Sample of KSA’s for Police Lieutenant: Advanced – Assessment Center Training for Public Safety

Self-Assesment

For a more comprehensive, compare and contrast the Basic description to this one.

Police Lieutenant: Advanced

Essential Functions:1. Communicates department’s vision and goals to others with enthusiasm and passion to support Department mission; exemplifies Department values; and generates the confidence and trust of others.

2. Supports ethically based work practices and equal treatment of others to ensure a bias-free work environment.

3. Comprehends and communicates pertinent aspects of complex concepts and abstract ideas.

4. Balances short-term, immediate actions and decisions with long-term strategic focus.

5. Assists others through transition by communicating and supporting Department goals in an effective and positive manner; reviews progress and measures overall impact of change; and provides feedback to manage change effectively.

6. Accurately interprets, applies, communicates and enforces pertinent policies, procedures and laws, and standards of conduct.

7. Oversees the operation of a shift, section, or bureau ensuring effective and efficient handling of workload, including analyzing information and recommending changes in working conditions, methods, or procedures; develops

and implements policies and procedures applicable to section/bureau duties and responsibilities; and develops, implements, monitors, and evaluates goals and objectives for detail, section, or bureau.

8. Attends and/or conducts briefings and debriefings.

9. Supervises or conducts investigations of criminal activity, use of force, deaths, accidents, employee conduct both on and off duty, and on-the-job injuries.

10. Directs surveillance activities, search & rescue efforts, and tactical operations, including coordinating police action with other agencies and with other units/sections of the Department; and plans, organizes,

and coordinates personnel, equipment, and resources to effectively handle major or special enforcement activities including raids, mass arrests, labor strikes, riots, barricaded subjects, special event control, and selective enforcement

assignments, and develops proactive enforcement plans.

11. Receives, investigates, and resolves grievances and complaints.

12. Inspects personnel, facilities, and equipment to ensure procedures are safe and hazards are reported.

13. Reviews submitted cases, reports, and documentation for accuracy, completeness, and adequacy.

14. Makes sound decisions based on relevant information; includes others as appropriate in the decision-making process; seeks and supports creative solutions; and deals with emerging problems effectively.

15. Listens carefully and completely to others’ thoughts, opinions and needs; encourages others to express their views; is articulate in expressing own ideas, views and thoughts; challenges others viewpoints in a professional manner;

and delivers presentations with confidence and professionalism.

16. Dictates and writes memos, formal letters, reports, and procedures related to area of assignment.

17. Testifies in administrative hearings.

18. Sets clear expectations for individuals; holds others accountable.

19. Teaches, coaches and mentors subordinates; and delegates tasks and empowers others to foster professional growth.

20. Evaluates the performance and competency of subordinates and completes evaluation reports; and provides positive acknowledgment of employees.

21. Determines and implements appropriate disciplinary actions; administers progressive discipline using the disciplinary matrix; and counsel’s employees.

22. Identifies training needs; arranges for needed training; and develops atmosphere conducive to professional growth.

23. Establishes clear expectations and standards for the team; successfully builds a team environment; identifies team conflict and works towards resolutions in a timely and effective manner; and facilitates effective meetings that

resolve issues and produce results.

24. Serves as a liaison between the Department and media and maintains effective working relationship with media.

25. Demonstrates a clear understanding of community issues; collaborates with the community and other governmental agencies; demonstrates political sensitivity and astuteness; develops and fosters partnerships with the community.

26. Participates in ongoing personal development (i.e. training and education); sets realistic yet challenging goals for self; encourages and is receptive to feedback and suggestions to improve his/her own performance.

27. Exemplifies the Department values, both on and off duty.

Marginal Functions:
1. May supervise special unit or task force. 2. May assume command responsibilities for Police Captain, as requested. 3. Assists in the preparation of bureau budget and monitors expenditures to remain within approved limits. 4. Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

COMPETENCIES, INCLUDING LEADERSHIP, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Leadership: Knowledge of leadership theory and practices; Department goals, mission and values; ability to communicate Metro’s vision and goals with enthusiasm/passion; build trust with those contacted in the course of work; create willingness to follow; lead by example, especially in challenging times; create the desired work environment by reinforcing values; reject mediocrity and consistently reinforce high standards/results; and demonstrate fairness through objectivity and ensure bias and prejudice free work environment.

2. Critical Thinking – Strategic Planning: Knowledge of Incident Command System; ability to recognize and prepare for crisis; foster a creative work environment; and balance and focus on both strategic and tactical matters.

3. Managing Organizational Change and Growth
Ability to lead unit change efforts; interpret impact of change for unit; identify obstacles that may interfere with change; plan for implementation of change; assist others through transition; and be flexible and adaptable to change.

4. Operational Effectiveness

Knowledge of current trends, challenges, and practices in law enforcement including Crime Management System; Department policies, procedures, rules and regulations, including Civil Service Rules and all labor agreements; local, State and Federal laws, city and county codes and ordinances; officer safety issues and policies, including Vehicular Pursuits, Use of Force, HAZMAT, etc.; criminal investigative principles, practices, and techniques; internal investigative principles, practices, and techniques, including the Peace Officer Bill of Rights; personnel laws including ADA, Harassment and Discrimination and Equal Opportunity;

unit operations, challenges, problems and skills; budgetary practices; ability to stay informed; interpret pertinent policies, procedures and laws; implement change due to new laws and procedures at unit level; manage administrative and enforcement functions; plan daily, weekly and monthly tasks/priorities; change tactics as needed while maintaining focus on overall mission and goals; organize efficiently;

track and follow up on assignments; manage projects in terms of time, budget and desired outcomes; run effective meetings; manage unit effectively during crisis; and identify technology needed to operate efficiently.

5. Problem Solving/Decision Making
Ability to be aware of emerging problems and deal with them effectively and efficiently; seek creative solutions; and gather input and analyze the facts in a timely manner before making sound decisions.

6. Communication Skills
Knowledge of proper English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation; ability to read, understand and interpret complex information; give and follow written and oral instructions; communicate effectively with subordinates, peers, and supervisors; be approachable; prepare effective communication; disseminate information, direction and decisions in a positive and supportive manner; speak concisely and clearly; ensure mutual understanding; push critical issues up the organization; follow up on important communications; listen and encourage ideas and input from others; ask appropriate questions; and communicate well under pressure.

7. Managing/Developing Others
Knowledge of supervisory practices, including methods of employee feedback, motivation, disciplinary matrix and progressive discipline; management theory and practices; ability to set clear expectations of individuals and hold them accountable; coach/guide subordinates and provide timely feedback; recognize performance and show appreciation; demonstrate knowledge of subordinate personnel and significant personal events; measure progress against goals; handle performance issues, use disciplinary matrix, and use both non-disciplinary and progressive disciplinary processes as appropriate; ensure that employees receive appropriate training; solicit input to accurately assess employee performance; demonstrate compassion/support; and adapt management style to situation.

8. Building and Supporting Teamwork
Ability to facilitate expectations/standards of team; build unit/squad teamwork; clarify team-level goals; perceive conflict underlying the team and take actions to rectify; and build lateral relationships effectively.

9. Partnering with the Community
Knowledge of Community Oriented Policing; ability to be sensitive to comments made in public forums; establish and maintain good public relations; make effective public presentations to diverse groups; and conduct on-camera news releases.

10. Demonstrating Department’s Values
Ability to ensure that all personal and professional conduct and activity are consistent with the Department values – Integrity, Courage, Accountability, Respect for People, and Excellence – including the ability to:

11. Exemplify Integrity by demonstrating and modeling honest and ethical behavior with others, both on and off duty; demanding others to demonstrate high ethical standards on duty and encouraging the same standard off duty;

demonstrating an awareness that s/he carries the public trust and does not abuse this trust, on or off duty; and evaluating situations and using good judgment to make decisions when no clear policy exists.

12. Exemplify Courage by standing up for what s/he believes, even under pressure; taking reasonable, calculated risks; demonstrating perseverance and commitment in difficult situations; supporting others under difficult or challenging circumstances; demonstrating innovativeness; and challenging the conventional ways of doing things

13. Exemplify Accountability by accepting responsibility for successes and failures experienced by subordinates, team, unit or bureau; accepting ownership for own decision and accepting responsibility for any consequences; and making realistic commitments and determining ability to follow through with commitments before accepting them.

14. Exemplify Respect for Others by recognizing desired behavior and rewarding such behavior; avoiding public displays of anger and criticism; appreciating the value of diversity regardless of culture, race, ethnicity, gender,

religion, sexual preference, age, etc.; and not tolerating destructive comments about people or groups, and taking the necessary steps to ensure a work environment tolerant and respectful of diversity.

15. Exemplify Excellence by consistently identifying high standards for self and others and following up to ensure the standards are being met; demonstrating professionalism in the performance of job duties; promoting creativity, innovation, imagination and fresh ideas, and fostering same in subordinates; managing progress to ensure that desired results are achieved; and modeling a positive attitude to others, all in support of the Department values

16. Exhibiting Strong Personal Character
Ability to maintain a positive demeanor; handle public criticism effectively; and exhibit self-confidence.

17. Striving for Continuous Improvement/Personal Growth
Ability to value continuing education, training and experience; and bring a variety of experiences to the assignment.

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1=Low; 5=High

Self-ranking

I AM READY FOR THE ROLE BECAUSE:

Overall, I need to improve in the following areas:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Overall, my main strengths are:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After reviewing the KSA’s, I feel I am:

Consider the various exercises used in Assessment Centers. Which of them would help raters observe and evaluate your “readiness” levels in the various scenarios? In-Basket, Presentation, Written, Employee/Subordinate counseling, Training, Community Meeting, Leaderless group/meeting management or a tactical scenario? Your role is to start to practice those scenarios with the KSA’s in mind as to how you can integrate them into your own responses. It is the KSA’s that the raters generally are using to score you. You don’t demonstrate your own abilities in those areas, your scores may be low. Use every day as “free practice”!