Sheriff’s Promotional Exams Revised for 2017
December 28, 2016 - Posted by Ed Esposito
Major changes have been made to the 2017 Orientation Guides for the Sheriff’s Officer Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain examinations that are tentatively scheduled for May of 2017. In early 2016, the New Jersey Civil Service Commission (NJ CSC) initiated a job analysis study for the position of Sheriff’s Officer Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain. The NJ CSC sought participation from the Sheriff’s Offices throughout the State and engaged incumbents from each rank during the three phases of the study. Each phase represented a unique aspect of the process that the NJ CSC used to identify critical tasks, knowledge, skills and abilities for each rank within the Sheriff’s Officer Title Series. The process ended with revisions to the upcoming examinations, which have been summarized in this article.
Changes Impacting All Ranks
The NJ CSC has changed the “listed” sources for all three Sheriff’s Officer Promotional Examination Orientation Guides. New sources for the 2017 examinations include the New Jersey Attorney General Guidelines and a new textbook, Management and Supervision of Law Enforcement Personnel, 5th Edition by Donald J. Schroeder and Frank Lombardo. Title 2C remains a listed source for 2017, and it is important to note that the orientation guides states “[t]he development of all test questions will not be restricted to these sources.” The new sources are welcome additions to the orientation guides because they are practical materials commonly used by incumbent supervisors, regardless of assignment.
Another change impacting all ranks is the addition of a “Technical Vocabulary List.” The technical vocabulary list is comprised of 50 words and includes a definition for each word. According to the orientation guides, “[a] certain level of familiarity with technical language is necessary.” A very similar list of words has been used by the NJ CSC in their promotional examination orientation guides for municipal police titles.
Another change impacting all ranks is the addition of a “Technical Vocabulary List.” The technical vocabulary list is comprised of 50 words and includes a definition for each word. According to the orientation guides, “[a] certain level of familiarity with technical language is necessary.” A very similar list of words has been used by the NJ CSC in their promotional examination orientation guides for municipal police titles.
Changes Impacting Sergeant Candidates
The key change to the orientation guide for the Sergeant’s examination is the revision of the listed “critical work components.” For 2017, six components have been identified compared to the previous list of seven components. New components have been added and the previously listed components have been retitled, combined or eliminated. The new components include: critical thinking, decision making and problem solving. Changes were also made to the scoring “weight” identified for each of the listed components. The following revisions have been made:
- “Report Writing/Reviewing” – This is a retitle of the former “Report Writing” component and has been assigned a new scoring weight of 18.75%.
- “Interpersonal Relations/Supervision” – This is a combination of the former “Supervision” and “Interpersonal Relations” component and has been assigned a new scoring weight of 18.75%.
- “NJ Title 2C” – This has replaced the former “Arrest, Search & Seizure” component and has been assigned a new scoring weight of 12.50%.
- “Attorney General Guidelines” – This is a new component and has been assigned a scoring weight of 12.50%.
- “Critical Thinking” – This is a new component and has been assigned a scoring weight of 18.75%.
- “Decision Making/Problem Solving” – This is a new component and has been assigned a scoring weight of 18.75%.
- “Effectiveness of Expression” – This component has been eliminated from the orientation guide.
- “Criminal Investigation” – This component has been eliminated from the orientation guide.
- “Court Practice” – This component has been eliminated from the orientation guide.
Changes Impacting Lieutenant and Captain Candidates
Previously, the Lieutenant’s and Captain’s examination contained components that were very similar to the Sheriff’s Officer Sergeant’s, but also included “Training Techniques” as an alternate component to “Court Practices.” In addition, the Captain’s examination included the additional component of “Scheduling.” The former orientation guide for the Lieutenant’s examination listed six components and the former orientation guide for Captain’s examinations listed seven components. Finally, the previous scoring “weight” assigned to the components by the NJ CSC ranged from 12.5% to 25% for each of the components listed. For 2017, this has completely changed.
The most significant change is the addition of a new “Short Answer” and “Essay” format. According to the NJ CSC, “[t]he essays and short answers will involve the review of several scenarios related to the duties” of the tested rank. Candidates will have a set amount of time to complete their responses, which will be hand-written. Since short answer and essay response questions can be configured by the NJ CSC’s examination writers in many ways, candidates should study a variety of formats typically utilized for this type of examination format. This will ensure that candidates will be able to respond effectively and efficiently to the questions, regardless of structure, that appear on the examination.
Another change for 2017 is the elimination of an assigned scoring weight and expansion of the examination components listed by the NJ CSC. The revised Lieutenant’s and Captain’s Orientation Guide does not include a scoring “weight” for the listed “critical work components.” The revised orientation guides list the following nine components:
• Supervision
• Written Communication
• Interpersonal Relations
• Problem Solving
• Critical Thinking
• Arrest Procedures
• New Jersey Title 2C
• Search Procedures
• New Jersey Attorney General Guidelines
The most significant change is the addition of a new “Short Answer” and “Essay” format. According to the NJ CSC, “[t]he essays and short answers will involve the review of several scenarios related to the duties” of the tested rank. Candidates will have a set amount of time to complete their responses, which will be hand-written. Since short answer and essay response questions can be configured by the NJ CSC’s examination writers in many ways, candidates should study a variety of formats typically utilized for this type of examination format. This will ensure that candidates will be able to respond effectively and efficiently to the questions, regardless of structure, that appear on the examination.
Another change for 2017 is the elimination of an assigned scoring weight and expansion of the examination components listed by the NJ CSC. The revised Lieutenant’s and Captain’s Orientation Guide does not include a scoring “weight” for the listed “critical work components.” The revised orientation guides list the following nine components:
• Supervision
• Written Communication
• Interpersonal Relations
• Problem Solving
• Critical Thinking
• Arrest Procedures
• New Jersey Title 2C
• Search Procedures
• New Jersey Attorney General Guidelines
A Final Word
It is important to recognize that the NJ CSC strives to administer examinations that are “fair and objective” with respect to the scoring and the relevance of each examination. While promotional candidates may disagree with whether the exams have been “objective,” especially when revisions are made, the NJ CSC’s Division of Appeals and Regulatory Affairs does endeavor to fairly address appeals by promotional candidates who have presented thoughtful and well-researched arguments regarding the questions presented. The scoring and administration of the exams are more closely protected. As observed in Brady v. Dep’t of Personnel, 149 N.J. 244 (1997), “courts in only very rare cases have invalidated agency scoring, namely, cases in which the person challenging the score affirmatively has shown that the scoring method was arbitrary.” Even so, courts are reluctant to perform a “judicial review of the [Commission’s] administration of the civil-service system and its determinations regarding [the] civil-service testing processes.” Id.
Although the administration and scoring of the revised examinations has yet to occur, any changes made by the NJ CSC are likely to become a part of the examination process for years to come. Therefore, it is beneficial for promotional candidates to become familiar with and to understand the changes that have been made. Candidates who are aware of recent changes and incorporate these changes into their studies will be better prepared for their examination.
Although the administration and scoring of the revised examinations has yet to occur, any changes made by the NJ CSC are likely to become a part of the examination process for years to come. Therefore, it is beneficial for promotional candidates to become familiar with and to understand the changes that have been made. Candidates who are aware of recent changes and incorporate these changes into their studies will be better prepared for their examination.