Description

Lieutenants are junior level executives in the administration of a law enforcement agency. They are often perceived as being groomed for higher slots. They are responsible for multiple sergeants or first line supervision personnel in a section of the agency and report to a captain.

Testing Requirements

Written Exam, Oral Interview, Assessment Center, Department Merit and Seniority

Similar to the sergeant’s testing process, the lieutenant’s testing process includes a phased exam with a weighted composite score. Weighted values will vary from department to department. A sample testing process for lieutenant may resemble:

Written Exam 30%: Varies from agency to agency but usually consists of a combination of textbook material specific to law enforcement management and questions derived from the General Orders, Operations Manual and Action Memoranda of the particular agency. A minimum score is determined ahead of time, usually 70% which must be reached in order to continue on with the promotional process.

Oral Interview 15%: Conducted by the police commission and/or head of the agency. Questions covering management style, ethical standards, leadership ability and hypothetical tactical situations can all be discussed.

Assessment Center 40%: Practical exercises which test the officer’s ability to lead and manage when put in specific situations. Roll playing exercises where an officer has to interact with an actor in order to solve a problem. This problem is a personnel issue such as sexual harassment, favoritism or an officer’s violation of the law. Group interviews also known as shark tanks test a group of officers’ leadership styles and ability to get along with others. (Not as popular a test anymore). Group presentation tests the ability of an officer to speak in public while solving a particular community issue.

Department Merit and Efficiency 10%: A review of the officer’s personnel file for exceptional performance and disciplinary issues. Points assigned and determined by the head of the agency.

Seniority 5%: Points issued for credible years of service to the agency, usually one half point per year to a maximum of 5 points. Experience

Generally, 6-8 years of experience and time in grade at the sergeant’s rank is required. No adverse notations in their personnel file for the past year.

Certification & Education

The attainment of at least an Associates Degree in criminal justice or a related field from an accredited college is usually required. Training starts to move away from specialized areas and delves more into managerial issues. Executive schools, such as the FBI National Academy or the University of Kentucky’s Southern Police Institute become prime destinations for up-and-coming law enforcement executives. Resources & Recommended Reading