subject: Police Personal History Statement Overview [print this page] Police Personal History Statement Overview
Police Personal History Statement PHS
Upon completing your initial police exam and passing your physical, there is the PHS or personal history statement. This particular part of the police hiring process can be one of the most strenuous for many applicants. The first time that I filled out the massive form I was a bit unprepared and didn't know what to expect; in the following paragraphs I will give you some information that will hopefully prepare you.
What exactly is the PHS? The PHS is a form that is about 40 or so pages that will ask you about your life. Everything from a fight that you had in high school to the last time that you had a run in with the law and everything in between. Of the PHS that I have personally filled, about 2 of them had a section for you to write a short paper on why you want to become a police officer, make sure your handwriting is up to par as well as your spelling and grammar. You will be supplied with a pen so take your time and don't rush things.
Make sure to divulge any information in regards to contacts with the police, even if you were just a witness to something or if you had a traffic stop, WRITE IT DOWN. There was an instance where I forgot to mention a traffic stop and it came up in one of my interviews, the police know more than you think so be smart.
This next paragraph is important, so read it twice if you have to. The PHS is used for your polygraph exam. Everything that you write down on the PHS (personal history statement) better be the truth because it will come up again down the line. Not only that but when you are done with the PHS you will have the same exact form to take home and fill out, do this as soon as you can and get it back. If you let the PHS sit at home for weeks you may forget some of the things that wrote down (it can happened).
My last suggestion for your personal history statement is to just be honest. After my physical fitness test and waiting for hours I was called into a room to fill out this for which took another few hours, needless to say I was fatigued and mentally exhausted. Have your thinking cap and remember what you wrote down, this is very easy if your telling the truth!
Thanks for reading and check back here at police exam tips for more info. The next segment will be on every ones favorite part of the process, the polygraph exam.
