History of Recruitment and Hiring 
What History? ‘Nil’ For lack of a better word, would describe the history of recruitment and hiring of 
new officers. Before the 1960s, as long as the candidate was a white male, had a heartbeat, and there was an 
opening for a cop, the job was most likely his. Women and officers of color were all but non-existent on the 
force. Women were only allowed into the ‘boys only club’ if they wore a pencil skirt and fit a prescribed role 
consistent with being a woman. In some departments, women were allowed to work in the detective bureau 
and interview children victims, because women supposedly talked to children better than men, because of 
their ‘maternal’ instincts. These stereotypes continued in policing towards women and minorities until new 
laws forbidding such behavior, made their way into the scene. With new employment laws passed between 
the 1960s to the late 1990s, many doors opened for women and minorities. 
Recruitment and Hiring Example 
When I was in the recruitment division of my police department and also as a professor at a university, I 
continually saw future police candidates unprepared for the Law Enforcement Testing Proces, a.k.a. The LET Prep 
For some reason, candidates assumed that if they had their associates, or bachelor’s degree, they did not need to 
study and prepare for the LET Prep. Unfortunately, that could not be farther from the truth. Just like a high school 
student getting ready to enter college, needs to take the ACT or SAT, that student must still study and prepare for 
those tests if there is to be a successful outcome. Due to the importance and multifaceted LET Prep, it is even that 
much more critical that the candidate take the time to train and prepare. When asked how much time should be 
spent studying and preparing? My response was always “as much as you can!” But, in reality, the candidate should 
start preparing a minimum of six months before the written test (which is the beginning step of the LET Prep). 
A good guide is one hour a night. Also, I recommend studying appropriately for each part of the LET Prep. For 
example: The Oral Board Interview should be prepared for with the candidate actually speaking aloud the answers 
to pre-determined questions (such as: “Tell us about yourself”), the candidate should video themselves to playback, 
watch and learn from, and if at all possible the candidate should ask friends and family to sit on a ‘mock oral board 
panel’ and the candidate should answer questions aloud and in front of the panel. The more realistic the training, 
the better prepared the candidate will be. 
The Law Enforcement Testing Preparation (LET Prep) 
One of the most challenging entry-level testing processes in the United States is for the position of police 
officer. A typical ‘regular’ job, such as a cashier at a store, requires the candidate to fill out a job application, 
then go onto a job interview, and poof, they are hired! There is a good reason why the LET Prep is so 
difficult and thorough. Unlike a cashier, a police officer, once hired and trained, becomes the beholder of 
great power with authority to take away a person’s freedom all under the protection of the government to 
shoot and possibly take a life, when a life is threatened. Officers have the authority to take away a person’s 
rights and freedoms and this type of power should not be given to anyone with just the flick of a coin, the 
testing process should be rigorous and thorough. Therefore, with those facts, the law enforcement testing 
process should be thorough and rigorous, to ensure the right candidate is hired. 
When thinking of the LET Prep, it can help to compare it to the ACT, SAT, National Football League 
Training Camp, and military boot camp, all combined. The best way a new candidate can ensure failure is 
to forego studying and go into the process unprepared. 
Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System
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