résumé and going on a job interview. The police officer screening process involves numerous tests and evaluations designed to ensure that you're ready to begin training to become a police officer. We wrote Police Officer Exam For Dummies, 2nd Edition, to guide you through this screening process, from finding a Notice of Examination (NOE) to acing the oral board interview. About This Book Police work is challenging — and at times it can be stressful and dangerous. For the most part, though, police officers enjoy what they do. They know that their job is important, and they're proud to serve their communities by keeping them safe. The police officer hiring process involves many steps that we cover in this book, including these 3 Obtaining a Notice of Examination (NOE), which tells you that a written exam is being given because of a job opening or openings. This notice tells you where and when the exam will take place, what you have to do to register for the test, and what requirements you must meet to be a police officer in the specified area. ¥ Filling out a lengthy and detailed job application that asks you very specific information such as whether you've ever been a defendant in a court action and whether you've ever collected unemployment or worker's compensation insurance. The application also asks you to list each job you've held since you were 17 and every address you've lived at since elementary school. 3 Taking and passing a written exam that may test your reading, math, and memory skills, and sometimes your writing skills. Though the written exam may vary a bit from one police department to the next, most departments give a version of the National Police Officer Selection Test (POST) or a civil service exam such as the New York City (NYC) Police Officer's Entrance Exam. We help you review exam skills for both tests in this book. 3 Completing the Personal History Statement. If you think the job application for a police officer job asks personal information, wait until you complete the Personal History Statement. Most police departments ask you to complete this document when you fill out the job application. The statement probes into your past and your personal life, asking questions such as, “Have you stolen anything?” and “Have you ever used marijuana or any other drug not prescribed by BR I studyxY |

  15. Page 15
    Read page 15 as text

    a physician?” You can't lie on the Personal History Statement — the police department uses it to investigate your background and requires you to complete a polygraph test about the information you provide. 3 Passing a physical ability test (PAT), which determines whether you're in good enough shape to make it through the strenuous physical training at the police academy. Like the written test, the PAT may vary in terms of what you're asked to do — but rest assured that you won't be asked to go for a relaxing stroll. Expect to exert yourself doing sit-ups and push-ups, running, jumping vertically, climbing stairs, and dragging a dummy. Expect to sweat. 3 Completing the oral board interview, a test to see how well you answer questions, use common sense, and handle yourself in stressful situations. Members of the oral board include senior police officers and sometimes community leaders. Expect to answer all kinds of questions about your personality and educational and work backgrounds during this interview, which typically lasts about two hours. Does this sound like an interrogation? You bet. 3 Undergoing a medical and psychological examination to see whether you're healthy and mentally stable enough to work as a police officer. Expect to have both your body and brain poked and prodded. In Police Officer Exam For Dummies, 2nd Edition, we give you all the information you need to make it through each step in the hiring process without being eliminated. We tell you how to prepare for each test and give you a chance to practice. Following the guidance in this book and complet- ing the many practice exercises and tests is a great way to succeed and land a job as a cop. This book uses the following conventions to keep things consistent and easy to understand: 3 The phrase written police officer test refers to any kind of written test a police department may choose to give its job candidates. When we refer to the National Police Officer Selection Test — the POST — we call it by name. When we refer to a civil service test, we refer to the New York City test (NYC test) because this test is an excellent example of what you may see on a civil service test. 3 The physical ability test (PAT) refers to the physical test that police candidates take. Most police departments refer to this test as the PAT, but some also call it the physical fitness test or the police officer physical exam. 3 We use the terms medical evaluation and medical exam interchangeably. We also do this with psychological evaluation and psychological exam. 3 We use boldface to highlight keywords in bulleted lists and the action parts of numbered steps. We italicize any words you may not be familiar with and provide definitions. 3 All websites and email addresses appear in monofont. When this book was printed, some web addresses may have needed to break across two lines of text. If that happened, rest assured that we haven't put in any extra characters (such as hyphens) to indicate the break. When you use one of these web addresses, just type exactly what you see in this book, pretending that the line break doesn't exist. 3 Sidebars are the shaded boxes you see throughout the book that provide extra information or detailed examples. Though you'll likely enjoy the gems of knowledge in the sidebars, they don't necessarily give you an edge on the exams, so feel free to read them later. 2 Police Officer Exam For Dummies 1 Study)

  16. Page 16
    Read page 16 as text

    We all know what happens when we assume, but while writing this book, we decided to live dan- gerously and make the following assumptions about you, dear reader: 3 You're interested in becoming a police officer, and you want to know more about the job and the hiring process. 3 You want to take some police officer practice tests so that you know what to expect and what to focus on when studying. 3 You want to prepare yourself for each step of the police officer hiring process to help ensure your chances of overall success. 3 You understand that successfully completing all exams, interviews, and evaluations means that you qualify to begin training to become a police officer. You know that patrolling the beat doesn't occur until after you've received extensive training at a police academy. 3 You can read, speak, and understand the English language reasonably well. (Writers of police officer exams assume this, too.) To make this book easier to read and simpler to use, we include some icons that can help you find key ideas and information. Keep an eye out for them. This icon appears next to information that may benefit you during the various steps of the hiring process. This information can save you time and effort. TIP When you see this icon, you know the information that follows is especially important to keep in mind. REMEMBER This icon highlights information that may pose a threat to your success on the police officer exams. WARNING ® This icon points out sample questions that appear in the review chapters. EXAMPLE In addition to the abundance of information and guidance related to police officer exams that we provide in this book, you get access to even more help and information online at Dummies. com. Check out this book’s online Cheat Sheet. Just go to www. dummies . com and search for “Police Offi- cer Exam For Dummies Cheat Sheet.” Introduction] v AF StudyX Y

  17. Page 17
    Read page 17 as text

    Where to Go from Here The great thing about For Dummies books is that you can start wherever you want and still find complete information. Want to know how you’d perform on a police officer exam without any preparation? Turn to Chapter 13 and take a practice test, and then check your answers in Chapter 14. to see how well you did. Are you more interested in a specific subject, like incident reports? Check out Chapter 7. Or maybe you want to know how to prepare for the oral board interview. Find out what you need in Chapter 11. The point is that you don’t have to read this book from cover to cover. You can start wherever you think you need the most work, using the table of contents and the index to help you find particular topics. If time is of the essence, find out whether you're taking the POST or a civil service exam such as the NYC test, and turn to the appropriate chapter for information relating to the test you’re going to take. If you're not sure where to start, check out Part 1, which outlines the police officer hiring process from locating a Notice of Examination (NOE) to passing the medical and psychological evaluations. 4 Police Officer Exam For Dummies

  18. Page 18
    Read page 18 as text

    The Road to Landing a Job as a Police Officer

  19. Page 19
    Read page 19 as text

    Find out what it takes to land a job as a cop — from the screening process to written and physical tests to an interview and medical and psychological evaluations. Discover when and how to apply for a police officer job and how to prepare for the police officer tests. + studyxy

  20. Page 20
    Read page 20 as text

    IN THIS CHAPTER » Taking the beginning steps to become a police officer » Completing tests — written, physical, oral, medical, and psychological » Giving it a second try if necessary Signing Up, Getti igning Up, Getting Screened, and Other he job of a police officer isn’t easy. Police officers investigate crimes, arrest criminals, assist citizens in emergencies, collect and secure evidence, write reports, and testify in court. They keep a community safe by enforcing the law. Their job is an important one, so police departments carefully screen job applicants. To land a job as a cop, you have to undergo a lengthy screening process. You must be able to solve quadratic equations and bench press 500 pounds. Okay, we're just kidding, but the screening process to become a police officer does involve passing several tests. The good news is that getting a good score on these tests is within reach for most individuals. In this chapter, we tell you about the screening process to become a police officer. To get ajob as a cop in most police departments, you must obtain a Notice of Examination (NOE), complete an application, pass a written exam and a physical ability test (PAT), and undergo a background investigation, an oral board review, and a medical and psychological evaluation. But hold on! You're not finished yet. You still have to contend with the police academy. Whether you must do this on your own before the screening process or after you pass the medical and psychological evaluations depends on the city and state where you're applying for a job. In some parts of the country, a police department will pay for you to attend a police academy. In other areas, you must enroll in a state-certified academy at a community college, and you have to pay for this academy yourself. Should you do this before you apply for a job? You could, but keep in mind that some large cities, such as Los Angeles and New York City, still require you to attend their academies even if you've attended a state-certified academy at a community college. The moral of the story? Find out what’s required in your city and state before you apply for a job and begin the screening process. CHAPTER 1 Signing Up, Getting Screened, and Other Prep Work] ening op € a | StudyXY

  21. Page 21
    Read page 21 as text

    The first step to becoming a police officer is to find a Notice of Examination (NOE), which is also called an Exam Announcement. While many police departments post an NOE because they have job openings, other departments give the written test every so often, and the NOE may simply announce the time and place of the test. If the NOE is posted because of job openings, it indicates where and when you should submit a job application, the time and place of the test, and the test registration fee. You can see an example NOE for a job opening in Figure 1-1. How do you find an NOE? The easiest way is to periodically check the websites of nearby police departments. Another option is to access a national police officer website such as the Interna- tional Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) (www.theiacp.org), where you can search police TP officer job openings by state, city, and zip code. POLICE OFFICER NOTICE OF EXAMINATION The city of Happyville will conduct a written examination on June 10 at 9:30 a.m. at Happyville High School, 200 Mountain Road, Happyville, to fill existing vacancies at the Happyville Police Department. Applications for the position are available at Happyville Town Hall, 123 Main Street, Happyville, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or on the Happyville City's Web site (www.happyville.com). A $100 nonrefundable fee is required to process the application. Fees must be in the form of a check or money order. Cash will not be accepted. Completed applications with signatures and the $100 fee must be received at Happyville Town Hall by 5 p.m., Friday, May 30, 2010, to participate in the examination. Applications will not be accepted at the exam location. Salary range is from $22,000 to $26,000 with excellent benefits. Police officers should expect to work overtime, weekends, holidays, and various shifts. To be considered for a position within the Happyville Police Department, an applicant must * be a US. citizen « speak fluent English + have a high school diploma or a GED + have a valid Social Security number « possess a valid driver's license « be at least 21 years of age and not older than 34 years of age * possess good moral character * pass a written examination « pass a polygraph test « pass a background investigation * meet a vision requirement of uncorrected 20/100 to correctable 20/20 and not be color blind « pass a medical evaluation FIGURE 14: « pass a psychological examination Asample | goo uestions or additional information, contact the Happyville Police Department at 123-4567 Notice of | or visit www.happyville.com Examination fora police The city of Happyville is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). officer position. 8 PART 1 The Road to Landing a Job as a Police Officer ve + Studyxy

  22. Page 22
    Read page 22 as text

    TYPES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT JOBS Those who want to work in law enforcement are committed to protecting people and property. They are good communicators and in good physical condition. That said, there are different types of law enforce- ment jobs. The educational requirements and training range from having a high school diploma and training at a police academy to more formal training, such as a college degree. These are some common types of law enforcement jobs: ® Local Police Officers and Sheriff's Deputies: Local police and sheriffs deputies must uphold the laws of their jurisdiction. They patrol their area and investigate crimes. Local police may work for their town, county, or region. Most local police departments in the United States are small and employ only a few full-time police officers. California, New York, and Texas are the states that employ the largest number of police officers in the country. Many of the other job titles found within local law enforcement agencies include automobile patrol, foot patrol, traffic officer, bicycle patrol, motorcycle patrol, horse patrol, marine patrol, aircraft patrol, juvenile officer, canine officer, crime scene investigator, crime prevention officer, community policing officer, hostage negotiations team, bomb squad officer, warrant officer, airport police, housing police, port authority police, and transit police. ® State Police: Also known as State Troopers or Highway Patrol officers, state police officers engage in highway patrol and state investigations. State police assist local police with large-scale emergencies and investigations. State police departments may have more stringent requirements for candidates than local police departments. Some states require candidates to have a college degree. * Federal Law Enforcement: The federal government has two broad categories of law enforcement positions — Uniformed Police Officers and Special Agents. The U.S. Capitol Police are a good example of a uniformed police agency whose job it is to protect the personnel and property of the U.S. Capitol. Another example are FBI Police officers who protect the facilities and personnel of the FBI. The Customs and Border Protection agency is moving away from using the job title “agent” to “officer,” as in “Border Patrol Officer.” Special Agents are federal law enforcement criminal investigators who don't wear a uniform. They're typically categorized in the GS-1811 job series. Special Agents have the statutory authority to carry firearms, conduct searches and seizures, and make arrests. Special Agents work for a number of fed- eral agencies such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and U.S. Secret Service (USSS). * Tribal Police: Tribal police are a type of local police. They work on Native American reservations and serve as liaisons with local and state police. Their job involves keeping the public safe and completing incident reports. They also prepare special documents that are required by the Tribal Court System. ® Specialized Jurisdiction Police: Specialized jurisdiction police are local police who work in a specific area. For example, they may work for railroads and in hospitals, parks, airports, and schools. Completing a Job Application Before taking a written police officer test, you must pay a fee and submit a completed job application like the one shown in Figure 1-2. You must complete the application in black ink or type it, depending on the instructions on the application. The application should be neat and complete, and the information on it should be accurate. Read all the directions before you fill out the application. Keep in mind that a mistake or an omission on the job application is grounds for disqualification. CHAPTER 1 Signing Up, Getting Screened, and Other Prep Bl + studyx |

  23. Page 23
    Read page 23 as text

    Make a few copies of the application and practice completing it. After you finish the final copy, photocopy it. You may need the information on the application later in the screening process. TIP Remember that neatness counts — if a police department can’t read your writing, you're not likely to receive a job offer. An application for a police officer job is different from most other job applications because it asks for very detailed specific information, such as the address of every home you've ever lived in since elementary school. Why do police departments make their job application so difficult to complete? Think about it — a police officer carries a gun. Should a police department give a gun to an unstable individual who has had past run-ins with the law? Absolutely not. Rounding up required info and paperwork Gather the following information before you complete an application for a job as a police officer: Birth certificate. 3 Driver's license. 3 Education information (names of your high school, college, and/or business school; the years you attended; and the diploma or degree you received). 3 Employment information, as shown in Figure 1-3 (list of your former employers, the position and type of work you did, the dates during which you were employed, and your reasons for leaving). Follow the directions to see how far back you must go. Some applications ask you to list each employer you had during the past ten years. 3 The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of coworkers at each job to include as references. 3» Ifyou served in the military, your date of entry (month, day, and year) and your date of discharge (month, day, and year). All former convictions, including traffic tickets. 3 The address of each residence you have lived at since graduating from elementary school (about sixth grade); the month and year you moved into each residence, and the month and year you left. 3 The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of five personal references, other than family members. 3 An itemized list of your debts, including the names and addresses of banks or places that have given you loans, the amount you owe on each loan, your monthly payment, any overdue payments, and the nature of the debt, such as a mortgage or new car loan. Some police officer job applications require you to submit copies of the following documents along with the application: 3 Birth certificate 9 Valid driver's license 3 Certified copy of your driving record ¥ Social Security card 3 High school diploma or GED certificate ¥ College transcripts 10 PART 1 The Road to Landing a Job as a Police Officer \ gal 1 StudyX

  24. Page 24
    Read page 24 as text

    9 Selective Service registration form 3 Form DD214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, for each term of service if you served in the U.S. Armed Forces 3 Marriage license, divorce decree, and/or legal separation papers If you're a male applicant born after January 1, 1960, you must show proof of your registration with the Selective Service (SSS Form 3A). If you don’t have this document, you can get a copy by calling the Selective Service at (847) 688-6888 or toll-free at (888) 655-1825, or go to www.sss. TIP gov for more information. Understanding what will get you disqualified Not everyone may participate in the police officer screening process. If you've done something in your past that prevents you from obtaining a permit to carry a concealed firearm, you'll be knocked out of the competition to win a job as a police officer. You may be disqualified from becoming a police officer if you 9 Are a fugitive from justice 3 Have been admitted to a mental health facility 3 Have been convicted of a felony 3 Were dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces 3 Entered the United States illegally 3 Are currently on parole or probation 3 Have been convicted of a crime involving domestic violence or stalking 3 Are currently subject to a restraining order or protection from abuse order 3 Have an addiction to drugs or alcohol 3 Have been judicially declared incompetent or insane Be aware of what information and photographs appear on your social media accounts. Inappro- priate comments and photos can get you disqualified. Even “liking” an inappropriate website may be grounds for disqualification. WARNING Acting professionally Suppose that you obtain a Notice of Examination (NOE) that says you need to drop off a completed application at the police department the week before the written test. You're in the midst of painting your apartment that week but stop by the police department to hand in your application. Your clothes aren’t clean and they’re splattered with paint. You're perspiring and notice that a line of candidates is waiting to hand in applications. You see an old high school friend ahead of you in line. “Hey, Joe!” you shout, slap the man on the back, and shake his hand. The officer behind the front desk is on the phone and motions for you to keep it down. Are you making a good first impression? Are you behaving professionally? No! Always act professionally — when you hand in your application, when you take your written test, and when you arrive for an oral interview. CHAPTER 1 Signing Up, Getting Screened, and Other Prep Work Sy -— StudyX

  25. Page 25
    Read page 25 as text

    [orl T71 [pvqu TT | rc —— re —— 5 Employment Records: Social Security Number APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT Toye AEELICATION FOR EMELOTMENT INSTRUCTIONS: TYPE OR PRINT. SGN ININK. EACH REQUEST FOR rrr APONTE KEQUILES A SEPARATE SLICATION rr rrr] Before completing ths application, read the position announcement to be sure you I EE 1 Elma quote or ik po Toes compe he APPR [ [1 fully. Read and sign affirmation. 9. United States Military Service: No UYes Branch of Service: OMISSIONS MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF APPLICATION Date of Entry: Date of Discharge: To Ver oD Fear APPLICATION FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE POSITION OF Type of Discharge. Serial No. LNamewmblt 10. Have you ever previously applied for any position in the [city] Police Tar Ft die Department or any other Law Enforcement Agency or Correctional Institution? Phone number (including area code): ONoOYesWhatAgency? When? What other names have you been known by. What Position? 11. List al convictions include traffic arrests) Female applicants must furnish maiden name: 2. Address Seer on Sate 2p Code _ 12. Have you ever been a defendant in any court action? No Yes How long have you lived in city” Describe. How long have you lived in [state]. JE ————— resent a 13. Are you now or have you ever been a member of any organization, corporation, 3DateofBirthi_______ Presentage company, partnership, association, trust, foundation, fund, club, society, committee, political party, or any group of persons, whether or not 4 Areyoua citizen ofthe United tates? Incorporated, which chgages in of advocates, abet, advises or teaches, or . i follows a purpose which is to engage in or advocate, abet, assist in the 5. Proof of Citizenship attached ONo ClYes (Copy of Bt Cotta) overthrow, destruction or alteration of the Constitutional form of government of . } the United States or of the State of XX, or of any political subdivision of either of 6.0 you possess a valid Operator's License? No Qes them, by revolution, force, violence or ther unlawful means? Se Tamer 7. Education QNo OYes Describe EE —_— Tig 14.1 hereby affirm that there are no intentional misrepresentations or falsiications EA in the foregoing statements and answers to questions. | am aware that should investigation disclose any such misrepresentations or falsifications, my EE application shal be rejected or, if already employed, my employment may be Business School Topants Sgratrs Dare TS SECTION CONTINUED ON ATTACHED PAGES CVES GN THIS SECTION CONTINUED ON ATTACHED PAGES IVES ONO FIGURE 1-2: A sample application for a police officer job. 12 PART 1 The Road to Landing a Job as a Police Officer | vv ~ StudyXY

  26. Page 26
    Read page 26 as text

    EMPLOYMENT HISTORY STARTING WITH THE DATE YOU LEFT HIGH SCHOOL, ACCURATELY ACCOUNT FOR ALL PERIODS OF EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT IN DATE ORDER, INCLUDING YOUR PRESENT EMPLOYER. INCLUDE ALL SEASONAL, TEMPORARY, OR PART-TIME JOBS YOU HAVE HELD WHILE FURLOUGHED OR LAID-OFF FROM YOUR PERMANENT JOB. ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS. PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE Have you ever applied for or collected unemployment compensation? Yes ONo Have you ever applied for or collected workman's compensation? OYes ONo Have you ever filed for bankruptcy? OYes ONo Social Security Number: EMPLOYER: PHONE: ADDRESS: cry: STATE: zp. EMPLOYED FROM: To: SALARY: REASON FOR LEAVING: POSITION: DUTIES: CO-WORKER: PHONE: ADDRESS: ary: STATE: ZIP: CO-WORKER: PHONE: ADDRESS: -— FIGURE 1-3: Ty: STATE: zp. You may see several Employment SIGNATURE: DATE: History boxes like this one PGE OF attached to a police officer job application. The employment outlook for police officers is good — and it's expected to get better. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that by 2030, the number of law enforcement jobs will increase by 7 percent. Why the increase? The population is growing, and older employees are expected to retire. Local police departments will likely do the most hiring, particularly those in urban areas with high crime rates. Candidates who are bilingual, have military training, or have college degrees have the best chance of landing a job as a local cop. Jobs in state and federal law enforcement will be harder to find. But candidates who are bilingual, have military experience, or hold college degrees have the best shot at these jobs as well. Those with investiga- tive experience also have a leg up on the competition. CHAPTER 1 Signing Up, Getting Screened, and Other Prep Work [iil] YvV = StudyX Y

  27. Page 27
    Read page 27 as text

    Taking the Written Test After you find a Notice of Examination (NOE) and complete a job application, you need to register for the written test. In most states, you have to sign up for the written test online. Then you’ll receive emails about upcoming tests that you can take. Easy peasy. But then you have to take and pass this test. Were you a good test-taker in school? Don’t panic if you werent. Most of the writ- ten tests police officers must take are fairly basic. You can easily pass them with some practice and preparation. Not all police departments in the United States give the same written test. Some give a test called the National Police Officer Selection Test (POST). Each state has a Police Officer Standards and Training Commission that decides exactly what will be on its version of the POST; check your state’s website to determine its exact requirements. Other states give a civil service test, such as the New York City (NYC) Police Officer’s Entrance Exam, which is similar to the POST. We address both of these tests in this book as typical examples. Before you take a written police officer test, find out as much as you can about the test by contact- ing the police department and visiting its website. Many police departments offer study guides that you can download from their website. But if you can’t find what you’re looking for, don’t be TP afraid to ask questions. A few departments also require candidates to pass a video-based examination. During this test, you watch videos of scenarios instead of reading about them and then answer multiple-choice questions about the scene you've just witnessed. It’s important to note that this is a common rememser sense/good judgment test. You do not need law enforcement experience to answer the questions. You can’t study or prepare for this test. If your state or department includes a video-based test, it'll be mentioned on its website, so be sure to check in advance. Some police departments interview candidates about two to three weeks after they pass the writ- ten exam. This is an initial interview. Don’t confuse it with the oral board interview, which is much longer. National Police Officer Selection Test (POST) The National Police Officer Selection Test, better known as the POST, has four sections, and each section is timed. The first three sections are Mathematics, Reading Comprehension, and Grammar. These sections have both multiple-choice and true-or-false questions. Most multiple-choice questions have five answer options — A, B, C, D, and E. You fill in the oval that corresponds to the answer choice that you believe is correct. The fourth section is called Incident Report Writing. You have to write out your answers to the questions in this section. You should attempt to answer every question on the POST because there’s no penalty for guess- ing. Your score is based only on the number of questions you answer correctly. When you don’t know the answer to a question, eliminate answer options that you know are incorrect and make TP a good guess. The following is a brief rundown of what to expect in each section of the POST. To find out more about the POST, turn to Chapter 2. 3 Section 1: Mathematics: The questions in the mathematics section of the POST require you to use basic arithmetic — addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. You also have to determine averages on this test. You can't use a calculator on the POST, but the test booklet has scratch paper you can use to figure out your answers. For more information about the kind of mathematics questions that are on the POST, turn to Chapter 3. 14 PART 1 The Road to Landing a Job as a Police Officer Sy

  28. Page 28
    Read page 28 as text

    3 Section 2: Reading Comprehension: On this section of the POST, you read passages or several paragraphs about a subject and answer questions about the information in the passage. Passages are about police duty, but you don't need any knowledge of police duty to answer the questions. Everything you need to know to answer the questions is in the passage. Both multiple-choice and true-or-false questions are in the reading comprehension section of the POST. To find out more about answering reading comprehension questions, see Chapter 4. 3 Section 3: Grammar: The grammar section of the POST tests your knowledge of grammar, punctuation, and spelling. This section has two types of questions. To answer the first type of question, you choose the word that best fits in a blank in a sentence. To answer the second type of question, you choose the word in a sentence that's misspelled. We tell you more about grammar, punctuation, and spelling in Chapter 5. 3 Section 4: Incident Report Writing: Incident report writing tests your writing skills. In this section of the POST, you're given a completed (filled-out) incident report and asked questions about it. Though the information you need to answer the questions is right in the incident report, you're judged on how you write out your answer. Your answers should be complete sentences that are grammatically correct. To read more about incident reports, turn to Chapter 7. New York City Police Officer's Entrance Exam Though many police departments give the National Police Officer Selection Test (POST), others give a civil service test, such as the New York City (NYC) Police Officer’s Entrance Exam. This exam contains about 85 questions testing your ability in these areas: 3 Inductive and deductive reasoning: Inductive reasoning questions give you a set of details and ask you to draw a conclusion based on these details. Deductive reasoning questions do just the opposite — they give you a conclusion and ask you to choose details supporting the conclusion. You can find out more about inductive and deductive reasoning questions in Chapter 4. 3 Information ordering: These questions test your ability to follow directions. You're given a series of steps that you must follow to correctly answer the questions. The questions explain that an officer has completed some steps and ask you what the officer should do next. Chapter 6 tells you more about information-ordering questions. 3 Memorization: Memorization questions on the NYC test assess your ability to remember details about what you've seen. You're given ten minutes to study a photograph or an illustra- tion. Then, when a page is turned and you can no longer see the picture, you must answer questions about details within it. 3 Problem sensitivity: To answer these questions, you have to predict whether something is likely to go wrong in a given situation. For example, you may be given a guideline as to when police officers should evacuate persons in a building, and then you may be asked questions about information in this guideline. For more about problem-sensitivity questions, turn to Chapter 6. 3 Spatial orientation: To answer spatial orientation questions on the NYC test, you read a description and determine where you are in terms of direction (north, south, east, or west). Some spatial orientation questions include a map indicating one-way streets and roadway obstructions. To answer these questions, you have to choose the most efficient route to get from one place to another while obeying all traffic regulations. For more about memorization and spatial orientation questions, turn to Chapter 6. CHAPTER 1 Signing Up, Getting Screened, and Other Prep Work

  29. Page 29
    Read page 29 as text

    3% Visualization: Imagine the street on which you live. Now imagine what this street looks like if you were standing behind the houses or buildings. Visualization questions on the NYC test ask you to envision what something looks like from a different angle or perspective. We discuss visualization questions in detail in Chapter 6. 3 Written comprehension: Written comprehension questions on the NYC test are similar to reading comprehension questions on the POST. You read a passage containing information about police duty and answer questions about the information in the passage. To read more about these types of questions, review Chapter 4. 3 Written expression: These questions assess your knowledge of grammar. You choose the sentence that presents information clearly, accurately, and completely. For more about grammar questions, see Chapter 5. ORGANIZATION OF MUNICIPAL, COUNTY, AND STATE DEPARTMENTS When you decide to become a cop, you probably picture yourself working for a municipal, or city, police department. This is certainly a good option, but law enforcement agencies range from small, country police departments to large federal agencies. Note that some of these law enforcement agencies have different hiring requirements than municipal police departments. *® Municipal police officers: Municipal, or local, police departments are generally divided geographically, with each department providing basic law enforcement for a city, town, or other municipality. In some cases, one local police force may serve several small communities. These departments are staffed by uniformed police officers who patrol the area and respond to calls. These officers perform basic police duties, such as arresting criminal suspects, directing traffic, inves- tigating crimes, and more. Officers in larger police departments are often assigned to carry out a spe- cific duty. Local police agencies typically organize their service areas into geographic districts. Officers are assigned to specific districts and are expected to familiarize themselves with their patrol area and be watchful for anything out of the ordinary. Some local police agencies serve unique jurisdictions that entail special enforcement responsibilities. These special police forces include college campus police, public school district police, and transportation system security. Local police officers may serve in specialized fields, such as fingerprint identification, chemical analysis, or police training. Others may also serve with special police units, such as canine units, motorcycle units, harbor patrol, or special weapons and tactics (SWAT). ® County sheriffs and deputy sheriffs: Police departments at the county level consist of sheriffs and deputy sheriffs. Most sheriffs are elected officials with job requirements comparable to those of a local police chief. Sheriffs departments are generally small, employing fewer than 50 officers. Deputy sheriffs share many of the same law enforcement responsibilities of officers in urban police depart- ments. Some 911 call-response centers are staffed by county police departments. ® State police officers: Officers of state police agencies, often known as state troopers or highway patrol officers, have statewide jurisdiction for arresting criminals and enforcing traffic laws on state highways. These officers also have special functions at the scene of traffic accidents. In these situa- tions, state police officers may direct traffic, provide first aid, summon additional emergency support, and write accident reports. State police agencies may also provide assistance for local police forces, particularly in rural areas and small towns, and provide executive protection for the governor and other dignitaries. 16 PART 1 The Road to Landing a Job as a Police Officer

  30. Page 30
    Read page 30 as text

    Adding the Law Enforcement Essay Exam Because police officers complete so many written reports — they must write an incident report each time they respond to a scene — police departments consider good writing skills essential to good job performance. And many of the documents police officers write wind up in court as evi- dence, so good writing skills are a must. Some police departments require candidates to take the Law Enforcement Essay Exam in addition to the written police officer test. This exam measures your ability to write clearly and correctly. The Law Enforcement Essay Exam isn’t long. You respond to a single writing prompt that isn’t about police work — it’s personal. A prompt may ask you to recall a specific experience in your life and then reflect upon what you learned from that experience. You have 30 to 45minutes to write your response to the prompt. You can read some sample prompts and asample essay in Chapter 8. Most police departments require candidates to complete a Personal History Statement — along document in which you respond to questions about your past and your character. Although some departments ask you to complete this statement after the written test, many allow you to com- plete it at home and require that you have it notarized by a notary public before you turn it in. Honesty is the only policy when responding to questions on the Personal History Statement. A background investigator checks your responses, and if this person discovers that you lied or omitted something important, the police department will disqualify you from the screening pro- rememser ess. Later in the screening process, you'll be asked to take a polygraph test, called a BOC. The Personal History Statement may serve as a road map for the questions asked on the polygraph test. Instead of a BOC, a police department may use Computer Voice Stress Analysis (CVSA). This is like a polygraph test except that it is based on the tone and stress of your voice. Therefore, it’s better to tell the truth and explain the reasons for your actions on your statement. You can view a sample Personal History Statement in Chapter 9. A Personal History Statement asks questions such as the following: 3 Have you ever been arrested or convicted of an offense? If your answer is “yes,” explain the incident in concise detail on a separate sheet of paper, giving the dates and nature of the offense, the name and location of the court, and the disposition of the case. A conviction may not disqualify you but a false statement will. 3 Have you ever been on probation or parole? If “yes,” explain the details on a separate sheet of paper. 3 Have you been involved as a party in a lawsuit? If “yes,” explain the details on a separate sheet of paper. 3 Have you ever driven a motor vehicle within the past three years without the proper insurance? 3 Have you ever had your driver's license placed on probation for receiving an excessive number of traffic violations? 3 Have you ever been placed as an assigned risk for vehicle insurance? 3 Have you filed for bankruptcy? CHAPTER 1 Signing Up, Getting Screened, and Other Prep Work Sy -— StudyXY

  31. Page 31
    Read page 31 as text

    3 Are you under obligation to pay child support? If “yes,” are you current with payments? 3 Describe in your own words the frequency and extent of your use of alcoholic beverages. You also have to provide the following information on a Personal History Statement: 3 Contact information (name, address, and telephone numbers) 3» Driver's license information (driver's license number, state, expiration date, height, weight, eye color, hair color, scars, tattoos, or other distinguishing marks) ¥ Traffic record (list of all traffic citations you've received, except for parking tickets; list of all accidents you've been involved in as a driver; and list of all motor vehicles you own or operate) 3 Military service (dates of service, branch of service, and type of discharge) 3 Family members (names, addresses, and telephone numbers of immediate family members and other persons living in your home) 3 Education (names of schools/colleges, locations, dates attended, areas of study, and type of degree) 3 References (names, addresses, telephone numbers, years known, and occupations of four persons who are not relatives) 3 Employment history (list of all employers back to 17 years of age; a brief summary of your duties in each position) Residences (list of all addresses, including city, state, and zip code, where you've lived during the last ten years, beginning with your present address; list must include names of landlords and neighbors) 3 Financial obligations (list of name/location of institutions or banks, type of accounts, and average balance; list of credit cards and names of issuing institutions) Professional, fraternal, or civic association memberships (list of organizations, period of time you belonged, and the office you held) If you pass the written police officer test, you then take the PAT, the physical ability test. Police work is often physically demanding. At the police academy, recruits are trained so that they’re in good enough condition to chase and cuff suspects, quickly climb stairs and fences, scale walls, and defend themselves from criminals when necessary. The physical fitness training at the acad- emy is tough. The PAT assesses whether you're in good enough shape to undergo this training. If you fail the PAT, you're eliminated from the screening process. To discover how to prepare for the PAT, read Chapter 10. The type of exercises on the PAT depends on the police department. However, many police depart- ments test candidates’ ability to do the following in a given time period: 3 440-yard mobility/agility run » 1.5-mile run 3 Dummy drag 9 Fence obstacles 18 PART 1 The Road to Landing a Job as a Police Officer \ 1 StudyX

356 more pages in the full document

Unlock it once and it stays in your library, ready to chat with or turn into flashcards.

Unlock the full document

More Other Exams & Certifications study materials

See all

Study this document with CramX

Once it is in your library, every tool can work from it.