Police Officer Interview Questions

The goal for a successful interview for a Police Officer is to demonstrate their knowledge and experience in law enforcement, showcase their ability to make good judgment calls in stressful situations, and exhibit strong communication and problem-solving skills.

Situational interview questions

• You and your partner respond to a domestic dispute call, and upon arriving at the scene, you find two highly aggressive individuals engaging in a physical altercation. How would you de-escalate the situation and ensure the safety of those involved and that of the public?
• You receive a report of a suspected bomb threat at a local school. Upon arriving at the scene, you determine that the threat may be legitimate, and the school needs to be evacuated immediately. What steps would you take to ensure the safety of students and staff and maintain order during the evacuation process?
• You are on patrol when someone reports witnessing a hit-and-run incident. The only information provided by the witness is the make and model of the suspect vehicle. How would you go about locating the suspect and ensuring they are brought to justice?
• You are dispatched to a burglary in progress at a local store. Upon arriving, you discover that the suspect is still inside the building. How would you go about apprehending the suspect while not endangering yourself or bystanders?
• You’re on routine patrol when you come upon a serious car accident. You’re the first officer on the scene; both drivers and a passenger are injured, and the cars are obstructing traffic. How would you quickly assess the situation and take appropriate steps to ensure the safety of those involved and manage incoming traffic?

Soft skills interview questions

• How do you handle high-stress situations and maintain composure?
• Can you describe a time when you had to effectively communicate with someone who was upset or agitated?
• How do you handle conflicts or disagreements with colleagues or members of the community?
• Give an example of how you have demonstrated empathy and understanding towards someone in a difficult situation.
• Can you describe a time when you had to use your problem-solving skills to resolve an issue in the workplace?

Role-specific interview questions

• What strategies have you employed in effectively managing and resolving conflicts when on-duty?
• Describe your experience working with various technologies that are commonly used in law enforcement, particularly those related to surveillance and data analysis.
• How have you handled situations where you were required to work with limited resources or faced unique challenges that impacted your effectiveness in a given situation?
• What strategies do you use to maintain focus and remain professional when working under high-pressure and stressful situations?
• How proficient are you in applying the principles of criminal justice and law enforcement regulations and statutes, particularly in relation to the handling of evidence, crime scene analysis, and investigative work?

STAR interview questions

1. Can you give an example of a challenging situation you faced as a police officer? What was your task and what actions did you take to address the situation? What were the results of your actions?

2. Describe a time when you had to diffuse a potentially dangerous situation as a police officer. What was your task and what actions did you take to ensure the safety of everyone involved? What were the results of your actions?

3. Have you ever encountered a difficult suspect or witness during an investigation? What was your task in that situation and how did you handle the interaction? What were the results of your approach?

4. Can you provide an example of a time when you had to use your problem-solving skills as a police officer? What was the situation and what actions did you take to solve the problem? What were the results of your actions?

5. Tell me about a time when you had to work under pressure as a police officer. What task did you have to complete and how did you approach the situation? What were the results of your actions under pressure?