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Police Officer Jobs - How To Get Hired Faster
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When you made your decision to
become a police officer, you made
a decision to change your life. And
when you turned in your
application, you took your first step
in a grueling process towards
achieving your goal.
Next in the gauntlet: the police
written test.
The first hurtle. The first cold
sweat in a long line of cold sweats.
Now's the time to untie the knot in
your stomach and re-tighten your
guts to prepare for the first punch
of reality-you're actually on your
way to becoming a police officer.
Whether you hate tests or you ace
tests to draw a bead on living your
life behind a badge, you need to
turn your mind into a diamond-dust
whet stone and hone your wits
razor-sharp. Your goal in the written test, your first step towards your badge, is
simple and single-minded: get the highest scores possible for the highest
ranking possible on the eligibility list. You don't just want to get on the list, you
want to be in the top five-better yet, you want to be the first name on the list.
How can you do this?
Like we said, simply and single-mindedly. Prepare yourself by informing yourself. Arm yourself with hard facts
about the test-which are yours for the asking from the recruiter, the department's HR section, or the department
website. Identify your weakest areas on the test and reinforce your abilities in that area. Review spelling rules,
pick up a 30-days to improve your vocabulary book at the library-and a high school level math book while
you're at it. Then find a quiet spot with no distractions-like the library, you're already there, right? And study.
If you don't read regularly start doing so now. Get a newspaper and read it, then read it out loud, then read it to
someone else-then discuss what you've read and practice being a comprehensive reader. Have someone quiz
you on articles, ads that were on the same page, the page number the article was on, what other articles are on
the same page and anything else they can think of to test your memory and understanding.
Teach yourself to be ferociously observant, yet careful with your assumptions. Practice observing people,
vehicles and places-memorize descriptions, then check what you think you saw for accuracy.
If you haven't gone on a ride along yet, schedule one today! And when you slide inside that squad car forget
every daydream or pre-conceived idea you ever had about police officers and police work-wipe your mind clean
and focus on every action that officer makes. Your prime objective is to learn about the 'why' that is the basis
for an officer reactions, actions and decisions. What observations are important to their work? Ask questions,
take notes-throw yourself into the experience wholeheartedly and you'll walk away with a little piece of a badge
attached.
The written test evaluates you on several areas of common knowledge-that's what the math, spelling and
vocabulary books were for but there are other areas that test your range and use of common sense
knowledge. These areas blend judgment skills, memory and observation skills and the simple ability to know left
from right into complex questions that evaluate how you react and why.
And you want to react for the same 'why' as any police officer-right?
Take a look at the practice questions below for a taste of the test to come.
Use good judgment and common sense, as well as the information provided in the question, to answer the
following questions.
1. Officer Bettis has arrived at the scene of a family disturbance. Two other officers are in the front yard of the
residence, fighting with family members. Officer Bettis pulls out his departmentally approved nightstick and runs
up to help one of the officers. A woman steps up and swings a broken beer bottle at Officer Bettis's head. What
should he do next?
A. Try to snatch the beer bottle out of her hand and hope he doesn't get cut.
B. Strike her in a departmentally approved target area so she will drop the bottle.
C. Immediately call for more backup.
D. Dodge her blows and continue on to help the officer being attacked.
Explanation:
The correct answer is B. Police officers are required to subdue combative suspects as quickly and safely as
possible. If Officer Bettis is in a situation where the nightstick is an approved weapon and he or other officers
are in physical danger, he should use his nightstick. The situation does not change because the attacker is
female. No other option is safe or feasible.
Officers who use pepper spray to disperse a crowd should do the following:
1. Warn other officers that pepper spray is about to be deployed.
2. Order the crowd to disperse.
3. Take a position upwind of the crowd.
4. Direct the spray into the crowd while continuing to order them to disperse.
5. Provide first aid to anyone who is overcome by the spray.
2. Officers Brady, Dion, and Rodriguez are called to the scene of a large fight in front of Omar's Grill. When
they arrive, they see around 15 adult males bunched up in the parking lot punching each other. Officer Dion
pulls out his canister of pepper spray. What should he do next?
A. Order the crowd to stop fighting.
B. Warn the other two officers that he's about to spray the crowd.
C. Warn the crowd that he has pepper spray.
D. Stand downwind of the crowd before spraying.
Explanation:
The correct answer is B. According to step 1 in the procedure, the officer should warn the other officers before
he takes further action. The officer does want the crowd to stop fighting and will order them to do so, but choice
A is step 2. Choice C is not listed as a step, and choice D is not a good answer because the officer will always
want to be upwind of pepper spray, not downwind.
3. Officers Perez and Navarro arrive at City Hall to find a mob rocking Mayor Dickson's car back and forth in the
street. Officer Navarro shouts to Officer Perez that he is going to use his pepper spray. What should he do
next?
A. Stand downwind of the crowd.
B. Shout to the crowd to disperse.
C. Warn the crowd that pepper spray is about to be deployed.
D. Stand upwind of the crowd before using the spray.
Explanation:
The correct answer is B. The officer has already taken step 1, having warned his partner that he is about to
use the spray. Step 2 is to order the crowd to disperse.
So, how did you do? Did any of the answers surprise you? Did you learn anything?
Practice questions are extremely useful in your preparation for the written test, not only for becoming
accustomed to a police mind set, but also for becoming accustomed to reading a situation carefully and
completely in order to make the best decision for action.
What you face in the written test is an evaluation of your approach to life and your ability to repeatedly and
consistently handle critical incidents within highly regulated parameters. You are being evaluated on
dependability of effort and thought, adaptability of action, reliability of reaction and durability of
decision-making. You are being tested to find out if you possess the unique combination of components that will
allow you not only to withstand the rigors of police work, but to thrive and excel as a police officer.
Take a stand for your dream. Make a pledge to succeed. Arm yourself for victory.
This is about your life. This is about your decision to make your dream a reality. You can win through this
challenge because you are well-prepared, primed for pursuit and your sights are firmly fixed on your target-the
top of the eligibility list and first shot at the door to your dream.


How to complete your application
form correctly the FIRST time —
so that it's 100% acceptable and
gets YOU into the first phase of
testing without question.
Sure fire ways to give a lasting
first impression so you can be
sure your Recruiter will move
YOUR application to the top of the
pile over everyone else's.
How to research which Police
Departments are hiring Officers
RIGHT NOW — and where to get
that crucial information that will
demonstrate you've done your
homework and score major points.
More than 290 practice exam
questions based on real exams
used by police agencies
throughout the country with
instruction and detailed answer
explanations for fast, focused
learning — so you'll know
EXACTLY what to expect on your
police exam instead of guessing
and hoping you've studied the right
things.
How to track your progress when
applying to different departments.
The key websites that will fast
track your success.
Should you submit a resume? You
will discover the answer.
What additional documents do
you need to submit when you apply.
How to find out what is actually on
the written test.
The nine types of questions you
will have to answer on the written
test.
How to establish a 'winner takes
all' study program.
How commonly misspelled words
could eliminate you.
How to handle difficult questions
found on multiple choice, essay,
true/false and fill in the blank
questions.
Articles - by Sergeant George Godoy (Ret.)
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to secure a top score on ANY Police Exam
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Police Recruitment Specialist
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The one specific mystery "thing"
that makes up 80% of ALL police
work that departments are quietly
watching to see if you can handle
— I'll tell you what it is so you won't
be left in the dark.
The three questions you must
answer before applying to a Police
Department.
"In this series of EIGHT detailed videos that you
can access online at any time, and in any order
you choose as many times as you like, I'll give
you one-on-one personal instruction that will
visually guide you through...
George Godoy...
Online Video Learning Systems
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