- Why do you want to be police chief? …
- What would you do if one of your officers committed a crime? …
- How would you describe your management style? …
- What are the typical responsibilities of a police chief? …
- What skills do you anticipate using most in this position?
Top 20 Police Chief Interview Questions and Answers for 2022
What would you do if one of your officers committed a crime?
Employers can ask this question to learn about a candidates ability to navigate potentially challenging situations at work. As a police chief holds a high level of authority in a precinct, they often have to make difficult decisions and feel confident in delegating work and administering discipline when necessary. You can answer this question by briefly describing how you would act in this situation and referencing any specific policies you know.
Example: “I believe that any crime is serious, and I plan to evaluate my officers using the same standards we refer to for the public. Therefore, if I ever became aware of an officer under my command committing a crime, I would report it to the necessary authorities to immediately begin an internal investigation, as per policy.”
Police chief interview questions with sample answers
Here are six interview questions for a police chief with example answers:
1. Why do you want to be police chief?
An interviewer might ask this question to learn about a candidates specific interest in police work and dedication to the field. This can be important, as police chiefs typically need to be passionate about their work, as the job can involve long hours and many job duties. To answer this question, you can offer some insight into your personal connection to law enforcement and your reasons for pursuing this career path.
Example: “I have wanted to be a police chief since I was a child because my father was too, and I always admired him. I grew up being around police officers often, and they always made me feel safe and important to society, so I would like to do the same for others.”
2. What Kind Of Strategies And Mindset Is Required For This Job?
Every job on the planet has certain requirements. This is more of a mental assessment that should be answered wisely.
Tip #1: The strategy and mindset should be role-specific.
Tip #2: Think through your answer
Sample Answer
The police chief should be geared towards solving problems and making the department a conducive place for all. He/ she should strategize on teamwork given the duty at hand.
3. How Do You Stay Motivated At Work?
What keeps you going in your day-to-day activities? The interviewer wants to know where you draw your motivation as you handle your job.
Tip #1: Your motivation should not be money or anything materialistic.
Tip #2: It can be anything personal or a given experience
Sample Answer
I am passionate about what I do. The simple fact that I am putting my life on the line to make society safer for my family and the general public keeps me going.
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4. How would you describe your management style?
A police chief is often the highest level of authority within a precinct. Because of this, interviewers might ask this question to determine how effective a candidate might be at supervising other officers. When answering this question, you can discuss the methods you use while in charge of others and highlight your leadership skills.
Example: “My management style focuses mostly on empowering the people I lead and emphasizing communication. I use this type of style because I feel that people often work best when they feel confident in what theyre doing. Communication is also key for police officers, so I want any officer I lead to know that they can always talk to me or their fellow officers.”
5. What’s Your Take On Recruiting Police Officers?
Remember, being a police chief means that you will be testing, training, and evaluating officers. Therefore, you should always be prepared to handle such a question.
Tip #1: you can mention some of your philosophies
Tip #2: you can mention techniques related to recruitment.
Sample Answer
I believe that when recruiting police officers, there are a few select items that should be assessed. I believe in testing for empathy, integrity, honesty, resilience, and decision making. I also believe that an agency should recruit members that will put the community it serves first.
6. What are the typical responsibilities of a police chief?
An employer can ask this question to determine how familiar a candidate is with the position. This can be helpful for employers of police chiefs, as the job involves specialized duties that a candidate might be able to master more quickly if they’re aware of them. You can answer this question by listing a few job duties that police chiefs usually have.
