Knowing what motivates a candidate is a very good indicator of the kind of employee they will be. If someone responds thoughtlessly or with a trite answer, you can expect their work ethic will be equally vapid. A qualified candidate will offer a well-thought-out and substantial answer that highlights their history with law enforcement.

What to look for in an answer:

• A meaningful appreciation for law enforcement
• Law enforcement experience
• A realistic perspective on what it means to be a cop

It’s important to know that this person has respect for their superiors. A qualified candidate knows better than to badmouth their old boss during an interview. An unqualified candidate, however, will go right ahead and say whatever’s on their mind.

What to look for in an answer:

• Respect for their previous chief
• A positive attitude towards their previous boss
• An intelligent and thoughtful response

When it comes to interviewing for an open police officer position, the ethics of each applicant are as important as their skills and experience. An ethics question like this will help you to determine their moral compass, their honesty and how well they would keep the best interests of the department at heart.

What to look for in an answer:

• Willingness to report criminal activity to superiors
• Respect for following established protocol
• Readiness to act in the best interest of the department

By asking this question, you can weed out the qualified applicants who have actually done their research and are serious about working at your agency. A qualified applicant will have done some research and will be able to tell you why your agency is worth their application.

What to look for in an answer:

• A focus on the agency, not on themselves
• Awareness of the agency’s mission
• Knowledge about your agency’s accomplishments in the community

A qualified candidate should have good writing skills and be able to communicate effectively through the written word or at least have the willingness to learn and practice how to do so. This question will give you an idea of where an applicant currently stands with their writing ability and how well they’d be able to fulfill the crucial requirement.

What to look for in an answer:

• Strong writing skills or honesty about lack thereof
• Willingness to practice and strengthen writing skills
• Understanding that writing reports is a major part of policing

Police officers have unpredictable job environments and respond to high-stress situations from car accidents or domestic disputes to armed robberies or even homicides. For this reason, police officers need to have the right personality and methods to handle such situations. This question allows interviewers to gauge a candidate's ability to adapt to different situations while maintaining a rational mindset.

A candidate's answer should emphasize:

• Relevant experiences
• Leadership capabilities
• Use of calming techniques

Here is one example of a quality candidate answer: