Effective Questions to ask in an Interview

[darth_maul]

Hello! They called me! They called me! I can't believe it!

I have an interview scheduled for next Thursday for Detective at a Sheriff's office nearby.

If anyone could reply with some good, quality questions I should ask them during the interview I would be much obliged. I do not want to ask the wrong question in a politically charged atmosphere, however I am not completely sure what issues I need to bring up as this would be my first position in a Law Enforcement role. I am a former 82nd Airborne Division Jag specialist so I do have indepth knowledge of the legal process, civilian and military.

Thanks for your help in advance.

D. Maul

p.s. if it helps this is a rural community with a meth lab problem so I am assuming the more I know about meth the better off I will be.

[JKooL]

You're interviewing for a Detective position before patrol Deputy?

[e-man]

You're interviewing for a Detective position before patrol Deputy?

My first thought exactly.. Hey Darth, were not busting on you {not yet, some people will} but is it a non-sworn position with the sheriffs or are you already a deputy and took a test for promotion?? Were just alittle curious bunch out here in O.com land..
Good luck

[jeeper]

I've heard of this in very small departments. In fact, a friend got hired by a SO in NC as a detective before working there as a deputy, he had been a local cop before getting hired. There is also a department in WI that is currently hiring for Detectives. They are requiring patrol experience with another agency before you can be considered though.

[darth_maul]

Actually yes, it is very unusual. I have looked into this as much as I can and it has no requirement for being patrol first and it seems they are looking for someone entry-level into the slot the way the ad was written: "Applicant must be at least 21 years of age, have a high school diploma or equivalent, North Carolina Driver's License or be able to obtain such after employment, North Carolina BLET Certification is preferred, experience as a Criminal Investigator is preferred but is not a requirement."

It was evident in my application and resume that I have not worked as Patrol before, so maybe they already have someone picked for the job and I am just filling in their requirement of interviewing someone for a position that does not really exist, since without patrol experience I probably am the least qualified applicant. This is a very, very small town with a tiny pool of applicants I am sure, so maybe I lucked out too. Hard to tell, but I would like to make a good impression nevertheless.

[BrickCop]

Actually yes, it is very unusual. I have looked into this as much as I can and it has no requirement for being patrol first and it seems they are looking for someone entry-level into the slot the way the ad was written: "Applicant must be at least 21 years of age, have a high school diploma or equivalent, North Carolina Driver's License or be able to obtain such after employment, North Carolina BLET Certification is preferred, experience as a Criminal Investigator is preferred but is not a requirement."

.

No offense darth but the average Burger King employee could meet those "standards".

Why do they advert for entry level guys from outside? Doesn't make sense to me....

[darth_maul]

Well thanks for your "input". lol

I am actually thinking of not going to the interview at this point. I am not sure I have the time to waste for a job that is probably already filled. I have been beating it around my head and going down to a $30K a year job from a $100K a year job that I hate and am extremely bored with just might just be too big of a risk, satisfaction-wise. I could probably scrape by but I will think about it, I got a few days. I just HATE the job I am in, pay cuts galore, dwindling profits, 80 hours a week of sitting at this computer waiting to die. Of course maybe that is better than government bureacracy and dealing with scumbags day in and day out. Thanks I guess for all of your insight.

[REMO]

I'm in the same boat, trying to leave 'Corporate America' to get into LE.
You'll have to make that choice for yourself, but to me (and I'm in the same boat, I hate my job, though it pays very well; see myself dying of a heart attach sitting behind a computer all day if I don't get out now), I would definitely go.
You can always opt to not accept later, at least you'll know you tried.