If you want to become a cop for the Philadelphia Police Department, there are some exams you’ll be required to pass first. Becoming a police officer is not like a traditional job search where you fill out an application, you are then interviewed, and later told if you are hired or not. In contrast, the process to become a police officer takes months and sometime even years if you fail some of the exams, but the pay off is worth it.
Here are some of the steps you’ll have to go through in order to work for the city of Philadelphia. There’s the background check, medical evaluation, Police Written Exam, physical fitness test, psychological evaluation, drug screening test, and the all important oral board interview.
Today I’m going to discuss the Police Entrance Exam. I’ll be the first one to tell you the police exam is not a breeze in the park, especially at PPD. In fact, the police entrance exam is as tough as it gets. That’s why I’ve always encouraged candidates to get a good police exam Study guide from a reputable source online or at their local bookstore. Why? Well, the failure rating for first time test takers is staggering.
To make matters worse for fellow applicants, if you fail the exam, you will have to wait a while until you can retake it again. I don’t know if they’ve changed it, but in the past you were expected to wait at least six months to a year until you could re-take the exam. That is why it is so important to pass it the first time around.
For those who are thinking about becoming a police officer, I’ve designed a sample practice test question below to help you prepare. As you read the scenario question below, use common good sense to come up with the correct answer.
Police Exam Sample Test Question:
1. While on patrol, Officer Sw
eat was radioed about a theft that just occurred at the local dance hall. The witnesses described the suspect as being a white male, long brown hair, blue eyes, and wearing a dark sports jacket. The suspect was also said to have a mustache, and missing three fingers on his left hand. 7 hours into Officer Sweat’s shift, he spots a vehicle occupied by 3 white males matching the description. He immediately stops the vehicle.
Officer Sweat believes that one of the subjects inside the car is the suspect but he is not completely sure. Which information provided by witnesses are the most helpful tip in identifying the suspect.
A. The suspect was described as having long dark hair.
B. The suspect was described to be missing three fingers.
C. The suspect was wearing a navy blue sports jacket.
D. The subject was said to have a mustache.
The correct answer to this sample test question is B. someone who has 3 missing fingers is unusual. Meaning that’s not something that you normally see everyday. So if the suspect was identified as having three missing fingers, then that characteristic would be the most helpful tip in identifying the suspect.
The other answers just don’t cut it especially after 7 hours has lapsed between the commission of the crime and the time he was spotted. For instance, the suspect has enough time to shave his mustache, cut his hair, and change clothes.
