What is the BPAD (Staff Behavior Assessment Device)?
IT’S TIME TO SHOW … The BPAD, also known as a Video Simulation Exercise, is an assessment exercise that requires you to view a scenario on a TV monitor. The setting represents what police officers experience at work. You will be prompted to respond as if the people on the screen were talking to you. Knowledge of police procedures is not required for this test. But it sure helps. More experienced police officers would do very well on this part of the test.
Assesses an individual’s interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills when dealing with a variety of people in difficult situations, such as those faced by police officers. Therefore, the more you know about how officers respond to a variety of difficult interpersonal situations, the better your B-Pad performance.
B-PAD basics
When taking the BPAD, you will see video-based simulations on a television or computer monitor. The simulations are based on police interpersonal encounters in real life. You are then expected to respond verbally, as if you were talking to real people in a real situation. Their responses are videotaped and then scored using standardized criteria. It is based on the premise that the best indicator of future behavior is observed behavior in similar situations.
Important tip:
By presenting your answers in a logical sequence, you will raise your scores considerably. It will show examiners that you think logically and have planning and organization skills. The examiners don’t rate you for finding the perfect solution, but rather on how well you find a solution and communicate your findings.
BPAD tests your skills with people
As a law enforcement officer, should you be able to work effectively with people? “The B-PAD video tests assess your skills with people and your common sense judgment. Your job knowledge and personality will not be assessed; proficiency. B-PAD measures behavioral skills and abilities that are not easily measured with conventional methods.
Why do law enforcement agencies use B-PAD for testing?
B-PAD is a preferred form of testing because it is a valid and fair method for evaluating the performance of candidates under standardized testing conditions. For example, the oral interview requires candidates to say what they would “do” in response to a hypothetical situation, on the other hand, the B-PAD requires the candidate to demonstrate their skills by interpreting an answer.
What to Expect When Taking the BPAD
By taking the BPAD, you will receive both oral and written instructions. You will then receive instructions again from the video moderator and will be given an opportunity to view and respond to a practice scenario. Scenarios depicting incidents such as an irate citizen, an angry motorist, an insubordinate employee, etc. Each scenario lasts from one to two minutes. Once the scenario is complete, the word “respond” appears on the screen and then you will have a set amount of time (usually around 45 seconds) to respond to the scenario as if you were responding to real people in a real situation.
How to prepare for the B-Pad
You prepare for the B-Pad in the same way that you prepare for the role-play exercise. It’s actually the same thing except that instead of reacting to a real person, you are reacting to a videotape.
Tips for the performance of angry citizens:
The Angry Citizen exercise tests the candidate’s ability to analyze and correct citizen-related problems and calm an angry citizen. The irate citizen on the videotape will be an adversary and will test the candidate’s ability to maintain composure and handle stress.
The evaluators will assess communication, interpersonal sensitivity, judgment, and professionalism. Your success in this exercise depends on your ability to display these qualities.
Example of an angry citizen exercise:
You may receive a note that says something like this; Officer Jones saw Joseph Smith at 1218 North 78th Street regarding a citizen’s complaint. A squad was there before and the citizen was not happy with the service.
The candidate then knocks on a door and the videotape begins: The citizen opens with a statement like: “I can’t believe you finally arrived. I called four times.”
The irate citizen will keep saying something like; “The reason I called originally is because someone broke into my car and it took 45 minutes for the squad to arrive. They just took the information, didn’t take fingerprints and left.”
Suggested answer:
“Hello, this is Officer Jones, I am sorry for your inconvenience. Although you called four times, I received it about ten minutes ago. I arrived as soon as I could so I can help you with the problem.”
The candidate must deal with the irritated mood of the citizen while trying to solve the problem. This is a ploy to test the candidate’s reaction. If the candidate becomes agitated and loses his composure, he will suspend the exercise.
Always remember that part of the test is your composure.
If the candidate remains calm and continues to try to solve the problem, the test administrators usually instruct the irate citizen to calm down. If the candidate achieves this, they will receive high scores for this exercise. Strategy:
Things to keep in mind when handling the irate citizen:
1. Your role play.
2. You represent the organization.
3. Your task is to: a. Calm an irate citizen. B. Offer solutions to help solve the citizen’s problem.
4. How you handle stress and maintain your composure is part of the test.
5. Stay calm and respectful at all times.
6. Use logic and be professional.
7. Explain the organization’s policy, but don’t apologize for it.
8. Keep track of time limits. Solve the problem before time runs out.
9. Indicate that you will speak with all parties involved, investigate the complaint, and communicate the results of your investigation to the citizen. Give specific dates and times to return to the irate citizen with the results.
Example of an irate angry motorist:
You stopped a driver, she gets out of her car, approaches you screaming how you are harassing her because she is a woman and asks if you do that to all the drivers. Then he takes out his D / L and throws it on the ground.
Suggested answer.
He tells women, “I need you to pick up your driver’s license and hand it over to me. Then sit in your car and I’ll be with you in a minute.” If she doesn’t comply, say “please get back in your car.” Then, he picks up the driver’s license and issues you a littering ticket, as well as the original citation.
Be courteous, but firm when you must. Always remember, YOU have to control the scene, don’t let them control you. The BPAD can be a bit intimidating, but if you keep these principles and concepts in mind when taking it, you have a much higher chance of success.
Copyright (c) 2009 Don Cirillo
