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.

Also, besides those below, you should consider adding books to your police promotion reading list that cover the areas of COP/POP, Criminal Investigation, Leadership, Intelligence-led Policing, Ethics and also national and state legal titles.

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 fifth 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.

Promotional Exams for any or all of these great textbooks can be taken by you to use as study material within the Advanced Police Promotional Testing Course at PoliceCareer.com. You can also practice with a police sample in-basket assessment.

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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