Question for our LEO buddies

[Blademan]

I am scheduled to sit for an interview on Wednesday for a nearby PD. The last time I interviewed with them (6+ years) they asked me a question:
"You pull over a car for drunk driving and it is the Chief of Police's daughter; what do you do?"
Now what is the answer to this?
At the time I simply said "I would contact my shift supervisor to see that i handle it correctly (or something like that)"
Is there an answer that they are looking for? What would happen if I said that I would give her a ride home?

[Brent]

Well in my personal opinion:

I would call the supervisor and make him make the decission...


It is a total trick question - because if you book her - they will think you are too by the book and not willing to weigh the letter of the law and the spirt of the law..

If you let her go - well you are screwed but might end up with a blowjob.

And if you take her home - she will say you forced you to give you that BJ and the chief will fire you.

Or at least you get the point.

But if she is driving and drinking - I woudl think it would go something liek - Call supervisor - supervisor calls chief and Chief RIPS her a new hole so wide she would have been better off going to jail.

[shinobi]

The best answer to give is that you would book her. I have been threw it and was a top pick til the eye exam. Once i get Lasik i will go for it again. Also the question about a person that looks just like your sister/brother pulls a gun on some one what do you do? What you should say is shout your warning, "no response" shout again and take aim, "no response", shoot. "What are you shooting at?" Hostile's chest, shoot to kill, always shoot to kill, do not shoot if you do not plan to use lethal force, do not draw unless threat is lethal and with in range of doing harm, resulting in the justufaction of lethal force. 2 years of cop schooling pays off when it comes to such questions. Oh and the reason why you will cite her is that they are looking for somebody who will not be easly swaded by power or influence.

[Calkidd]

Pretty much was shinobi said. The answer to the question would be to go through the DUI process and notify your supervisor. Don't tell the panel you would notify your supervisor to let him make the descision. The first thing the panel will say is "Your supervisor is not available" what do you do now? You tell them you will go through the same testing just as if it was any other person you stopped and then notify the Sgt. telling him what you have incountered.

shoot to kill, always shoot to kill
NEVER and I mean NEVER say you "Shoot to kill". Sure that is what you are doing, but it makes you sound like you assassinated the suspect if you say that. The response would be "I encountered a threat and I shot to STOP the threat. I felt my life, others or my partner's life was in danger".

do not draw unless threat is lethal and with in range of doing harm
What? Do you know how many times I draw my gun, proably two to three times a night. Why do I need to justify the threat is lethal? By that time the bad guy has the drop on me.

Tonight there was an Asian male sitting on a rock. When I got out of my car he put his hand in his jacket and my gun came out. Why should I wait to see if he pulls out a gun or his ID? All I know is that I am going home after shift. I can always put my gun away, but I can't not come back to life.

do not draw unless threat is lethal and with in range of doing harm
What is "with in range of doing harm"? I can attack you from 21 feet with a knife before you even think about drawing your gun. That is a proven fact. It is called the 21 Foot Rule.

Oh and the reason why you will cite her is that they are looking for somebody who will not be easly swaded by power or influence.
No, they are looking for someone who has integrity and good ethical values.

Blademan, I will PM you my cell phone number. Feel free to call me anytime if you have questions. I have sat through many of oral boards.

[Blademan]

OK Calkidd, I figured out what that e-mail was for. I read it before i read this post. I do remember one of myt college law teachers telling us (paraphrase) If you have to use your gun, make sure you kill them . . . it is a lot harder to sue when your dead!!"

They did ask me that in the interview as well. You are on patrol and you get a call that there is a robbery in progress . . . you are the closest and respond . . . What do you do?
I said "Turn on the lights and siren."
Them: As you get closer what do you do next?
Me: Turn off the siren but leave the lights on so as not to alarm the guy inside
Them: As you get to the store he comes out wearing a ski mask and a shot gun. What do you do?
Me: I take a defensive position behind the cruiser and draw my weapon. (This is where I screwed up) I tell him to stereotypically "freeze" (I actually said stereotypically in the interview . . . dumbass)
Them: The guy takes off running what do you do?
Me: I radio in the direction he took off in, scars, marks, tattoos and then go in and check that no one is hurt.
Them: (In a discusted tone) You didn't bother to radio that he had a ski mask and a shot gun?!?!?!

Ah, I was all flustered after that. Plus the Coporal at he interview asks "What is the fastest you have ever gone?"
Me: "4 wheels or 2?"
Him: Either
Me: (at the time) 135mph
Hime car or bike?
Me: Bike
Him: What kind of bike?
Me: A CBR 600.
Him: F2 or f3?
Right then I knew this guy had to ride as well.

Calkidd, I'll probably call ya later today closer to noon for ya.

[Calkidd]

I thought your response to the robbery suspect was very good. Most people with no law enfrocement experience usually say they take off after the bad guy. Good decision to broadcast the description and check on injuries at the scene. But the Corporal was right about mentioning the gun/ski mask.

If you get that question again, don't forget to mention to set up a primeter and ask for the Helicopter (if you have one) and K9 unit.

[shinobi]

Cal i was referring to any incedent that could lead to a lethal encounter. If you are entering an area of a suspected B&E then yes i would say that could easly and very quickly become a lethal situation. Anything that seem supcious that would make you feel a little wary I would conseder a possable lethal encounter. Range of doing harm, that depends on the situation, yes it is true that a person with a knife (if good enought) can be on you extremely fast, but if they are up a set of stairs that are 35 ft away them taking two steps towards you and you shoot, i am sorry but no one is going to side with you, as if many will to start with. Shoot to kill yeah that is a bad term to use when in an interview, i am sorry i used it to explain but i )for some stupid reason) could not think of a better termanolagy to explain what i was saying.

No, they are looking for someone who has integrity and good ethical values
that is what i was saying. like i said for some reason my mind wasn't working quite right, that night.


Kal I am glad you could explain things better then i could, and as an active officer I thank you for going out there every night to keep us all safe.

Blademan glad it went good, and as Kal said the radio response was great, right on to what you should have done. To bad you didn't think about the gun/mask.

[Calkidd]

Shinobi, thanks for the kind reply. I was thinking after I wrote my relpy I might have sounded a little condensending. I appologize if it sounded this way.

I always look at situations from a defensive point of veiw. Basically, how would I say this in court or in public with non LEO ears listening.
Plus, I work in a unit (District Crime Suppression Team) were all I deal with is Parolees, probationers, violent gang memebers and the list goes on and on. I have more exposure to this type of element than most patrol officers in my district.

[Blademan]

Yeah, Shinobi . . . that was the first time I interviewed with them something like 6 years ago.

Anywho, I passed the oral board yesterday (Wednesday 7/28), they gave me a conditional offer. So now all I have to do is take the polygraph, background, drug tests. Should be a piece of cake. With the poly all they are really looking for is for you to be honest, right? They already have my background personal information packet, so I cannot imagine there is much off of that that they will ask.

Anywho, thanks guys for your help. The ethical question I nailed it!! It was my FTO hit some dude and told the Sgt. that the guy fell. I said I would write what I saw. Then they said they guy has a 22 year unblemished record . . . just let this go and I'll never do it again . . . thing. All I said is that I cannot ruin my career trying to fix his mess up and if they fire me . . . so be it!! I guess it was the right answer 'cause I passed.

[Calkidd]

Right on Mike!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats and a job well done. Welcome to the brotherhood.

[shinobi]

Calkidd its all good, I don't take offense to much and it takes alot to put me on the offensive. And being part of a speicality unit as that, I would imagin that it would make a person a lil more excitable then regular patrol. Good going Mike, glad to see ya in the blue or do you boys were brown. But either way its good to see another good man in the right place. Peace Shane

[Calkidd]

It is not so much excitability, but a lot more defensive. I really have to be carefull some times the way I talk to people. Talking to a gang member is a lot different than talking to the average person.

You can offend the average person a lot quicker and easier than if it where a gang member and the like.

[shinobi]

Understand that, I know some of the boys aren't able to switch back and forth between Joe Public and Mr. Meanor. But you seem to be really cool and I doubt that you have that problem to any great extent,.

[Calkidd]

Thanks Shinobi..... ;)

[shinobi]

anytime man :D