What would you do if a civilian called you a racial slur or other derogatory term?

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If you have a real-life example to provide, it's a great idea to walk the interviewer through your reaction and the outcome. The interviewer is looking for any indication that you may have a short temper or tend to overreact. Show that you can remain professional and composed, even in uncomfortable situations.

Focus on showing the interviewer that you are thick-skinned and do not let the actions of others rile you up. If you have an example of a similar situation you can share, the interviewer will see that you can handle yourself professionally in stressful situations.

"If a civilian called me a racial slur, I would ignore it. As a border patrol officer, my reaction will fuel the fire, and nobody will get anywhere. I try to remain professional and poised in all situations."

"I have had many insults thrown my way in my career and can say that I prefer to choose kindness over an angry reaction. If someone says something rude to me personally, I can let it slide. I will remind them that my job is to protect others from their poor decisions. Keeping a level head is always the better answer, in my opinion."

"It is challenging not to react when racial slurs are thrown your way. If I have an incredibly non-compliant individual, rather than reacting emotionally, I will find ways to make their day a bit more challenging such as being extra stringent with vehicle checks or background checks. Anything to make them think twice about their poor choices."

Anonymous Answer

"I would address them professionally if speaking to them was necessary. Furthermore, I would not take it personally. I understand that attitudes about law enforcement are generally not attitudes about [My Name]"

Rachelle's Feedback

It's awesome that you can separate yourself from nonsense, knowing the situation would not be personal but an attitude surrounding authority.

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Anonymous Answer

"If I am called a racial slur by a civilian, I will exercise emotional intelligence as a way of de-escalating the situation. For example, I would focus more on the reason behind the action rather than the action itself."

Rachelle's Feedback

Very good approach! Emotional intelligence is hard to come by, but it's so incredibly important.

Anonymous Answer

"First off, I would not take it personally. I would be the bigger person in the situation and definitely maintain my composure. As a professional doing my job, I'd find it best to ignore the racial slur/ derogatory term as two wrongs will not make a right. I would then proceed to do my job as required. If the situation persists or escalates, I would calmly walk away and give them time to think about their actions."

Marcie's Feedback

It sounds like you have a good strategy in place to deal with this sort of situation. Has it ever happened before to you? If so, you could talk about that instance with the interviewer and explain how you handled it. Ignoring the slur and remaining calm are both good ways to ensure you don't escalate the problem. You could also get a supervisor involved if you felt intimidated or like the situation was getting out of hand.

How to Answer: What would you do if a civilian called you a racial slur or other derogatory term?