Oral Review

[Chris77]

I'm new to this forum, actually new to forums all together (this is my first post ;D ), so I just wanted to give a quick summary of my situation and ask a few questions. I have applied to 2 departments and passed the written test for both. I have a physical test scheduled for 11/9/02 for one department and have already passed the physical for the other. I moved on to the oral review for that department on 10/2/02 but haven't heard anything back yet. Is that normal? Should I call them to check on my status or would that make me look too eager? Also, I was a little nervous during the interview and feel like I answered some questions incorrectly. I was wondering if anyone could give me some feedback or some tips so that I can be more prepared for my next oral review.

These particular questions and the answers I gave to them are still bugging me because I know I could have done much better if I wouldn't have been so nervous.

1. If your supervisor asked you to do something illegal, such as slashing the tires of a car owned by a known drug dealer, what would you do?

I said that I wouldn't do it. They said but he is your supervisor you have to do what he says. So I said that I would talk to another supervisor.

2. You and your partner were called to search a building because an alarm was tripped. During the search you see your partner steal some batteries for his flashlight. What would you do?

My brain was still stuck on the supervisor question so the first thing I said was that I would talk to a supervisor about it when I had a chance. They said “Wouldn’t you want to talk to your partner first?” I said “Well, yes, I guess I would want to give him the chance to correct the problem himself without having to get anyone else involved.”<br>
3. Then they asked me the usual question about being off duty and seeing a crime in progress. I said that I understand that you are always a cop 24x7 and that you need to respond as a cop would. Then they said would you place the guy under arrest and I said “Of course”. Then they got me with this. “So you would arrest a shoplifter in the mall while you were off duty but you wouldn’t arrest a police officer who shoplifted while you were on duty?”<br>
I didn’t know what to say. I thought for a moment and then said “I would hope that the officer would know better and I would want to give him the chance to correct himself and put the merchandise back.” They said “Then do you believe that extenuating circumstances affect enforcement of the law?” I said “In theory breaking the law is breaking the law no matter who you are or what the circumstances are but I understand that in real life that doesn’t always apply”<br>
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated and I apologize for the long post.

[JimCMR]

Chris;

As a rule, no news is good news. A Board will usually try to notify a dropped candidate as soon as possible.

So if you haven't been notified of anything, just sit tight, these things take time.

The old saying is that there are no "wrong" answers in an oral interview, the Board just wants to see your thought processes, and try the "trip up" type of questions. IMHO you did OK with your answers, so don't get too worried.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

JimCMR

[Drakor]

Depending on the number of applicants they have, your a borderline maybe. They haven't contacted you because they want to see what the other applicants have to offer. Be patient, they will contact you fortunately messing up the oral won't get you disqualified only delayed. Also be careful because most departments don't want you saying anything to anybody for at least 2 months after you oral board.
Look at it like this it was a trial run for you next application and most people don't get hired the first time.
As for your questions I don't know the policy or have been properly trained on what to do as far as dealing with narcotics. I would question your supervisors motive for slashing the drug dealers tires. If he can't move his car he can't move his product and maybe this will make him mad enough to do something stupid. My gut instint is to follow orders.
I would talk to my partner, maybe his flashlight just died and to be safe he aquired the necessary tools to be safe. I would ask him your going to put that in your report right because I'm going to put it in mine.
Your right you are a policeman 24/7. There are time when you must use the gray area of the law when enforcing it and use what you have at your disposal. It's call acceptable lost. You must report these things. Like commandering a car to pursue. Anywhere else it's called carjacking....Good Luck K.U.P.

[Chris77]

Thanks for the feedback. The no news is good news comment from JimCMR made me feel better until I got home yesterday and checked my mail. I had a nice little rejection letter waiting for me . Is that ironic or what? I am glad though that Drakor let me know that most people don’t get hired the first time they apply. That kept me from being too disappointed. I have learned a lot from this that I can take with me to my next oral review. I’m really glad that I found this website. I’ll keep you updated on my progress.

[Drakor]

Chris, take this as a learning lesson and remember the questions they asked so you know how to answer them on the next oral. Mainly they want to see how you would deal with each situation and whether or now you will get frustrated easy or not. I wouldn't worry about this one and if it means that much to you reapply.
It does happen and it sometimes takes years but if its worth anything to you then you'll keep on keeping on until it's reality. Good Luck K.U.P.

[Jon]

Just dont give up! I was finally picked up by a local sheriff's dept about 6 months ago... all oral review boards are different. If you made it to the interview of a large dept. that shows they have an interest. Keep the questions they asked you in mind in case you need to practice for another interview. The board that hired me did not ask me the questions that I had prepared myself for. Just be honest... be yourself tell them what you really think, not what you think they wanna hear. AND what I found to be most important.... ASK QUESTIONS!!!

[T.COTE]

Chris77

I have been to quite a few boards now. I am a reserve officer, but still looking to be taken on full time somewhere. I was on duty this summer when a state trooper pulled up and we started talking. I asked him about the hiring process and he tried to wrap up the oral boards in a nut shell so to speak.

You don't steal and you don't let anyone else either.

You don't lie, and you don't let anyone else.

You use your gun if you absolutly have to and yes it is within you to take a human life if need be. (even a child)

I'm not saying this is the end all be all, but it does kind of funnel you down the right road. I would also be interested in what other members of the board have to say about this advice.

My own is this. Take a minute to answer, don't get flustered, and remember that totality of the circumstances is everything.

Good luck.

any comments are welcome.

T.COTE

[Chris77]

Thanks for all the advice and support. I really appreciate it. I'll keep you all updated on my progress. Like I said earlier I have a physical fitness test with another department in a couple of weeks. I have been working out and am fully prepared for it so hopefully I'll have another oral review to go to in the next few months. I went into the first one blind and apparently I didn't do too bad so hopefully with that experience and your advice I'll do much better on the next one. I feel a lot more confident now.

[TEJ1956]

Chris

Like the old sayin goes, "Practice makes perfect." I just retired from the US Army with 20 years and at 46 decided I wanted to be a cop. I am now into my 8th week of FTO. So as not to repeat myself I refer you to a couple of posts I made over the last year to this site. Just scan back through the pages and read my posts. I think I answer a few of your questions there. As I said I am in FTO and should be on the road on my own in 6 weeks. I got hired 16 April after trying since January. What I did to prepare was to apply to another local department, it was a suburb of Nashville, and got through all their tests. Then when my tests came up for my home town, Clarksville, I had already done everything, a practice so to speak. I don't mean to just waste the other departments time, I was really serious about working there, the department really impressed me, the final straw was the 50 minute drive everyday into the big city traffic that decided for me. I graduated from the TN Law Enforcement Academy in June and I have been on the road with an FTO(Field Training Officer) since Sept. If you have any personal questions send my a personal email. I will also explain some other problems I just don't want to boardcast here. And even though the board got you this time, you'll know how to handle yourself next time. Review my oral board questions post from about march.

The thing about your partner, he is your partner. You need to have a honest direct relationship with him. When he did that you needed to approach him and make him return the batteries. If he did okay, make him aware you won't tolerate it again and it could mean his job. About the supervisor and slashing the tires. A definite no and if he/she insists then go to the next person in the chain of command. And go from there.

Good luck to you. Sorry about the length I am long winded most of the time.

Officer T. Johnson Clarksville PD

[TEJ1956]

Chris

One other note, the off duty question is easy also. Many many police officers get killed every year off duty because they forget they just can't do the things they do on duty off duty. You may or may not have your radio for back up, I don't wear my vest off duty (religiously on duty) and I normally don't carry my weapon off duty. I can just tell you what I have been taught here, when off duty be a GOOD witness. Gather what information you can and let the on duty officers handle it. Off duty is off duty. There are situations were you must use your judgement, life or death, but law enforcement has so many of those situations it is impossible to discuss them here.

Finally about the board, guess what? After you get on you then have what my department calls a 10 month review. In my department, 10 months after you get hired you have another written test, another oral board and another pt test. And from what I hear these tests and boards are even rougher.

Questions like,

What is the departments pursuit policy and what are the 11 criteria?
What are the 8 reasons to no issue a misdemeanor citation?

My ten month review is Feb 2003 and I have started preparing already.

TJ