How does a Police officer get promoted?Once they get promoted do they get issued a different patrol car ?

Question

What is the process?

Answer 1

Testing is offerred periodically. If you qualify for the rank being tested for, you take the test and scores are posted. Military preference points are given twice during you career if you choose to use them. Once for being hired and once for rank.

Scores can be very close. Most officers will use the military points they have earned. The list scores usually hold for 2-3 years when a re-test is done. If no ranks were opened then the list will expire and they'll do a new one.

In small departments, you may only have ranks of Patrolman, Sergeant,and possibly Corporal in there. Then the next step up for a small department is likely to be assistant Chief or Chief and both of those are generally political appointments.

In my department, Sergeant was the highest rank you could test for.

Answer 2

In larger departments a test is given for each separate rank and that's how promotions are made. Uniformed officers drive a marked car while detectives drive unmarked squads. In larger departments officer cannot take home the vehicles. Smaller departments promote at the whim of the chief or mayor and they probably have take home cars.

Answer 3

Promotions are earned through testing in both large and small departments. In my department, yes, the sgts get a different car. It's no differen't then mine, it's just shared by the sgts