The Test: Would You Be a Good Cop?

Law enforcement is less glamorous and more tedious than television writers have led you to believe. If you have a burning desire to protect and serve your fellow man (and woman), you may have what it takes to wear the gold badge.

PoliceOne columnist Dr. Dorothy McCoy evaluates prospective law enforcement officers using psychological, personality and IQ testing instruments. She attempts to select candidates who will adhere to the Police Ethical Standards, of which this is one paragraph:

"As a Law Enforcement Officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidations, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality and justice."

Law enforcement standards are exceptionally high, as they should be.

The force also looks for candidates who are friendly, caring, intelligent, polite, assertive and emotionally and psychologically stable. Do you have the characteristics necessary to become a successful police officer?

Take the Law Enforcement personzility quiz below to find out...

 

Would You Be A Good Cop?

Here's how it works. Simply answer each of the following 21 questions to find out your "Cop Personality Score".

For accurate scoring, be sure to only select one answer for each question. When not sure which answer is correct, choose the one answer that fits best.

1. Is your IQ above average?
Yes
Not sure
No
2. Could you go into your garage and sit alone in your car for 12 hours and still be alert enough to respond immediately to a distress call?
Yes
Not sure
Doubt it
3. Could you walk into a dark building with only a gun and a flashlight (which tells anyone in there where you are) knowing that an armed and dangerous suspect is somewhere in the darkness? Oh, and he does not like cops.
Absolutely
Yes, but I'd be apprehensive
No way
4. Could you wear 20 pounds of body armor and tools of the trade (i.e., weapon, handcuffs, baton, flashlight, knife) in 100-degree heat and still be able to chase a suspect several blocks on foot.
Absolutely
Yes. But not several times a day
No. I haven't worked out in a while.
5. Could you listen to all of the doughnut jokes and still smile whenever you hear a new one (or even an old one)?
Yes
There's a chance I might lose my temper occasionally
No way
6. Which is more important to you? ____
A substantial salary
Serving your community.
7. Would you rather. ___
Maintain tradition
Change traditions
8. Would you rather have. ___
Rules and regulations
Freedom to choose
9. Do you belong to civic groups in your community?
Yes
No
10. Do you thrive on ___
Continuity
Evolution
11. Do you like to see things done. ____
Correctly
Creatively
12. Do you have ____
a place for everything
like the casual lived-in look
13. Which do you value most ___
Normal
Unusual
14. Do you prefer.___
New technical toys
Theories
15. Are you willing to do your duty even if it requires great sacrifice?
Absolutely
Depends on the sacrifice.
16. Do you rely on your _____
five senses
your gut feeling
17. Is your focus primarily on ____
your cognitive domain
the world around you
18. Are you attracted to adventure?
Yes
No
19. Are you especially observant?
Yes
In the middle
Not at all
20. Do you like to _____
work from a plan
make thing up as you go
21. Do you prefer____
team work
working alone

End of Quiz.

Your Cop Personality Score is:

 

UNDERSTANDING YOUR SCORE: 1-6 | 7-12 | 13-20

 

 

 

The following schools offer law enforcementdegrees which can help you gain the skills to become a Police Officer:

 
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