The Police Promotional Oral Interview: Pieces of a Model Response

A very effective way to develop a winning answer is to break it up into pieces. This not only makes it easier to remember, but also ensures that the content has the proper depth. These radical responses help distinguish between the average and the amazing. The following is a sample answer on ethics and is divided into five simple parts.

THE HOOK:

(Grabs the panel’s attention; a single start to an answer)

“Ethics encompasses correct and good behavior and, as the foundation of our integrity, principles and values, I personally see ethics as a key component of police professionalism.

THE NUCLEUS:

(The main body of the response; define and describe the necessary information)

Ethics is made up of a combination of both personal and professional standards. These standards consist of morals, values, honesty, integrity, courage, principles, character, and honor. It is these standards or the lack of them that allow officers, through their decisions and behavior, to be very successful or fail. A common by-product of strong ethical standards is great leadership. As a supervisor, my ethical standards will be closely observed and modeled. My goal as a supervisor is to ensure that, through my standards, my actions are synonymous – integrated – with those of my organization and as a leader, will engender these same qualities and successes for those under my command.

PRAYER OF ATTENTION:

(It draws the full focus of the panel to what you are about to say next)

As lieutenants, I am sure you will agree that …

DERIVATION:

(Expands your answer; brings collateral problems; represents seeing the bigger picture)

Supervisors who maintain and model strong ethics will serve to decrease mediocrity while increasing performance. Part of the value of my supervision will be in my ability to transform the concept of ethics into reality and to train my officers to make great decisions. By doing this, my actions will help protect my officers from internal or external complaints, enhance their professional image in public perception, and protect my organization from exposure to potential liability.

CLOSURE:

(Avoid an abrupt stop; provide a smooth transition at the end of your answer)

Finally, having learned many lessons from the last fifteen years, perhaps one of the most difficult periods for law enforcement in recent history, ethics has never been as critical as it is today and will always be at the center of my leadership. “.

This answer is 261 words long and would take 60-90 seconds to present. Compare this answer to your competencies, most of which generally start and end your answer with just the middle part of the answer shown above. The difference, especially when expressed verbally, is like night and day. Taste good!