A (Observation)
1. Communication Skills
The ability to communicate effectively is an absolute must for a police officer, especially when dealing with members of the public. In potentially unsafe situations, for example, such as when apprehending a potentially armed and/or dangerous suspect, you need to be firm and clear in your instructions. Alternatively, when dealing with a witness or a person of interest in an investigation, you need to be able to extract important information. You will also need to communicate well with your partner, especially in instances where there is the potential for danger, as well as with your other colleagues and other emergency services personnel, such as firefighters or paramedics.
2. Diplomacy
Part of being a good communicator is understanding the right tone and approach to take when dealing with different kinds of people. For example, when taking a statement from a victim of a violent or sexual crime, you would need to demonstrate tact and sensitivity, while the ability to be diplomatic will serve you well when interacting with members of the public.
3. Decision-Making Skills
As a police officer, you never know what kind of situation you might be in on any given day. Therefore, you need to be able to think quickly and clearly on your feet and make good decisions under intense pressure.
In the early stages of your career, this might involve managing the outcome of a callout in a particular way, but as your career evolves and you take on more responsibility, your decisions could potentially affect the welfare of your colleagues – particularly if you work within a dynamic unit, such as armed response, for instance.
4. Attention to Detail
Being constantly aware of what’s going around you and being able to pick up on small signs or signals is something that you will develop with experience on the job, but you still need to be a fundamentally diligent person. Indeed, if you want to progress into a detective role, particularly within homicide, narcotics or fraud, being attentive to detail is one of the definitive requirements.
5. Writing Skills
Although it’s not the most popular – or glamorous – part of the job, writing reports is a fundamental and mandatory duty for a police officer. They act as an official record of the respective callout or incident that you attended and are, therefore, admissible in court. Most police forces will assess your basic writing and note-taking skills during the recruitment process, so ensure that they are up to scratch before you apply.
6. Physical Endurance
As a junior police officer, both during your training and while out on patrol, it’s essential that you maintain a basic level of physical fitness.
7. Cultural Awareness
This is an attribute that any modern police officer needs to have, particularly during a time when the behaviour of law enforcement professionals is under public and political scrutiny. At its core, police work is about understanding the community that you serve, so you need to be aware of the customs and practices of the many groups of people within those communities, especially if you work in a large city with a more diverse population. It will also make your job a lot easier, as people will be more willing to work with you if you demonstrate respect and courtesy for their culture.
8. Problem-Solving Skills
The ability to approach problems and find solutions in a quick and logical manner is a highly valuable skill for a police officer. For example, it can help you to solve disputes and reach a compromise between two conflicting parties before a situation escalates further, or it can enable you to find a breakthrough during a particularly tough and complex investigation.
9. Professionalism
Police officers are public servants who uphold the law and, therefore, are held to the highest moral and ethical standards. This means that your behaviour needs to be exemplary at all times, including when not on duty, and that you should never be provoked or lose your cool.
If you find yourself in a situation where you are being verbally or physically abused, then it’s vital that you are able to remain professional and continue to do your job within the remit of the law.
10. Conflict Resolution Skills
It’s highly likely that a large proportion of the incidents you are called to will involve some level of dispute, whether they are played out in public or within somebody’s home. Therefore, the ability to diffuse a potentially explosive situation is highly useful, particularly if drugs or alcohol are involved. This may involve physically separating the two conflicting parties in order to calm things down, or using tact and diplomacy to talk people around. Either way, creating an environment where the potential for danger is lessened and which allows you to get the full story is better and safer for everyone.
