Police officer recommendation letters can strengthen the application of anyone who wants to work as a police officer. Regardless of your professional experience level, these letters might help highlight your skill set and unique qualities or characteristics. Recommendation letters can provide value during the application process and may help attract attention from police chiefs. In this article, we explain what a police officer recommendation letter is, highlight things to consider including in your letter, share steps for how to write this type of recommendation letter and provide two templates and examples.
Police officer recommendation letters are formal letters describing the benefits an officer may provide to a police station where they have applied to work. Recommendation letters might also include the characteristics or skill sets of the professionals they reference. Typically, former police chiefs write these letters for prospective police officers, police academy officials, colleagues whom they have worked with or as general character references for friends or family. Individuals writing these letters may share them with the recipient via mail or email.
Hiring police chiefs may reference these letters when determining which candidates to interview, throughout interviews and during their decision-making processes. For example, a candidate with strong recommendation letters may get an interview because they helped attract positive attention. For this reason, it may benefit applicants to ask multiple people to write recommendation letters on their behalf.
The primary goal of police officer recommendation letters is to attract the attention of hiring police chiefs, so it's important to highlight the best features of the individual you are writing about. Here are some specific elements you may include:
Introduction to the individual you are writing about and their professional background
The relationship you have or have had with them
How long you have known them
Any relevant work experiences between you and the individual
Skill sets or capabilities they have
Qualities or characteristics you have observed
Any working relationships of theirs that you have observed
Summary of why you believe they would be a good hire
Here are five steps you might consider when writing a police officer recommendation letter:
Introduce the candidate you are writing the recommendation letter for. This may be important if hiring police chiefs haven't thoroughly looked over each officer's resume yet, and if they have, this introduction might remind them of who the letter is about in relation to the resume they reviewed. Things to reference or discuss in this section of your letter might be:
The candidate's full name
Their previous relevant experiences
Any adjectives to describe the candidate
In the next section, you may share your relationship with the candidate. Depending on the type of police officer recommendation letter, this might be a professional or personal relationship. Things to reference or discuss in this section of your letter might be:
How you know the candidate
How long you have known them
The current relationship between the two of you
For this next part, you may share any professional experiences you have had with the candidate. For example, if you used to be colleagues or if you were formerly their police chief, this information would be relevant. Things to reference or discuss in this section of your letter might include:
Experiences you have had working with them
Skill sets or capabilities of the candidate
Examples of things you worked on together
In this section of the letter, you may share your observations of the candidate. Depending on your relationship and the time you have known them, the amount and types of observations you have may vary. Things to reference or discuss in this section of your letter might be:
Qualities and characteristics of the candidate
Working relationships you have seen them engage in
Accomplishments they have achieved
In this last section, you can summarize all the important information you have previously stated in the letter. This is a good place to highlight key points included in the letter and remind the reviewer of the benefits the candidate can offer them. Things to reference or discuss in this section of your letter might be:
Benefits the candidate might offer
Reasons you believe they may be a good hire
A statement that makes it clear you recommend them
Here are two templates you might use to write your letter depending on your relationship to the officer being recommended:
[Name][City, state][Phone number]
[Email]
Dear [Insert name of recipient],
I am writing this letter on behalf of [insert candidate's full name]. [Insert candidate's first name] has been a police officer for [ insert number] years. [Insert pronoun] has worked on [insert list of things they have professionally worked on]. If I were to describe [insert candidate first name] in three words, they would be [insert positive adjectives about candidate].
I know [insert candidate name] because we used to work together as police officers for [insert amount of time]. Although we no longer work together, we still keep in contact. When we worked together, we [insert what you did while previously working with the candidate]. During our time, I noticed [describe skill sets or capabilities you noticed about the candidate]. For example, they used these when we [provide an example of when they used those skill sets or capabilities]. I also observed their [insert qualities and characteristics about the candidate].
Everyone in our team [insert what their other teammates thought of them]. We even awarded them [insert award they received]. I am confident that if you hire [insert candidate's full name], [insert pronoun] will provide benefits to your team. These may include [insert list of benefits the candidate may offer]. I say this because I have seen firsthand how they work as a police officer and interact with their teammates and community. I, [insert your full name], recommend [insert candidate's full name] for the position of police officer and hope that you consider them for this opportunity.
Sincerely,
[Insert your full name]
[Name][City, state][Phone number]
[Email]
Dear [insert name of recipient],
I am writing this letter on behalf of [insert candidate's full name]. [Insert candidate's first name] has been a [insert their previous job title] for [insert number] years. [Insert pronoun] has worked on [insert list of things they have professionally worked on]. If I were to describe [insert candidate first name] in three words, they would be [insert positive adjectives about candidate].
I know [insert candidate name] because we have [ insert relationship details] for [insert amount of time]. Although I have never worked with them professionally, I have gotten to know them as an individual. I have observed the [insert information about qualities and characteristics]. For example, [provide an example of them showing those qualities or characteristics].
I am confident that if you hire [insert candidate's full name], [insert pronoun] will offer benefits to your team. These may include [insert list of benefits the candidate may offer]. I say this because I have known them for [insert amount of time] and seen how they interact with others. I, [insert your full name], recommend [insert candidate's full name] for the position of police officer and hope that you consider them for this opportunity.
Sincerely,
[Insert your full name]
Here are two examples you might use to write your letter depending on your relationship to the officer being recommended:
Harold JonesBuffalo, New York(555) 555-555
haroldjones@email.com
Dear Chief Raymond,
I am writing this letter on behalf of Scott Edmonds. Scott has been a police officer for six years. He has worked on providing safety to the communities he services and maintaining official records or documentation. If I were to describe Scott in three words, they would be collaborative, kind and helpful.
I know Scott because we used to work together as police officers for four consecutive years. Although we no longer work together, we still keep in contact. When we worked together, we documented detailed automobile accident reports and performed daily community watch duties. During our time, I noticed he had strong organizational skills and the ability to communicate clearly and professionally. For example, he used these skills when we were filing accident reports or communicating with community members regarding their individual concerns.
I also observed his personable qualities in action whenever he engaged with the community. I also saw his passion for protecting the community. Everyone on our team enjoyed working with him. We even awarded him a rookie leadership award during his first year on the team. I am confident that if you hire Scott Edmonds, he will offer benefits to your team. These may include organization, collaboration or community engagement. I say this because I have seen firsthand how he works as a police officer and interacts with his teammates and community. I, Harold Jones, recommend Scott Edmonds for the position of police officer and hope that you consider him for this opportunity.
Sincerely,
Harold Jones
Eliza RobertsBuffalo, New York(555) 555-555
elizaroberts@email.com
Dear Chief Raymond,
I am writing this letter on behalf of Scott Edmonds. Scott has been a police officer for six years. He has worked on providing safety to the communities he services and maintaining official records or documentation. If I were to describe Scott in three words, they would be personable, outgoing and generous.
I know Scott because we have been neighbors for three years. Although I have never worked with him professionally, I have gotten to know him as an individual. I have observed the dedication he has to protect and serve his community even after leaving the station. For example, my cat ran away one day after slipping out of my front door. Scott helped me post signs around the neighborhood, which eventually resulted in the safe return of my cat.
I am confident that if you hire Scott Edmonds, he will offer benefits to your team. These benefits may include his determination to work tirelessly for his team and to help members of his community. I say this because I have known him for six years and seen how he interacts with others. I, Eliza Roberts, recommend Scott Edmonds for the position of police officer and hope that you consider them for this opportunity.
Sincerely,
Eliza Roberts