NCJ Number
53321
Date Published
1977
Length
40 pages
Annotation
GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICER APPLICANTS ARE PRESENTED IN THIS MANUAL PREPARED FOR THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.
Abstract
THE RECOMMENDED EVALUATION PROCEDURE CONSISTS PRIMARILY OF A STRUCTURED INTERVIEW. THIS TYPE OF INTERVIEW REQUIRES THAT THE INTERVIEW PANEL ADHERE TO THE SAME GENERAL FORMAT WITH ALL APPLICANTS. THERE ARE TWO VARIATIONS OF THE INTERVIEW PROCEDURE DESCRIBED IN THE MANUAL: (1) INTERVIEW OCCURS AFTER BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION; AND (2) INTERVIEW OCCURS BEFORE BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION. WHILE GREATER DEPTH OF INFORMATION IS PROVIDED BY THE FIRST VARIATION, IT MAY BE IMPRACTICAL FOR AN AGENCY FACED WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS. IN THE SECOND VARIATION, WRITTEN FACTUAL DESCRIPTIONS OF APPLICANT PERSONAL HISTORIES BECOME THE STARTING POINT OF THE EMPLOYMENT INTERVIEW. CRITERIA BY WHICH AN INTERVIEWER JUDGES A CANDIDATE INCLUDED APPEARANCE, DEPENDABILITY, INITIATIVE, SITUATIONAL REASONING ABILITY, INTERPERSONAL SKILLS, AND ORAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS. THE MANUAL CONTAINS AN INTERVIEW FLOWCHART, PREINTERVIEW OBJECTIVES, AN INTERVIEW GUIDE, AN INTERVIEW SUMMARY FORM FOR POLICE OFFICERS, AN EXAMPLE OF PREINTERVIEW WORK, INTERVIEW OBJECTIVES, SAMPLE SITUATIONAL REASONING QUESTIONS, A SAMPLE INTERVIEW SUMMARY FORM, RATING PROCEDURE OBJECTIVES, RATING SCALES, RATING SCALE DIMENSIONS, AND CRITERIA FOR FAILURE. (DEP)