Police Sergeants can be
the assistant chief of police in a very small agency, and a
middle-manager or watch commander in a small to medium-sized agency. Generally, the
rank of sergeant is considered the first step in supervision.
What are the best textbooks to study to prepare for
your police sergeant exam?
That depends on whether you are working for a large agency
(150+ sworn) or a medium agency (50 - 150 sworn) or a small agency
(under 50 sworn) or a very small agency (10 officers or fewer). You will also need to use your judgment and
knowledge of how the rank of sergeant is considered and structured in
your specific agency; is it considered strictly a supervisory rank, or if in a very small agency, say 10 officers or less, as an executive manager, i.e. assistant or deputy
chief? The biggest difference being, of course, as an executive you
need to be able to step in to lead your agency at any moment, so the
demands in education are much higher.
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In my own career I rose
to the rank of lieutenant in a medium size agency with just under
100 officers. While lieutenant is normally not considered upper management
or executive rank, lieutenant in our agency became the third in
command because of a flattened organizational structure. We had eliminated the ranks of captain
and major and
expanded the pay and duties of lieutenants, and cut the executive
rank structure to be only one deputy chief and a chief of police. A
second deputy chief, technically a major's rank and position, was
also eliminated. So, I was in a special spot - as the senior lieutenant - I was
a division commander, but in the absence of the deputy chief or
chief or both, as the senior lieutenant I was expected to fill in as
acting deputy chief and even acting chief of police, which I did on
numerous occasions.
Also in my agency, because of this
flattening of the organization and shifting of responsibilities, the
sergeant rank also rose in responsibilities, performing many of the
mid-management tasks previously performed by lieutenants, including
acting as the watch commander on many shifts.
These are the
12
supervision textbooks that clearly stand above the rest, all
of which I have written numerous exams from for the ranks of both
sergeant and lieutenant.
Any of them can be used in a small, medium or large agency, since
they each contain a comprehensive summary of supervisory,
management, administration and leadership principles.
My BEST piece of
advice on this page? If you believe you are heading to a corporal or sergeant
promotion exam any time in the future, you need to own and
constantly read the material in the below 12 textbooks.
Here
is what you just said out loud, "Twelve textbooks! Oh, hell! No way!
Way too
expensive!"
No, "way too expensive" is what happens when you
don't start with your first promotion to corporal or sergeant, so of
course you then
cannot climb further up the ranks, and so you will leave $250K - $500K+
in a lifetime of pay and pension and benefits behind on the table -
all because you did not make the first step.
That is "expensive" - NOT the thousand dollars or so for these 12 textbooks.
If you can't buy them - rent them and read them, one at a time.
I finally got that off my chest. These
books are
not listed in any particular order:
Supervision
of Police Personnel - Iannone -
now in its 8th edition. From me; The most-used police supervision
textbook used for the
police
sergeant exam, and with good reason - it
is the best all-around, thorough and balanced presentation on all
the topics the new supervisor is going to need. Is also used in
promotional exams for lieutenant, especially in large agencies where
the lieutenant is more street than office oriented.
From the
publisher; Supervision of Police Personnel offers complete coverage
of the principles and practices of police supervision for leadership
training of supervisors in law enforcement and allied fields. This
newly updated text explores relationships involved in individual and
group management methods and the practical techniques for carrying
out the various responsibilities of the police supervisor.
Discussions focus on real issues faced by police supervisors in
interpersonal, operational, and administrative relationships.
Written by experienced police officers, the text presents
time-tested content that is an indispensible resource for
promotional exams. Visit us for the
Supervision of Police Personnel exam, test questions, study guide
and flashcards.
Supervising
Police Personnel - Strengths-Based Leadership - by
Whisenand. From me; Another long-standing and excellent choice for
promotion exams for sergeant. The new 8th edition features all new
material focused on leadership traits needed in the new supervisor. From the publisher; Using an
interactive, three-part structure, Supervising Police Personnel:
Strengths-Based Leadership covers all the latest supervisory
concepts and practices–and emphasizes character, values and
strengths-based leadership throughout. It tackles issues such as
leadership, ethics, communications,
training, evaluations, empowerment and problem-oriented policing–
uniquely combining the human factor with the performance edge. The
new edition is broken into six leadership strengths: Character,
Clarity, Empowerment, Well-Being, Self-Control, and Teamwork. Along
with this new design come two entirely new chapters: Happiness and
Willpower. All of the chapters have been updated with new trends,
facts, and exercises. Visit us for the
Supervising Police Personnel exam, test questions, study guide and
flashcards.
Challenging
the Law Enforcement Organization - Proactive Leadership Strategies by
Jack Enter, Ph.D.
Great book. Well written, no jargon. Short enough but not too short.
You should read it, then put it down for a month or two, then read
it again. From the publisher; Among the topics discussed are
chapters on the impact of living and policing an unskilled and
violent society, why law enforcement managers fail to successfully
impact their agencies, and chapters on self-management,
communication, motivation, and being more effective in our personal
lives. Many of these latter “strategy” chapters have examples of
proactive techniques used by law enforcement managers as well as
“action items” to apply the principles examined in each chapter.
Visit us for the
Challenging the Law Enforcement Organization exam, test questions,
study guide and flashcards.
Common
Sense Police Supervision: Practical Tips for the First-Line Leader -
Gerald W. Garner. From me; I like this book a lot for new
supervisors. It is very well written, and in plain language. I have
written many corporal and sergeant exams using this textbook going
back to its very first edition. It covers all the material a new
supervisor needs, and gives them a good outlook on what lies ahead
- such as all their former comrades pushing their limits and
stopping conversations mid-sentence when you walk into the briefing
room. From the publisher; The purpose of this sixth edition is
to stimulate the veteran, novice, or would-be police supervisor to
utilize his or her most powerful tool, common sense, in carrying out
the duties of an effective leader. Made up of life experience, good
judgment, prudence, and a well-developed ability for solid reasoning
and logical decision making, common sense will guide the intelligent
supervisor in finding effective solutions to most of the problems he
or she will encounter while leading police personnel. Visit us for
the
Common Sense Police Supervision exam, test questions, study guide
and flashcards.
Emotional
Survival for Law Enforcement - A Guide for Officers and Their
Families - From me: This excellent textbook is often used
in police corporal, sergeant and lieutenant exams. This
title should be required reading in all law enforcement agencies and
in all police academies, with copies for each police family member.
From the publisher; Dr. Gilmartin is a behavioral scientist who
specializes in issues related to law enforcement. With twenty years
of police experience under his belt, he currently provides service
to the law enforcement community as a consultant. In writing this
book, it was his goal to aid officers and their families in
maintaining and/or improving their quality of life both personally
and professionally.
Emotional
Survival for Law Enforcement exam, test questions, study guide and
flashcards.
Basic
Handbook of Police Supervision: A Practical Guide for Law
Enforcement Supervisors - Gerald W. Garner. From me; This is an
excellent textbook to use for a police corporal exam in any agency,
or police sergeant exam for small to medium agencies. It does what
its title implies- it covers all the basics. It sticks to the theme
of basic, common-sense and tried-and-true supervisory methods, not
delving too deeply into theory or covering advanced supervisory
practices. From the publisher: This handbook provides reliable
guidance on what to do next and offers practical, no-frills advice
about what to do to counter the day-to-day challenges and outright
calamities that make up the first-line leader's work life. Perhaps
even more important, it offers time-proven recommendations on how to
prevent a bothersome situation from escalating into crisis
proportions in the first place. It will prove equally useful to the
veteran, novice or future law enforcement supervisor. Its sound
advice will help him retain his emotional as well as physical and
moral health in a real-world environment that seems to become more
challenging every day. It will help him to lead and bring his people
to share his practices and beliefs in doing a very critical job the
right way. Visit us for the
Basic Handbook of Police Supervision exam, test questions, study
guide and flashcards.
Effective
Supervisory Practices - Better Results Through Teamwork - 5th
Edition - ICMA Press -
From me; I like this book a lot for new supervisors, although it is
not written specifically for law enforcement or by law enforcement
professionals. Instead, it is written for government workers to
include law enforcement, fire service, and all other municipal and
county departments. It is well written, in plain language, with a
lot of illustrations. It covers all the material a new supervisor
needs, in a simple to follow and understand format. It places a
heavy emphasis on customer service and problem solving in the
workplace. From the publisher; ICMA’s newest edition of its
best-selling Effective Supervisory Practices: Better Results through
Teamwork gives today’s managers and supervisors a powerful tool for
understanding the many dimensions of the supervisory role and their
impact on helping to improve productivity, implement quality
management, and build an effective work team. Visit us for the
Effective Supervisory Practices exam, test questions, study guide
and flashcards.
Introduction
to Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice -
by Hess, Orthmann and Cho. From me; This is a 600+ page work which
covers all law enforcement topics and is a popular choice for police
corporal and sergeant exams. Very thorough, very well written, and
very well organized. EVERYTHING is covered, and in good detail. It
is a lot to take in, and it may be viewed unusual to assign this
book along with others to also study for a sergeant promotion.
Usually, agency clients can eliminate the chapters on courts and
corrections, bringing the study material down to "only" 500 pages.
From the publisher; Fully updated to reflect the latest changes in
the field, this new edition provides comprehensive, practical
coverage of both law enforcement and the criminal justice system as
a whole (including courts, corrections, and juvenile justice) in one
convenient volume. Acclaimed for its uniquely accessible writing
style, many real-world examples, and its realistic and relevant
"boots on the street" perspective, this new edition is packed with
up-to-date information on today's hottest topics. These include the
numerous ways technology is changing the day-to-day operations of
policing; the recommendations of the President's Task Force on 21st
Century Policing, including the need to improve trust and legitimacy
with the public and a shift to a guardian mindset; the law
enforcement response to new terrorism threats such as ISIS and
homegrown violent extremists, the consequences of Brady-Giglio
violations, and more. Visit us for the
Introduction to Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice exam, test
questions, study guide and flashcards.
Police
Supervision and Management In An Era of Community Policing -
Peak - Gaines and Glensor. From me; Excellent book to study for
career enhancement, and for promotion. Excellent coverage of
community and problem-oriented policing management and leadership
topics. From the publisher; Taking a
problem-solving approach, this book provides readers with an
insider’s view of the challenging and demanding world of the police
supervisor or manager. Aimed at first-line supervisors and mid-level
managers, it covers basic human resource responsibilities (training
and evaluating officers, officer rights, etc.) and day-to-day tasks
(deploying and scheduling, responses to crime problems, etc.). This
edition includes new chapters on union and labor relations, police
operations and homeland security. Throughout, case studies get
readers thinking about the issues and exhibits show what some
jurisdictions are doing to address problems of crime and disorder.
Visit us for the
Police Supervision and Management In An Era of Community Policing
exam, test questions, study guide and flashcards.
Management
and Supervision of Law Enforcement Personnel - Lombardo and
Schroeder. From me; Not to be confused with a similar title
described below. People are always getting the two mixed up. This is
a very nuts-and-bolts direct and to the point book that is easy to
read and study, and the presentation is in the format where you can
take this supervisory and management knowledge and run with it
without hesitation.
From the publisher; This title is a must read not
only for anyone studying for promotion in law enforcement, but also
for current managers/supervisors who would like to improve their
on-the-job performance. Topics include principles associated with a
police supervisor's or manager's role as a leader, planner,
communicator, performance evaluator, trainer, disciplinarian, and
human relations specialist. Visit us for the
Management and Supervision of Law Enforcement Personnel exam, test
questions, study guide and flashcards.
Effective
Police Supervision - More and Miller - now in its 8th edition.
From me; Excellent, comprehensive textbook. This exhaustive 600+ page work covers it all. I know many
agencies (especially medium to large agencies) that choose it for Lt as well as Sgt
promotion examinations. From the
publisher; Outstanding first-line supervisors are essential to the
success of any law enforcement agency, yet many officers lack the
supervision training necessary to excel. Effective Police
Supervision immerses readers in the group behaviors and
organizational dynamics supervisors must master in order to lead
their teams and to help create an effective police department.
Combining behavioral theory and updated case studies, this core
text, now in its eighth edition, is a vital tool for all police
officers preparing for promotional exams. Visit us for the
Effective Police Supervision exam, test questions, study guide and
flashcards.
Management
and Supervision in Law Enforcement - Hess and Orthmann- From
me; I like this book for writing promotion exams and do it all the
time, and have written difficult and challenging exams way back to
the third edition. Now in it's 7th edition, this textbook is also
used in the New Jersey statewide civil service promotion exam for
Lt. From the publisher; a practical and straightforward book
that focuses on law enforcement managers and supervisors, their
jobs, and the complicated interrelationships between members of the
law enforcement team and the communities they serve. The seventh
edition begins with a general overview of the policing profession to
provide context for later discussions of the role of managers within
the field. Readers will learn about post-9/11 policing, research on
the effects of 9/11, and the latest on data-driven policing,
intelligence-led policing, evidence-based policing, and predictive
policing. A new "Ethical Dilemma" boxed feature challenges readers
to think critically about the moral issues faced by supervisors
every day. This comprehensive overview of the responsibilities of
law enforcement leaders, covering relevant topics ranging from the
newest principles in policing to the exciting technological aids
changing the face of law enforcement today, prepares readers to
become tomorrow's leaders. Visit us for the
Management and Supervision in Law Enforcement exam, test questions,
study guide and flashcards.
Are YOU prepared to respond to these police
sergeant oral board questions?
"How would YOU describe your knowledge
and of police supervision and leadership?"
"How have
you, or will you, apply this knowledge?"
"What do you
feel MOST qualifies you to be promoted into this important
department supervisory and leadership position?"
"This supervisory position is all
about community and leadership. You are leading a team of
department community police officers, reporting directly to management. Describe in detail your own
philosophy of community and problem oriented policing, and how
you are prepared to provide leadership in these areas on day one
in your new rank."
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Police Sergeant Promotion Test Questions
The Supervisory Function "Assessment" comes under which of the 5
Supervisory Skill Areas? (A) Leadership (B) Knowledge
(C) Community (D) Human (E) Conceptual
Successfully leading change at any level of the organization is
the result of ___________. A innate behavior B learned
behavior C organizational motivators D political mandates
Outstanding supervisors have a significant attribute that
distinguishes them - it is (A) leadership ability (B) the
facility to communicate effectively (C) the ability to carry
out orders (D) the desire to motivate
The study and theory by Herzberg that concerns "What do people
want from their job?" is called (A) happiness - productivity
theory (B) motivation - hygiene theory (C) social - work
theory (D) satisfaction - productivity theory
Regarding significant beliefs within the police culture,
police believe that the war against crime can only be won by
(A) making the rules (B) ignoring the rules (C) following
the rules (D) giving them a great deal of discretion
Supervisors should especially be aware of the theory of
__________, which addresses in particular the needs of adult
learners. (A) argotsy (B) epistemology (C)
endocrinology (D) andragogy
Of the three styles of counseling listed below, which one has
the disadvantage of taking too much time for some situations?
(A) Combined (B) Directive (C) Nondirective (D) none of
the above