Why do friends and relatives of police officers do well on
police judgment/situation questions and have an unfair
advantage? Although it's a federal mandate that you're not
required to know police procedures when taking law
enforcement entrance exams, many test makers conclude that
police procedures are just common sense. They're usually
included in the test in some form. The reason: they measure
two very important traits needed for police work: JUDGMENT
and COMMON SENSE.
But here's THE DILEMMA: to really do well on these judgment
questions you need more than just common sense. The reason
police friends and relatives do well, is that they're
familiar with police language and police thinking. This
gives them a DECISIVE EDGE when they choose answers to
these questions.
Ideally, you shouldn't need to know police procedures and
policies or the law; you should just be able to interpret
them. Realistically, if you know the basic philosophies of
police procedures before taking the test, answering the
questions becomes much easier.
To Answer Police Situational Questions You Must Think Like
a Police Officer
If you had a friend or relative who was on the police force
they could help you THINK LIKE a police officer and give
YOU an edge when answering police situational questions.
In this article I will give you some important tips and
strategies on how to handle difficult police situation
questions. The goal is to help you THINK LIKE a police
officer. It will not only give you an edge for the written
test, but also will help you with the ORAL INTERVIEW.
On the test you'll be given police procedures and asked to
apply them to situations. You'll be tested on your ability
to remember information, analyze data and apply it using
common sense, good judgment and the ability to solve
problems.
Most police procedure questions ask: What would YOU do if
Assume you're a police officer. How would you respond?
The questions are based on ACTUAL POLICE SITUATIONS.
For instance: What would you do if you saw a man walking
down the street dressed only in a baseball hat, (naked)
carrying a baseball bat? Arrest him? On what charge? What
would you do?
The first thing you should do is to ask questions and try
to determine what happened. He may be a victim of a crime.
Don't jump to conclusions.
TIP: Do the most important things first! It's IMPORTANT TO
PRIORITIZE your response to the situation. It's also
important to familiarize yourself with the role of a police
officer in the particular police department you hope to
join. Each department has a definite set of priorities that
govern a cop's decision-making process.
Here are some important factors you should know when
answering police judgment questions.
1. Protect the welfare of citizens, victims, and fellow
officers. ALWAYS tend to and assist anyone who is in
danger, injured, wounded or in the line of fire, etc. Help
anyone in danger. Repeat, your most important job is to
always assist and protect endangered people FIRST. This
includes victims of crimes, injured persons, physically
endangered persons and potential victims.
2. Secure public order. Keep the peace against acts of
aggression, riots, armed suspects and destruction of
property.
3. Uphold the laws. Arrest those who violate the laws,
protect crime scenes and preserve evidence. Enforce laws,
investigate violations of law and make arrests when
necessary.
4. Help those needing assistance. This duty focuses on
people not in immediate danger, such as non-injured victims
of crimes, the mentally ill, the homeless, neglected
children and lost or stranded persons.
5. Maintain order on your beat. Check your beat for
suspects and suspicious activity. Investigate suspicious
persons, potential hazards, etc. Know your beat by becoming
familiar with the physical structure, the streets, the
buildings and the people, especially the criminal element.
6. Maintain proper flow of traffic. Make sure damaged
traffic signs and lights are repaired. Make sure proper
direction of traffic is conducted with the use of traffic
cones and traffic officers until repairs are made.
Based on using the police priority factor, what do you do
in the following situation?
You are a police officer is working a security guard detail
at the state fair. Which of the following situations do you
handle first?
1. There is a crowd forming around two unarmed teenagers
arguing.
2. A dumpster sitting next to the main tent pavilion is on
fire.
3. The Ferris wheel is stuck in midair with people still on
it.
4. A man, who is obviously drunk, has passed out and is
lying by the ticket booth.
The correct answer is 2: The dumpster on fire should be
dealt with first. It is sitting next to the main tent
pavilion and is possibly a danger to many people.
The Value of Police Hierarchy The police officer's job is
extremely hard at times. He/she is expected to make quick
decisions in situations involving conflicting values.
For instance:
It may be necessary to choose between allowing dangerous
criminals escape or risking serious injury to a hostage.
Some departments set clear parameters for many of these
types of situations. But, because of all the unforeseen
situations officers face on a daily basis, these parameters
cannot cover every possible type of situation.
That is why law enforcement agencies test your practical
judgment and common sense so intensely. It's also why it is
SO IMPORTANT you know the priority list used by police
agencies before you take your test. YOU MUST KNOW what they
consider the order of importance to successfully answer
police situational questions. The Police Hierarchy
List You'll notice Police Hierarchy is similar to the
Police Priority list but they're not the same.
While Police Priority is concerned with order of
importance, Police Hierarchy deals with rank and authority.
LEARN THEM BOTH if you want to do well on police situation
questions. Plus, it will go a long way in helping you make
good decisions when you become a law enforcement officer.
Here is the most commonly used Police Hierarchy:
1. PROTECTING LIFE AND LIMB IS #1. Always take action first
on those things that pose a threat to someone's safety and
tend to injured people: performing first aid, calling for
an ambulance, etc.
2. Obeying orders in emergency situations is the #2
priority.
Obeying orders should be done at all times. The only
exception is when the order interferes with the protection
of life and limb or violates the law.
3. Protecting property.
4. Obeying orders in non-emergency situations.
5. Maintaining your assigned duties.
6. Being efficient in getting the job done.
7. Avoiding the blame i.e. earning praise and respect.
Using Police Hierarchy and Common-Sense
Situation: You are assigned to a particular area during an
emergency situation and ordered by your supervisor to stay
at this location. But, by leaving this location, you can
help a severely injured person and possibly save that
person's life.
What do you do? You are justified in choosing to leave your
assigned area to help the injured person, even though you
are disobeying the supervisors order -- provided that
leaving your assigned area will not result in other lives
being put in danger or lost.
Always remember protection of life is the #1 priority.
By thinking about the Police Hierarchy and Police
Priorities it will help you "Think Like a Police Officer"
and make answering police situational questions much easier.
Summary
When answering Police Judgment Questions read carefully but
don't read anything into the situation. Think like a COP.
Think about the police priority list. Keep in mind things
like "safety first" and using the least amount of force to
get the job done. And always USE COMMON SENSE.
----------------------------------------------------
Don Cirillo has helped many law enforcement candidates
score high on the Police Entrance Exam. Get the "Police
Exam Digital Manual" at (http://www.police-exam.info). It
includes test questions, written test & interview
strategies, and much more -- everything you need to get the
job! Reach Don at support@cfiweb.com
EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=47864
0 comments
Post a Comment