Does anyone have any advice for succeeding at a police supervisor oral board?  What worked for you?  How did you prepare? Any external resources available?

There was no preparation for ours in any practical sense.

It was mostly scenario based with you having to give a detailed explanation add to what you would do as a supervisor. If you didn't say it you didn't do it and got no points.

My only suggestion is to listen carefully, don't rush to answer and try to appear articulate and confident.

One model that is useful for answering interview questions is the PREP model.

P-Position-State your position.
R-Reason-Give your reasons.
E-Example-Give an example or story. It is good to use a personal example or example affecting your department.
P-Position-State your position (again)

Practice this model, even is just a response you take to a scenario in the media.

One of the most beneficial exercises you can do is to record yourself answering questions you may see in the interview. Have someone else review it with you and look for body language, clear pronunciation, proper voice levels, and of course the content in your response.

The reality is some very good candidates get passed up by others who aren't as qualified because some have poor communication skills.

This. If you have been a cop for more that a few years most of the questions are gonna be pretty easy to answer. The difficult ones will deal with discipline etc of a subordinate, because you havent had to do anything like that. Use your common sense and you should be fine.

Make sure that you know policy etc in and out as all that stuff comes into play with your answers.

J-

There will always be:

1.  Personnel question - Poor Performance / Drug alcohol / DV type question


2.  Critical Incident - OIS / Collision involving officer / Major incident requiring multiple jurisdictions.  


3.  What have you done to prepare for the position of Sergeant?   You need to have this question memorized or planned out very well, and keep it around 10 minutes.  Education/Training/Experience.  All of it must tie into the job description/KSA of Sergeant.  They dont care what you have done as an officer, they want to know what you have done as an acting sergeant, peer support, leader.


4.  Have a closing ready.  Your reason for becoming a Supervisor, your leadership values, Etc.  



Know your policies and procedures.  While you need those for the written test, you will also need them for the above.  I did flow charts for critical incidents, since they are similar in how they need to be approached.  


Sergeant is the best move I could have made.  I love it.  

<Removed - please consult The Shift Briefing Sticky at the top of the forum for the conduct rules that apply here. Thanks.>

  This is not GD, GTFO

but he's gotta get his 14'er post count up, lmao.

J-