You’re vigilant and care deeply about the communities you serve. Any police department that brings you on board will be able to feel confident, knowing you’ll work hard to achieve the best outcomes from every situation.
But is your cover letter ready to help get the best result during the hiring process by supplementing your police officer resume?
Since many factors go into the law enforcement hiring process to ensure safe and reliable officers are chosen for duty, we can help with our police officer cover letter examples that can set you on the road to writing a great cover letter for success.
Or try our free cover letter generator to enhance your application, ensuring it aligns perfectly with the expectations of law enforcement agencies.
Copy this text for your police officer cover letter!
123 Fictional Avenue
Detroit, MI 48197
(123) 456-7890
August 15, 2023
Jayden Harris
Detroit Police Department
123 Fictional Lane
Detroit, MI 48197
Dear Mr. Harris:
An experience involving the Detroit Police responding to a break-in spurred my strong desire to serve and protect our community. It was transformational seeing law, science, and community service interlaced seamlessly. Now, I wish to channel my skills and passion, honed over seven years of forensic fieldwork, as a police officer at the Detroit Police Department and make a difference in our community’s safety and well-being.
In my role as a forensic specialist at Michigan State Police, I developed a meticulous eye for detail and a methodological approach to crime scene analysis. I was instrumental in solving 63 complex, stagnant cases, applying my skills to break ground and provide fresh insights. My forensic photographs and fingerprint analysis proved decisive, leading to a 27 percent increase in closed case rates during my first year of work.
Working closely with Detroit Crime Commission, I led an 18-officer task force in comprehensive crime scene investigations. Notably, our work on a high-profile home invasion case resulted in expeditious resolution within 63 days, a reduction of 32 percent compared to similar cases.
Adaptability, teamwork, and professionalism under pressure, combined with my investigative techniques, make me a strong candidate for this role within your department. I am excited to contribute to the Detroit Police Department and uphold its commitment to community engagement and public safety. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to the opportunity to demonstrate the assets I can bring to your department.
Sincerely,
Henrik Nilsson
Enclosures:
Resume
Application
2 letters of recommendation
Why this cover letter works
- Right off the bat, make it clear you want the role. Weaving in keywords from the job description when demonstrating relevant experiences or qualifications in your police officer cover letter is a good way to show you pay attention.
- Use specific successes complemented with statistics to draw more interest to your candidacy. But again, don’t say too much.
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Entry-Level Police Officer Cover Letter Example
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Copy this text for your entry-level police officer cover letter!
123 Fictional Avenue
Denver, CO 81126
(123) 456-7890
August 15, 2023
Mia Miller
University of Colorado Denver Police Department
123 Fictional Lane
Denver, CO 81126
Dear Ms. Miller:
I first learned about the University of Colorado Denver Police Department when I attended a campus safety seminar at the Denver Crime Prevention Symposium. I was immediately drawn to your department’s commitment to fostering a safe and secure learning environment. With skills in evidence collection and preservation, traffic control, and accident investigation, I am excited to contribute to your esteemed team as an entry-level police officer.
During my internship at the Denver Police Department, I assisted experienced officers in managing crime scenes, collecting and preserving evidence, and handling various forensic tools to ensure zero contamination. This hands-on experience allowed me to put my academic knowledge into practice and score an 89% success rate in evidence analysis and suspect identification.
A volunteer program at the Denver Traffic Management Center reinforced my traffic control and accident investigation capability. I handled over 128 traffic situations and investigated approximately 38 vehicular accidents, spurring a 19% increase in the clearance rate for hit-and-run cases.
While pursuing a criminal justice program at the Community College of Denver, I participated in several mock drills simulating various emergency scenarios. These exercises helped me sharpen my decision-making skills and ability to remain calm under pressure, leading to a 93% success rate in executing emergency response plans during simulated exercises.
I am confident that my diverse skills, passion for serving the community, and dedication to public safety make me an exceptional candidate for the entry-level police officer position at the University of Colorado Denver Police Department. Thank you for considering my application, and I am eager to discuss my qualifications further.
Sincerely,
Anastasia Orlov
Why this cover letter works
- Your entry-level police officer cover letter should showcase your ability to promote law and order and dutifully serve the community.
- Of course, you haven’t been able to comprehensively demonstrate the required capabilities, but showing passion for law enforcement goes a long way here. Better yet, highlight relevant accomplishments, praises, or awards earned earlier.
Experienced Police Officer Cover Letter Example
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Copy this text for your experienced police officer cover letter!
123 Fictional Avenue
Milwaukee, MI 53215
(123) 456-7890
August 15, 2023
Samuel Schultz
Aurora Health Care Security
123 Fictional Lane
Milwaukee, MI 53215
Dear Mr. Schultz:
As a seasoned police officer, I thrive in the pulse-racing environment of law enforcement and the sense of fulfillment that comes from keeping communities safe. After honing my skills in firearms proficiency, defensive tactics, and emergency vehicle operation for the past eight years, I am exciteed to bring my experience to a dynamic and impactful organization like Aurora Health Care Security.
During my tenure with the Milwaukee Police Department, I was able to respond to and mitigate an average of 14 critical incidents per week, which was 27% higher than the department’s average. My proficiency in firearms allowed me to ensure personal safety while in field operations, with zero injuries to the public or me.
As a dedicated professional, defensive tactics and conflict management became my strength. During my service at the Wauwatosa Police Department, I led numerous conflict resolution workshops that improved team readiness and resulted in a 24% reduction in incident escalation rate over 18 months.
Being adept in emergency vehicle operations played a crucial role in reducing response times during crises. In my most recent role at West Allis Police Department, I expedited team response times by 17% for 911 calls and critical incidents, contributing significantly to community safety and trust.
I firmly believe that the primary role of a security professional at Aurora Health Care is to enhance the feeling of safety for others, and this conviction makes me an ideal candidate for the role of an experienced police officer at your esteemed organization.
Sincerely,
Chen Lee
Why this cover letter works
- Solid background in law enforcement, risk readiness, and community service puts you ahead of unseasoned candidates. However, how you highlight your past work experiences could make or break your experienced police officer cover letter.
- Rather than just listing your previous workplaces, narrate the skills and experiences obtained, including measurable achievements, without being fluffy.
Top Writing Tips for Your Police Officer Cover Letter
Related cover letter examples
While the ultimate goal is to protect and serve, police officers can hold many roles and responsibilities in that process. Therefore, it’s important to tailor your cover letter to the unique needs of each job you apply to.
For instance, the requirements of a patrol officer will be different from a campus police officer. It would be essential for a campus officer to emphasize the campus culture and unarmed de-escalation skills, whereas the patrol officer may be more focused on emergency response driving and the needs of a specific city or town.
Make an instant connection with the greeting and intro of your police officer cover letter
Just like connection and care are essential when working with local communities, it’s also a big part of landing a job as a police officer.
The first step is addressing someone in specific. Ideally, try to find the name of the precinct’s hiring manager in the job description or online to make your cover letter feel personalized.
Next, you want to connect with the community’s needs or the organization’s goals. For instance, if you were applying to be a campus officer, you could explain how you want to help ensure a safe and secure learning environment for all students in attendance.
Take a look at the opener below and notice that it falls a bit short since it doesn’t connect to any specific mission or the needs of the police department.
Lacking details here!
Dear Mr. Jeffries,
I’m pleased to be applying for the patrol officer position you have available. I believe my skills will be a great fit for your needs.
Instead, aim for an opener like the one below that shows the applicant’s passion for law enforcement while also citing key needs of the position, like firearm proficiency and defensive tactics.
An opener optimized with impactful details!
Dear Mr. Schultz,
Rigorous patrols, deciphering critical incidents, and ensuring safety have profoundly impacted me as a police officer. Scarce beats the pulse-racing environment of law enforcement and the sense of fulfillment that comes from keeping communities safe. After honing my skills in firearms proficiency, defensive tactics, and emergency vehicle operation in Milwaukee, WI, for the past eight years, I am enthralled to bring my experience to a dynamic and impactful organization like Aurora Health Care Security.
Show your impact with the body of your police officer cover letter
As an officer, the results you achieve on the job can impact lives and communities. Therefore, showcasing your qualifications and data about what you’ve achieved is essential in the body of your cover letter.
You’re probably familiar with many metrics police precincts and law enforcement agencies use, like response times and incident de-escalation rates. Any metrics you can use that show how you positively impacted key aspects like those will help you stand out in this section.
You can also list any educational successes that helped build your law enforcement skills, like conflict resolution workshops or emergency response drills.
An excellent body paragraph showcasing success!
Working closely with Detroit Crime Commission, I led an 18-officer task force in comprehensive crime scene investigations. Notably, our work on a high-profile home invasion case resulted in expeditious resolution within 63 days, a reduction of 32 percent compared to similar cases.
Optimize the closing paragraph of your police officer cover letter
Just like you want to ensure you achieve a sound resolution with every call you respond to, your police officer cover letter should come to a well-rounded closing and signoff that convinces hiring managers you’re right for the job.
Ideally, your closing paragraph should relate back to the key details you emphasized in the cover letter and the organization’s mission. For instance, you could connect back to the importance of teamwork and safe de-escalation to achieve public safety and maintain community engagement.
Lastly, end with a light call to action like “I’m eager to discuss my qualifications further,” which solidifies your interest, and say thank you for the hiring manager’s time.
What you don’t want to do is have a closer that feels too generic, like the one below, that doesn’t relate back to any specific details about how the applicant’s skills are a match for the law enforcement team.
The closer should make a better connection than this!
With my well-versed skill set, I believe I would be a great addition to your law enforcement team. Thank you for considering my application.
Sincerely,
Tyler Ericson
Instead, aim for a closer like the one below that showcases a true passion for public safety that the University of Colorado Denver Police Department wants to achieve.
A well-rounded closer reinforcing the applicant’s passion!
I am confident that my diverse skill set, passion for serving the community, and dedication to public safety make me an exceptional candidate for the entry-level police officer position at the University of Colorado Denver Police Department. Thank you for considering my application, and I am eager to discuss my qualifications further.
Sincerely,
Anastasia Orlov
While you may not have direct on-the-job experience, entry-level law enforcement candidates still have lots of information they can include. For instance, you could connect with the police department’s dedication to public safety and how your 98% overall grade on de-escalation exams at the police academy will help you achieve great results.
Your cover letter should be one page in length, which is around 300-500 words. It should provide a concise overview of how your top skills, like weapons handling or the use of forensic tools, will help you succeed on the job.
While you probably have a well-versed skill set of interpersonal and technical skills for every emergency response situation, listing all of your skills would make your cover letter too long and lose a hiring manager’s attention. Instead, focus on key skills like crime scene analysis or emergency response driving that are crucial for the role.
