REGION IV

Generally, in the promotion process, a candidate must first complete and pass a written examination. Some agencies might have the members who scored successfully participate in an Oral Board Interview or Assessment Process. This helps the agency determine the level of suitability for the rank the member demonstrates and that may be used as part of a scoring process for promotional candidates. With that in mind, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE}, in cooperation with West Michigan NOBLE Chapter, have designed a training to help an individual successfully complete an Oral Board Interview and Assessment Process. Although there is no way of knowing what the actual Oral Board and Assessment you may take will cover or focus on, this training and exercises should help prepare you for it. A typical Oral Board usually consists of a panel of high-ranking members of the command staff from either your agency or other agencies, and in some cases, the inclusion of well-respected citizens. The panel will "pepper" you with questions about your career, your background, and your role as a supervisor. This training is designed to help you understand the types of questions or scenarios you may be presented with and to help you go "behind the scenes" to comprehend the logic that may have been used to put them together. Some Departments may set up an Assessment Process that will be recorded. The recording is later reviewed and graded by a panel of high-ranking members of the command staff from either your agency or other agencies. This means you will not see the evaluators face to face as you are going through it. The panelists will later watch how you handle the (badge) scenario or an (interactive) situation that may include other people who are role playing in the scenario and grade your performance. The mock exercises contained in this training will help you understand some of the behaviors/responses the evaluators may be told to look for in a promotional candidate and why. You need to remember that Oral Board and Assessment Processes are governed by the rules, regulations, policies and procedures contained in your agency's Police Department Manual. While no training can guarantee you a promotion, this training has helped many others better understanding and achieve success when they took their Oral Board/Assessment Process while on the way to achieving their career goal of promotion.