McGraw-Hill’s Police Officer Exams

Contents

PART I: ALL ABOUT POLICE WORK

1. Understanding the Role of the Police Officer

Overview of Police Departments

• Federal Law Enforcement Agencies

• State Law Enforcement Agencies

• County Law Enforcement Agencies

• Municipal Law Enforcement Agencies

Police Activities

Structure of Police Departments

• Big City Police Departments

• Small Community Police Departments

2. Police Careers and Opportunities

Why Become a Police Officer?

Duties of a Police Officer

Opportunities for Women and Minorities

Affirmative Action/EEOC

Assignments for Police Officers

• Automobile Patrol

• Foot Patrol

• Traffic Officer

• Bicycle Patrol

• Motorcycle Patrol

• Horse Patrol

• Marine Patrol

• Aircraft Patrol

• Juvenile Officer

• Canine Officer

• Crime Scene Investigator

• Crime Prevention Officer

• Community Policing Officer

• Hostage Negotiations Teams

• Bomb Squad Officers

• Warrant Officers

• Airport Police

• Housing Police

• Port Authority Police

• Transit Police

PART II: BECOMING A POLICE OFFICER

3. Qualifications and Opportunities for Police Officers

General Requirements

Notice for Examinations

Probation Period

Opportunities for Promotion

4. The Screening Process

5. Understanding the Written Exam

Preparing to Take the Written Law Enforcement Exam

General Tips for Taking Examinations

Ability Areas and Associated Testing Formats

• Memorization

• Visualization

• Spatial Orientation

• Verbal or Written Expression

Vocabulary terms

Grammar/Sentence Structure/Spelling

Ability to Provide Information Clearly and Concisely

Investigative Report Writing

• Verbal, Reading, or Written Comprehension

Applying Learned Information

Understanding Information

• Problem Sensitivity

Following a Procedure or Directions

Eyewitness Descriptions

• Mathematics

• Deductive Reasoning

Applying Verbal Rules/Procedures

Applying Quantitative Rules

Interpreting Laws

• Inductive Reasoning

• Information Ordering

6. Understanding the Video and Essay Exams

• Essay Exams

7. Police Training

State Requirements

Training Subjects

Conduct and Behavior

PART III: PRACTICE LAW ENFORCEMENT TESTS

Practice Test 1: Similar to the Seattle, Washington, Law Enforcement Exam

Pretest Materials

Ability to Observe and Recall

Ability to Observe and Report Information

Ability to Write Reports and Complete Forms

Applying Learned Material

Maps and Spatial Reasoning

Grammar and Usage

Practice Test 2: Similar to the State of Massachusetts and San Antonio, Texas, Law Enforcement Exams

Practice Test 3: Similar to the New York City Law Enforcement Exam

Practice Test 4: Similar to the Denver, Colorado, Law Enforcement Exam

Appendix: Internet Links for Police Information by State