oral board updates

[T.COTE]

hello all,

Well I got a letter from the dept. that I just had my oral board from. I am no longer being considered. ( ever notice that bad news always comes in a letter and good news comes in a phone call) Anyway, I was discouraged because of something I was told. And my approach in the interview.

One -- What I was told. I was told that the SRO is paid for by federal money. The department was not "diversified" enough, according to the feds to continue recieving that money. So I was out before I even started.

Before anyone goes off thinking I am against women or minorities understand that I am not. I work well along side my sister officers within my reserve position and have many friends of all aspects of life.

The other thing I was upset was with myself. The deputy chief told me first thing into the interview was that he just basically wanted to get to know me. So I was very honest and open about every question. I am always anyway, but we all know how some questions have a preferred response rather than what most of us would probably do.

E.G. ---- If you saw the chief fuelling his personal car at the municipal pump would you take action against him. I said that I would not. ( I think they wanted me to say that I would). My point was that I didn't know for sure if what he was doing was illegal, and the fact that he is the chief. Maybe it is a perk I don't know about.

They also asked if I would help out a friend if he called me in the middle of the night because he went off the road, had been drinking and only did damage to his car and a tree on the side of the road. Would you call the police and tell them to go and investigate before you got their. I said I would go and look first. Again I think they wanted me to say that I would call the police and then go. The fact is We all KNOW that we would try and help our own friend before screwing him over. I did tell the chief that if he had done something illegal that I would ask the other officer to grant any breaks that he may giver anyone elese to him, but ultimatly if he made a mistake he would have to be responsible for it.


I gave real answers, and I don't think it helped me out any. I am quite discouraged because I really wanted that department to work out. What the h#ll are we supposed to say in these oral boards anyway. Seems like you are dammed if you do and dammed if you don't in every situation they throw out at you. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.




T.COTE

[Charlie]

T.COTE-- I've got two responses:

* As far as the oral board goes: Always remember there is NO correct answer and don't tell them what you THINK they want to hear. Carefully listen to the question, take a momment to think about your answer, and try to respond with a well-thought out, common sense & good judgment answer. That, in my opinion, is the best approach you can take. To my knowledge, there is no sure-fire method or approach that is going to promise success. Usually, with most boards, it will seem like no matter what you respond, you'll get the idea that your answer was wrong or, you should have done something else instead.

* How many times have you applied ot this particular department? In most cases, it is COMMON fo rsomeone to apply for a cop job more than one time BEFORE gettin hired. It is possible to get hired after the first try but most likely, you'll have to apply more than once.

Again, there is no guranteed method of passing the oral board. Just be professional. Take a common sense & good judgment approach. Think about your answers momentarily before answering. That, to my knowledge, is all you can do. Course, someone else might have some other ideas but that's how I see it.

Charlie

[Mark]

I think you know what you got to do next time.

[Cpl Mike]

Tough break, but you'll do better next time.My advice-mix the letter of the law type response in with your own opinion of what you would do. if you're opinion doesn't radically conflict the letter of the law or spirit of the law in the question , then you're off and running.Research the current enforcement trends of the agency(ies) you apply for nd you'll get the "big picture" on what they'll ultimately be asking you about(i.e. if the agency is cracking down hard on juvie crime,its a good bet that letting go and warning kids smoking marijuana might not fly in a situational question). Good luck next shot!!
P.S. Have you or anyone heard from Mid Coaster lately?

[T.COTE]

No I haven't heard from midcoaster lately. I do know she was working here in maine this summer. I actually met her at a course we both took in june.

Contact me if you hear from her, thanks

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[Drakor]

Budgets change all the time and if they are restricted by their budget it may take a while to get hired. Good point is you already have the academy out of the way and your on with the reserve unit. Everything helps and normaly if your going before the board and they only have a few paid positions then they are going to meet thye standards that give them the extra federal funding then put more people on the paid status. I know because it happens here all the time with the sheriffs department.
I got hire by them and they wanted to put me in the detention center for a few years before I hit the road. That sounds like what your going thur is similar in where the department places good qualified people when the budget can't warrant what they need. Be patient you will get it. OBTW they know your going to cut you friends some slack. If I saw the chief doing this I wouldn't approach him I 'd ask my supervisor about the fueling policy. Without knowing the policy and how it applies to the chief via department and or P.O.V.S. Or maybe you could walk over and offer the chief some help. You'll know if he doing somethings wrong by his body language. It doesn't hurt either by rubbing elbows with the man who signs the check. ;D

[T.COTE]

Thanks again drakor.

Keep in touch.


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