Thread: Detective/Investigator Promotional Test Study Materials

I cannot seem to find and study materials specifically for detective or investigator promotional tests.

Any suggestions?

Originally Posted by beeker

I cannot seem to find and study materials specifically for detective or investigator promotional tests.

Any suggestions?

Other than the usual tips... (Dress to impress, be well rested, eye contact, sitting up straight, etc)... Each Detective or Investigator *PROMOTIONAL* test is going to rely heavily on knowing the promoting agencies policies, procedures, state and federal law and your personal history on what you've done for the agency.

Hard to really give you any definite study tips, other than to know what your local laws are, specifically search, seizure, search warrants, obtaining statements within and outside of Miranda, etc.

To *PROMOTE* it sounds like you'd already be in an officer position or support position prior to being promoted. The testing I took when I promoted to Detective was related to scenario questions. What would I do in a specific situation, or how would I proceed with an investigation. Also legal questions pertaining to how I could question a subject in/out of custody. How I would obtain a search or arrest warrant, etc.

One of the best things I ever did was sit down with a current detective and bounce questions off of him. I asked for advice on what I should try to get up to speed on. The case load, the other details of what was happening in the unit. It really helped get an idea of what I was getting myself into. So when they ask (if they ask it) what have you done to prepare for this interview, or what do you know about the positions, or why are you best qualified for it, you can speak with authority. Nothing looks worse than applying for a job or promotion that you appear to know nothing about.

The guy gal that comes in who has done the research relays they're serious about the job and have taken the time to prep themselves for the interview is the one that people on the panel tend to remember. The guy/gal that just flops down in the chair and seems like they're applying for no other reason to apply (or worse yet to simply get a pay raise, or get off patrol or your current assignment) isn't someone they usually look to interested in...

Sat on an oral once for entry level police officers. One of the questions was... "Tell us what you know about the city and the police department". Most didn't have much to say about either. Most knew the name of the Chief of Police, some knew the name of the mayor, but not much else. It was *VERY* clear the majority of folks we were interviewing were simply applying to the department as they were hiring. It's no secret we've (most of us) all thrown a lot of apps out there hoping to get picked up somewhere. I honestly couldn't point to some cities I applied for on a map until I looked up the directions for my own interview... One guy came to the interview and answered the question so impressively we all admitted he knew more about the city than we did. He named the mayor, council members, population, area (size) of the city, demographics, industry, as well as future planned expansions and annexations. As for the police department, he knew the Chief and all the command staff names. The different specialized units, the number of officers, the patrol shifts, etc, etc.

He walked out of the interview and we couldn't help but score him high just based on the comparison of those that didn't seem to know much about the city at all. Would he be a better officer than the other applicants? Who knows.... He did impress with his knowledge and the fact he actually took the time to prepare himself for the interview. Made it seem like he really wanted to work there and took the time to market himself. Same thing with detectives/investigator interviews. Don't be that guy/gal that looks like they threw in an application just to see what would happen...

Kahuna

You may also want to find out what examination the department uses. There are a number of standardized tests by test writing companies or the department may use a customized variation. Knowing who prepared the test, you can always google the company to see if they have examples or prep guides.

Thanks for the advice, especially about researching the test prep company.

I am looking specifically for information about the written tests that may be administered for an Investigator/Detective position, and materials to support studying for the test.

Anyone have any experience using a FOIA request for obtaining past tests?

Straight up, if you were to FOIA a past test and the agency was dumb enough not to have covered it with an exemption (where FOIA exists there are often "process instrument" type exemptions), you should plan on not being selected.

In my agency, the number one thing that trips people up on the detective process is the 6th ammendment. We do not have a written test for detective, but we do have a chain of command interview. If you know the law regarding the 4th, 5th, and 6th ammendments and can discuss it with some degree of intelligence, you are way ahead of the pack.