Police Officer Jobs - How To Get Hired Faster

When you made your decision to become a policeC. Immediately call for more backup.
officer, you made a decision to change your life.D. Dodge her blows and continue on to help the
And when you turned in your application, youofficer being attacked.
took your first step in a grueling process towardsExplanation:
achieving your goal.The correct answer is B. Police officers are
Next in the gauntlet: the police written test.required to subdue combative suspects as quickly
The first hurtle. The first cold sweat in a long lineand safely as possible. If Officer Bettis is in a
of cold sweats. Now's the time to untie the knotsituation where the nightstick is an approved
in your stomach and re-tighten your guts toweapon and he or other officers are in physical
prepare for the first punch of reality-you'redanger, he should use his nightstick. The situation
actually on your way to becoming a police officer.does not change because the attacker is female.
Whether you hate tests or you ace tests toNo other option is safe or feasible.
draw a bead on living your life behind a badge,Officers who use pepper spray to disperse a
you need to turn your mind into a diamond-dustcrowd should do the following:
whet stone and hone your wits razor-sharp. Your1. Warn other officers that pepper spray is about
goal in the written test, your first step towardsto be deployed.
your badge, is simple and single-minded: get the2. Order the crowd to disperse.
highest scores possible for the highest ranking3. Take a position upwind of the crowd.
possible on the eligibility list. You don't just want to4. Direct the spray into the crowd while continuing
get on the list, you want to be in the topto order them to disperse.
five-better yet, you want to be the first name on5. Provide first aid to anyone who is overcome by
the list.the spray.
How can you do this?2. Officers Brady, Dion, and Rodriguez are called
Like we said, simply and single-mindedly. Prepareto the scene of a large fight in front of Omar's
yourself by informing yourself. Arm yourself withGrill. When they arrive, they see around 15 adult
hard facts about the test-which are yours for themales bunched up in the parking lot punching each
asking from the recruiter, the department's HRother. Officer Dion pulls out his canister of pepper
section, or the department website. Identify yourspray. What should he do next?
weakest areas on the test and reinforce yourA. Order the crowd to stop fighting.
abilities in that area. Review spelling rules, pick up aB. Warn the other two officers that he's about to
30-days to improve your vocabulary book at thespray the crowd.
library-and a high school level math book whileC. Warn the crowd that he has pepper spray.
you're at it. Then find a quiet spot with noD. Stand downwind of the crowd before spraying.
distractions-like the library, you're already there,Explanation:
right? And study.The correct answer is B. According to step 1 in
If you don't read regularly start doing so now. Getthe procedure, the officer should warn the other
a newspaper and read it, then read it out loud,officers before he takes further action. The
then read it to someone else-then discuss whatofficer does want the crowd to stop fighting and
you've read and practice being a comprehensivewill order them to do so, but choice A is step 2.
reader. Have someone quiz you on articles, adsChoice C is not listed as a step, and choice D is
that were on the same page, the page numbernot a good answer because the officer will always
the article was on, what other articles are on thewant to be upwind of pepper spray, not
same page and anything else they can think of todownwind.
test your memory and understanding.3. Officers Perez and Navarro arrive at City Hall
Teach yourself to be ferociously observant, yetto find a mob rocking Mayor Dickson's car back
careful with your assumptions. Practice observingand forth in the street. Officer Navarro shouts to
people, vehicles and places-memorize descriptions,Officer Perez that he is going to use his pepper
then check what you think you saw for accuracy.spray. What should he do next?
If you haven't gone on a ride along yet, scheduleA. Stand downwind of the crowd.
one today! And when you slide inside that squadB. Shout to the crowd to disperse.
car forget every daydream or pre-conceived ideaC. Warn the crowd that pepper spray is about to
you ever had about police officers and policebe deployed.
work-wipe your mind clean and focus on everyD. Stand upwind of the crowd before using the
action that officer makes. Your prime objective isspray.
to learn about the 'why' that is the basis for anExplanation:
officer reactions, actions and decisions. WhatThe correct answer is B. The officer has already
observations are important to their work? Asktaken step 1, having warned his partner that he is
questions, take notes-throw yourself into theabout to use the spray. Step 2 is to order the
experience wholeheartedly and you'll walk awaycrowd to disperse.
with a little piece of a badge attached.So, how did you do? Did any of the answers
The written test evaluates you on several areassurprise you? Did you learn anything?
of common knowledge-that's what the math,Practice questions are extremely useful in your
spelling and vocabulary books were for but therepreparation for the written test, not only for
are other areas that test your range and use ofbecoming accustomed to a police mindset, but
common sense knowledge. These areas blendalso for becoming accustomed to reading a
judgment skills, memory and observation skills andsituation carefully and completely in order to
the simple ability to know left from right intomake the best decision for action.
complex questions that evaluate how you reactWhat you face in the written test is an evaluation
and why.of your approach to life and your ability to
And you want to react for the same 'why' asrepeatedly and consistently handle critical incidents
any police officer-right?within highly regulated parameters. You are being
Take a look at the practice questions below for aevaluated on dependability of effort and thought,
taste of the test to come.adaptability of action, reliability of reaction and
Use good judgment and common sense, as welldurability of decision-making. You are being tested
as the information provided in the question, toto find out if you possess the unique combination
answer the following questions.of components that will allow you not only to
1. Officer Bettis has arrived at the scene of awithstand the rigors of police work, but to thrive
family disturbance. Two other officers are in theand excel as a police officer.
front yard of the residence, fighting with familyTake a stand for your dream. Make a pledge to
members. Officer Bettis pulls out hissucceed. Arm yourself for victory.
departmentally approved nightstick and runs up toThis is about your life. This is about your decision
help one of the officers. A woman steps up andto make your dream a reality. You can win
swings a broken beer bottle at Officer Bettis'sthrough this challenge because you are
head. What should he do next?well-prepared, primed for pursuit and your sights
A. Try to snatch the beer bottle out of her handare firmly fixed on your target-the top of the
and hope he doesn't get cut.eligibility list and first shot at the door to your
B. Strike her in a departmentally approved targetdream.
area so she will drop the bottle.