Petersons a Nelnet Company. - Petersons master the police officer exam

Every town, city, county, and state needs qualified and enthusiastic new police recruits. This book was carefully researched and written to help you navigate the application and screening process. The information provided will prepare you for the written exam, educate you on the physical skills you need, and give you valuable tips to succeed during your interview and psychological screening. To get the most out of this book, take the time to read it carefully and thoroughly.

Once you know what to expect, you will feel confident in your chances of fulfilling your dream of becoming a police officer. You can gain even more confidence by preparing for the written test.

The first step in your preparation is to create a study schedule. Devote a period of time each day to preparing for the police screening process. Choose a quiet, well-lit spot with as few distractions as possible.

• Part I gives an overview of the duties of police officers and the qualifications required. It also gives an overview of the organization and functions within municipal police forces. All of this information will give you a sense of what to expect as a police officer and of the options you may have in the department to which you are assigned. Dont hesitate to underline points that you consider significant or to make notes in the margins. Part I also contains details about each portion of the police officer screening process. This includes information about the written and video-based exams, the oral board interview, the medical exam, the psychological evaluation, the background check, and the physical performance tests. Tips are given to help you understand each step of the process.
• Part II offers comprehensive review material covering the three main types of questions that appear on the written police examination: Practical Judgment, Reading-Based, and Observation and Memory. Many police forces test only in these three areas. The chapters in this part begin with instructions about the topic and the kind of question youll encounter, and they give practical suggestions about how to answer the questions. Read the instructions in each chapter and try the practice questions. Then study the answer explanations. You can learn a great deal from them. Even when you have answered the question correctly, the answer explanation may bring up points that had not occurred to you. This will reinforce your understanding of the questions.
• When you feel that you are well prepared, move on to Part III the Practice Tests. They are sample police examinations and practice exams that were created using questions that have appeared on police exams over the years. We are grateful to the New York Police Department for use of their Test Preparation Kit containing sample exams. Note that many cities have different types of exams; included in this book are samples of various types that you may encounter.