Police Cover Letter Example & Writing Guide
Without police officers, we would be living in chaos. Police protect the public, prevent and deal with crime, and help citizens lead a happy, less fearful existence. 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.
Being accepted into the police force is by no means trivial. You need to pass various tests including medical and fitness before you will even be considered. The first step in progressing to the line of duty, is to create an outstanding 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 stages of their careers. 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.
- The ideal structure to use for your cover letter
- How to bring your personality to the forefront of your cover letter.
The UK has now recruited over 50% of the 20,000 extra police officers required and an increasing number of police staff are women. Women made up 45% of the new police officers joining the force between July and September 2021.
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 will then lead 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
- Main body
- Conclusion
Dear Mr Taylor,
With three years of experience in the Metropolitan Police Department, I am keen to be of value to your patrol team upon my move to Leeds.
In my current position, I enjoy knowing that I'm making a difference in keeping our neighborhoods safe. When residents feel they can come to me with questions or concerns, I see the impact of community policing initiatives that keep our streets crime-free while also helping vunerable individuals.
As an authorised firearm officer, I am now looking to use my skills in the Civil Nuclear Constabulary – a prospect that I find extremely exciting. A desire to learn, adapt to new surroundings and thrive on challenges are key elements of a successful police officer, and these are attributes I plan to bring to Leeds.
When not on duty, I am a keen runner. I keep myself physically fit by participating in races on a regular basis and measuring my progress to advance my fitness goals.
I look forward to discussing the role in more detail and the attributes you desire for the ideal candidate. Please contact me by phone or email to set up a chat at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Lisa Smith
Cover letter header
The objective of the cover letter 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 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 with informal correspondence, we would use more informal greetings, such as ‘hi’ or ‘hello.’ In a professional cover letter, you should avoid these casual greetings, in favour of more formal alternatives such as ‘Dear.’ Where possible, you should find out the name of the recipient and use this, as it will help you to build rapport with the hiring manager. If you can’t track this down, use ‘Recruitment Team’ or similar.
The goal of this section: Address the recipient in a way that shows respect, while personalising it 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 novel ‘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
Your introduction is your opening statement to the hiring manager, and it could determine whether they decide to read on. You can let the hiring manager know what role you are applying to, but then you want to ensure that you include a statement that is attention grabbing. Check out our adaptable cover letter sample for more ideas.
The goal of this section: Grab attention and give the recipient a reason to keep reading.
Dear Mr Taylor,
With three years of experience in the Metropolitan Police Department, I am keen to be of value to 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 your main attributes that make you the perfect candidate for the role. What can you bring to the role and why should they choose you? Get more insight into these questions in our adaptable cover letter example.
The goal of this section: Inform the reader of your main attributes that make you a fantastic police officer.
In my current position, I enjoy knowing that I'm making a difference in keeping our neighborhoods safe. When residents feel they can come 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 am now looking to use my skills in the Civil Nuclear Constabulary – a prospect that I find extremely exciting. A desire to learn, adapt to new surroundings and thrive on challenges are key elements of a successful police officer, and these are attributes I plan to bring to Leeds.
When not on duty, I am a keen runner. I keep myself physically fit by participating in races on a regular basis and measuring my progress to advance my fitness goals.
How to close a police cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
Now it’s time to wrap up your cover letter. A good way to finish it off is with a call to action. This sentence expresses your interest in the position and encourages the hiring staff to get in touch with you. You should also use a formal sign off, such as “Sincerely.” Make sure you end on a positive note and leave the employer wanting to learn more. See how this is done in our adaptable cover letter sample.
I look forward to discussing the role in more detail and the attributes you desire for the ideal candidate. Please contact me by phone or email to set up a chat at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Lisa Smith
By avoiding basic cover letter mistakes, you can make a positive first impression and stand out among other applicants. Make sure to customise your cover letter for each police department you apply to and 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. A professionally-designed cover letter template can make this task quick and easy.
Key takeaways
- Use our standard structure to ensure you cover the main elements of your skills and expertise.
- Show your personality in your cover letter, and refrain from using ‘generic’ lines.
- Stick to a professional, but friendly and personable approach with your cover letter.
- Check out our adaptable police cover letter sample for more ideas on creating a great page layout.
