As a police officer, you never know what situation you might be dealing with from one day to the next, which can be challenging, but also extremely exciting. The first step in progressing to the line of duty, is to create an outstanding police cover letter, and this is where Resume.io can help.
With dozens of cover letter examples and writing guides, Resume.io is an expert resource for job seekers in all industries and career stages. Here’s what we’ll cover in this writing guide and corresponding police cover letter example:
- The best format to use for your police cover letter to make it easy to read and enticing to the hiring manager.
- Optimising each section of your cover letter: header, greeting, introduction, middle part and closing
- Common cover letter mistakes to avoid
Best format for a police cover letter
It’s important to be clear about the purpose of your cover letter before you get started. The cover letter is a short introduction to your skills and expertise, which then — if intriguing enough — leads the hiring manager to your CV. One page is more than enough for the length of your cover letter.
The format of your cover letter should look like this:
- Header
- Greeting
- Introduction
- Body (middle part)
- Conclusion
Below is a police cover letter example that you can customize for the position and hiring organization.
Dear Mr Taylor,
With three years of experience in the Metropolitan Police Department, I am excited about the opportunity to become a valued member of your patrol team upon my move to Leeds.
In my current position, it is gratifying to know that I'm making a difference in keeping our neighborhoods safe. When citizens feel confident coming to me with questions or concerns, I see the impact of community policing initiatives that keep our streets crime-free while also helping vulnerable individuals.
As an authorised firearm officer, I now look forward to using my skills in the Civil Nuclear Constabulary — a prospect that I would relish. A desire to learn, adapt to new surroundings and thrive on challenges are key attributes of a successful police officer, which you can be assured I would bring to Leeds.
When not on duty, I am an avid runner. Keeping myself physically fit by participating in races on a regular basis, and measuring my progress, are instrumental to continually advancing my fitness goals.
I look forward to discussing the role in more detail and the qualities you expect in the ideal candidate. Please contact me by phone or email to set up a chat at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Lisa Smith
Let’s look at the desired ingredients for each cover letter component.
For more ideas and inspiration, take a look at these other cover letter examples and writing guides:
Cover letter header
A key objective of the cover letter header is to inform the recruiter of how to get in touch with you. Your cover letter might land on a few different desks throughout its journey, so it’s important that your personal details are prominent. The cover letter header should include your name, occupation, mobile number, email address and any other relevant information, such as your LinkedIn profile.
The details will usually be in a larger font than the rest of your cover letter, so that the hiring manager can absorb the details, at a glance. Our police cover letter sample can give you a head start.
The goal of this section: Let the hiring manager know how to get in touch with you.
Cover letter greeting
In a social setting or in informal correspondence, we would use more informal greetings such as “Hi” or “Hello.” In a cover letter, however, the salutation “Dear Mr./Ms./Dr. Surname,” is the correct form of address. Make every effort to find out the recipient's name and use it, as this will help you build rapport with the hiring manager.
If you can’t track down anyone's name, “Dear Recruitment Team,” or “Dear Hiring Manager,” is the best alternative — whatever is applicable to the recruiting police organization.
The goal of this section: Address the recipient in a way that shows respect, while personalising your greeting to build rapport.
Never underestimate the power of using someone’s name as a means of building rapport. As Dale Carnegie stated in his best-selling book "How to Win Friends and Influence People", a person’s name is the "sweetest, most important sound" and a way to make people feel "valued and important".
Cover letter introduction
The cover letter introduction is your opening statement to the hiring manager, and it could determine whether or not they decide to read on. You can let the hiring manager know what role you are applying to, but then you want to include an attention-grabbing statement or two.
The goal of this section: Grab attention and give the recipient a reason to keep reading.
For ideas, check out our adaptable cover letter greeting and introduction sample below.
Dear Mr Taylor,
With three years of experience in the Metropolitan Police Department, I am excited about the opportunity to become a valued member of your patrol team upon my move to Leeds.
Cover letter middle part (body)
The body of the cover letter is the section where you describe all your best assets, as well as any achievements. A police officer needs to have an array of qualities. They need to be excited by a challenge, while simultaneously maintaining a calm demeanour. Police officers are there to protect society. If they show any fear, anarchy could be consequential.
Highlight the attributes that make you the perfect candidate for this police role. What can you bring to the job and why should the recruiter choose you?
The goal of this section: Inform the reader of the qualities that make you a fantastic police officer.
Our police cover letter sample illustrates what you might include in the middle part.
In my current position, it is gratifying to know that I'm making a difference in keeping our neighborhoods safe. When citizens feel confident coming to me with questions or concerns, I see the impact of community policing initiatives that keep our streets crime-free while also helping vulnerable individuals.
As an authorised firearm officer, I now look forward to using my skills in the Civil Nuclear Constabulary — a prospect that I would relish. A desire to learn, adapt to new surroundings and thrive on challenges are key attributes of a successful police officer, which you can be assured I would bring to Leeds.
When not on duty, I am an avid runner. Keeping myself physically fit by participating in races on a regular basis, and measuring my progress, are instrumental to continually advancing my fitness goals.
How to close a police cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
Now it’s time to wrap up your cover letter. Include a call to action that expresses your interest in the position and encourages the hiring staff to get in touch with you.
Then use a formal sign off, such as “Sincerely.”
The goal of this section: End on a positive note and leave the employer wanting to learn more.
See how this is done in our police cover letter sample conclusion.
I look forward to discussing the role in more detail and the qualities you expect in the ideal candidate. Please contact me by phone or email to set up a chat at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Lisa Smith
The bar is set high for police officers to do everything by the books, with no missteps. Avoiding cover letter mistakes is crucial to demonstrate your regard for correctness.
- Make sure to customise your cover letter for each police department you apply to.
- Eliminate spelling and grammar mistakes by using spell-check or asking a friend to proofread.
- An attractive page layout will also make a big difference. Using one of our professionally-designed cover letter templates can make this task quick and easy.
Key takeaways for a police cover letter
- Use the standard cover letter structure to ensure you include all of the elements conveying your police skills and expertise.
- Show your personality in your police cover letter, and refrain from using generic, unremarkable wording.
- Your cover letter tone should be professional, but friendly and personable.
- Check out our adaptable police cover letter sample for more ideas on creating a great page layout.
