What do you think of this answer

[anthony38]

I had an oral board today for another dept. (looking to laterely transfer). They asked me this question;
"your supervisor assignes you to a radar detail in a residential 25 MPH limit road. he says be firm but fair. how would you go about handling this detail?"
I answered,
"I would stop everyone for going 30 and over. I would summons (ticket) everyone I stoped. It is a proven fact that warnings to not help with voluntary complience."
They said,
"Would you summons the mayor? I said Yes. They said how about a fellow officer? I again said yes. How about if it was your mother? I again say yes."
They question me about ticketing all these people but I stick to me guns. Would I really ticket all these people. no. would I really ticket EVERY driver I stoped that day, probably not.
But then they ask,
"Your driving home and look down and notice that your going 15 over the limit. Are you going to ticket yourself?"
So I say,
I have never heard of anyone ever giving themselves a ticket. However if an officer stoped me I would fully expect a ticket."
***
So anyway, what do you all think about the way I answered this? It is the only question I am having second thoughts about. I know I am suposed to stick to my guns. I don't want to tell them what I think they want to hear. But it's tough. Come on who's going to summons their mother? Anyway, let me know what you guys think.

[Ranger337]

I have found that when answering oral board question like this, it is best to ticket/cite everyone to show that you are impartial and fair to all citizens. When I was asked in my first few oral boards if I would cite/arrest my mom/bestfriend/mayor/cheif etc. I answered no, and I faild all of them. Now I am answering I would cite/arrest them and I am passing.

I wouldn't worry too mcuh over your answers. The good thing is that you stuck to your answer and defended them.

Best of luck,
Ranger337

[bigz]

I have to respectfully disagree with ranger on this one. I would have answered no to writing everybody in the first place. The instructions were to be firm but fair. I think the point of this question is to test your views on officer discretion which every agency expects you to use to some degree or another. If you had started out by saying I would warn for a certain speed then you could have justified saying you wouldn't right your mom, the mayor, or another officer. If it was a major violation then I would suggest calling another officer to deal with it because nobody in there right mind is going to write their mother a ticket. I don't think saying you wouldn't write the mayor or other officer just because of who they were would be the right answer, but to say I wouldn't write them because the violation was minor and that falls under my discretion just like it does with other citizens might have been a good answer. This is just my opinion and different departments are looking for different things.


Z

[Surlyfritz209]

anthony38, what department are you looking to go to?

[nsedet]

anthony38,

What's the basis for saying that "it's a proven fact that warnings do not help with voluntary compliance"?

On discretion: why would you cite everyone you stopped? Forget the mayor/other officer/mother alternatives, what about a stop on some hurried mother with her kid in the car, going 30 in your 25 mph zone? Would you cite her, and have her drive off badmouthing the police to her kid, or would you maybe give her a warning and maybe provide the kid with a positive view of police? Having said you would cite everyone, I think your answer was fine...mind you, I would not have passed you if I was on the board, based on your answer that you would cite your own mother...why? Because it gives me the impression that (1) you only see things in black and white, without using discretion, or (2) you are just saying what you think the board wants to hear. MIND YOU, agencies have their own opinions, policies, and priorities, so I think their reaction depends on those factors. Also, the board gets to evaluate your answers in the context of everything you have said, your body language and demeanor, and your background, which allows them to better judge your response.

[Housecop]

Outside of some serious infraction, DUI, reckless etc.., I wouldn't ticket my mother or father. I was asked that question on a panel and I responded that way. I was hired so it can't be too far off. If I were to ticket my mother for 30 in a 25 I would soon find her shoe placed so far up my rear end I could tie her laces through my mouth. As for a fellow officer I told them basicaly I would do the same as I would with my parents.

Now if it was my sister, I would ticket her for 26 in a 25, but thats a different story.:mad:

[DelC]

Relax; I think your answer was acceptable. However, I would have said, I would give warnings for 5 over and citations for 8 over. And, yes I think they would rather hear someone say they would give everyone a ticket, rather than excluding certain people based on their status.

Have you every worked with anyone that would give their mother a ticket? I have, what a jerk-off!!

[gibby11]

I could not "coupon" my mom.... that is just crazy! lol

[Ranger337]

Don't get me wrong on my earlier post. Off the record I would never (barring a DUI, or a gross violation) cite my mom, or my best friend. Well I wouldn't do it, I would summons a fellow officer to handle the situation if it were a major violation. I wouldn't cite my cheif of police,or the mayor of my city that would be like committing career sucide. (Once again unless it was a gross violation)

For the record I would do as my cheif told me to do. I agree in part to Anthony's answer to cite people that were going over a certian speed, but I would use a little discretion in each situation.

But also remember this is an oral board question, one of the things they are looking for is impartiality, and to see if you can use a little discretion.

What do you think?

Ranger337

[Midtncop]

I have been on the interview side of the oral boards several times. The correct answer in my part of the country is "no" to the mom, to the fellow officer, and to the Mayor. We know that no normal person is going to ticket thier own mother. I would have scored you low for being untruthful. The people on this thread are way to serious about this ticket writing buisness. Next time you want the Chief to cut you some slack on something minor maybe you could make his Job a little eaisier by not writing the Mayor!

[Bravo8]

Besides, what if your mother pled not guilty? I know my Magistrate would laugh his ass off at me, probably lose all respect for me, and then throw my sorry ass in jail...lol.

[five-oh]

How about your mother-in-law? I wouldn't write mine...but I'd buy you lunch if you wrote her!!!