Police interview question......?

Question

One of the questions I had was...

You pull over a car for speeding, when you approach you realize it is a friend and he may have been drinking.

How would you handle the situation?

I don't really care what you would do in real life, but what would the best answer be in an interview setting?

My answer was...

I would take away his keys first off, then call for another officer to charge him.

I would help him with finding a good lawyer and find out if he has a drinking problem, if so support him through his addiction.

I am satisfied with this answer, however it seems awfully short in contrast with the others and in this interview you must pass EVERY question.

I'm confident that I passed all other questions, this one worries me.....

Answer 1

You have a great response actually. Interview boards are looking for TRUTHFUL answers not sugar coated. Everybody KNOWS they are not going to treat a regular person the same as their own friend. The best situation in this is to contact another officer. This is what they WANT to hear. Because they know when you are sugarcoating it. They hear it all the time. They are not looking for this idiot that will arrest his own mother for going 5 miles over the speed. Your answer is what they wanted to hear!! Good Luck.

Answer 2

An officer takes an oath to protect and serve and uphold the law and statues of the state. If you come across a question such as this you must answer it with that in mind. Sometimes arresting a friend is the best thing for everyone.

Answer 3

Well this is obviously a question on whethe or not you would, as an officer, let a friend who has been drinking continue to drive.

As a police officer, you have to put that friendship aside. If you allowed your friend to continue on his merry way, impaired, AFTER stopping him, You my friend, would be liable for the results of that. If someone were to die it is your fault for allowing them to continue to drive while impaired.

It is your duty as an officer to get the impaired person off the road. Friend or not.

My suggestion would be to say you would check him for impairment, and get him off the road if he indeed was. You would also be doing him a favor as a friend by not allowing him to possibly kill himself or someone else. But would also be doing your duty as an officer by preventing it as well.

Basically they are probing you to see if you would let your friends get away with a crime, by turning the other way. You obviously can not do that as a police officer. Although I am SURE it happens daily across the country, especially in small town America.

I would strongly suggest against you answering " I'd cut em a break, cause they are my friend" at the interview.

Answer 4

Don't you love these oral board questions? Here is the correct answer.... First thing you would do is call your Sgt to the scene and while you waited you would conduct a breath test. Explain to your Sgt what's going on and after you have administered the test let the Sgt use is discretion. (He is the supervisor). If he says to let him go then you ask the Sgt how you would do this. If he says it's in your hands then tell the board you would arrest him if his level was over the state limit. "The law represents everyone and even though he is my best friend, he needs to respect and understand my position and the law" I had a similar question but they asked what would I do if it was my father. Why they ask these makes no sense. Please we would never take our friend or father to jail. Oral boards are easy. You have to be yourself but represent your future job. Just throw big words at them. I do that all the time and one time the Sgt said "Please go to Law School" hehehehe

Answer 5

The answer would be the same as for a stranger. You would give him the sobriety test and jail him or fine him. The only favortism is from one cop brother to another cop brother or sister. Friends don't count if you want to keep your job. Really the best thing would be to call the station and ask for another officer to come because it is a conflict of interest the same as it would be if it was your family.

Answer 6

Conduct the stop as if they are not a friend. You cannot indicate you would cut them a break. Shows a lack of intergrity on your part to the Oral Board and most likely end your advancement through the process.

You CANNOT allow an intoxicated person to continue behind the wheel of the vehicle as you will be liable. It is your sworn oath to uphold the laws of the state/city you patrol.

Answer 7

I would do it by the book to be fair check when he/she last had a drink minimum of 20minutes ensure the don't smoke if possible sit them in the fresh air if they fail a breathalyser they will have to be arrested and taken to the station your duty then is to secure the vehicle in a safe place
everybody Knows not to drink and drive so they bring the consequences on their self

Answer 8

You nicely ask him for his drivers' license, registration and proof of insurance.

You ask him where he's driving from, and where his destination is.

You ask if he had been drinking, and how much.

You ask him to take a litle test (field sobriety test), and exit the vehicle.

You administer the tests.

If he passes, tell him that you are going to call his wife/girlfriend/roommate to pick him up, and that you will parkm the car for him.

If he fails, it is your duty to keep the streets safe, and you would be compelled to arrestst and book him.

Good luck!

Answer 9

What they WANT to hear is that you would apply the law regardless of whether the person you caught breaking the law is a friend or related to you. Because as a police officer you are supposed to apply the law impartially regardless of any other factors.

Answer 10

Take him in anyway. It would be downright selfish to allow a drunk driver to put the rest of the town in danger just because you're afraid he'll be mad at you. If he's a real friend, he'll understand after he sobers up.