You don’t want to hear an answer where the candidate thinks a 768124064police officer17.49law enforcement8.46police6.93armed security3.95security officer3.6950953549970122000.0070677.37146000.00YEARLY2525763112025-12-012025-12-312025-11-012025-11-302026-01-05police officer job is “cool” or “exciting.” They should give you an honest and well-thought-out answer. The applicant should have a personal history of wanting to help and protect the community. They need to know that police work is more than chasing suspects. Their answer should have a commitment to promoting the image of the department. What to look for in an answer:

• Understanding of the importance of law enforcement
• A reflective and personal answer
• Dedication to helping the community

If you are interviewing an experienced police officer, you want to learn their reasons for leaving the previous position. Your candidate should not be focusing on the negative. They should concentrate on the positive qualities of their former boss and former location. Look for a valid reason for changing jobs. Once again, you want to hear answers about how they have learned from their experiences at the last department. What to look for in an answer:

• Willingness to learn from past experiences
• Truthful and thoughtful answer
• A focus on the positives of the job

This question will give the applicant the chance to reiterate their strengths for the job. These answers should be confident but not boastful. They must provide real-life examples of how they exceeded expectations on the job and touch on past experiences of their police officer career. You want to find a candidate who understands the importance of an officer in the community. What to look for in an answer:

• Experience on the job as an officer
• Ability to work with people with different personalities
• Willingness to learn new procedures and techniques

Every job has its ups and downs, and law enforcement is no exception. You do not want to hear about personal life stories that show an overall dissatisfaction with the candidate’s life. They need to focus on a small mishap that has changed the way they work on the job. Their answer should show they made mistakes and that they used those situations to grow and to improve in their professional life. What to look for in an answer:

• Ability to learn and move on from past mistakes
• Willingness to be self-reflective
• An honest and personal response

A police department is filled with many people from different backgrounds. Your candidate should know how to manage various personalities. It can be difficult to work with some people in the department or on the streets, but they need to maintain a professional image on the job. They should be able to handle interpersonal conflicts. What to look for in an answer:

• Professionalism on the job
• Conflict resolution skills
• Tolerant and patient demeanor

This question addresses the important issue of favoritism and discrimination within the police force. Police officers may have to interact with people they know, like friends and family, during traffic stops and investigations, so it's important for them to understand the ways they can uphold integrity and differentiate between their personal and professional lives. They should also be able to put aside any personal biases when interacting with people different from them. A good answer will include:

• Self-awareness
• Respect for others
• Logical thinking