Police Personal History Statement: Common Questions and Mistakes

Completing your police Personal History Statement can feel overwhelming. You’re gathering years of employment, addresses, references, and personal information—and wondering whether something you write could affect your chances of getting hired.
 
Maybe you haven’t submitted your PHS yet. Maybe you already turned it in and just remembered a job, an address, or an incident you forgot to include.
 
The starting point is the same: read the department’s instructions carefully, provide accurate information, and address concerns directly. Below are answers to common questions applicants have about completing and correcting their PHS.
 
Questions Covered on This Page
 

• What is a police Personal History Statement?

• What if I forgot to list a job on my PHS?

• What should I do if I discover a mistake after submitting it?

• What if I can’t remember exact employment or residence dates?

• What if my answers differ from a previous application?

• How much explanation should I provide?

• Can a PHS mistake get me disqualified?

• What should I check before submitting my PHS?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   

What Is a Police Personal History Statement?
A Personal History Statement, commonly called a PHS, is a detailed questionnaire used during the law enforcement hiring process. It gives the background investigator information to review and verify when evaluating your suitability for the position.
 
Depending on the agency and form, it may cover employment, education, residences, references, finances, driving history, military service, drug use, and criminal activity or police contacts.
 
Your PHS requires more detail than a résumé. Follow the wording and time periods in each question rather than deciding on your own what the investigator needs to know.
 
What If I Forgot to List a Job on My PHS?
If the job falls within the question’s reporting requirements, contact the investigator or designated agency representative promptly and explain the omission. Ask how to submit the additional information.
 
A job may still need to be listed even if you worked there briefly, left during training, or never included it on your résumé. The department’s instructions determine what belongs on the form.
 
Provide the information you can verify, including the employer, dates, position, and reason for leaving. Explain honestly why it was missing. Don’t wait to see whether the investigator discovers it.
 
What Should I Do if I Discover a Mistake After Submitting It?
Contact the investigator or agency representative, identify the question or section, and explain what needs to be corrected. Follow their instructions for providing an amendment, replacement page, or other documentation.
 
Be specific. Saying “I noticed an error in my employment dates” is a starting point, but the investigator also needs to know which employer and what the correct dates are.
 
Keep a copy of the correction and any instructions you receive. Taking the initiative to correct an error is appropriate, but it doesn’t guarantee how the agency will evaluate the information.
 
What If I Can’t Remember Exact Employment or Residence Dates?
Start by checking available records. Old emails, leases, pay statements, tax documents, school records, and employer records may help you reconstruct your history.
 
Don’t present an uncertain date as an exact fact. If you still can’t verify the information, ask the agency how it wants you to handle an estimate or an unavailable record.
 
Some forms allow approximate dates with an explanation. Others provide different instructions. Follow the requirements of the department receiving your PHS.
 
What If My Answers Differ From a Previous Application?
First, compare the questions. Different departments may ask for different time periods or define what must be reported differently.
 
If you discover that an earlier answer was inaccurate or incomplete, don’t repeat it simply to make your applications match. Provide accurate information and explain the difference when appropriate. If the earlier application is still active, contact that agency about its correction process.
 
Keep copies of your submissions so you can review what you previously reported. Consistency matters, but repeating an error doesn’t make it accurate.
 
How Much Explanation Should I Provide?
Provide enough information for the investigator to understand what happened and how it answers the question.
For an incident requiring an explanation, that may include when it occurred, what you did, the circumstances, and the outcome. When relevant, explain what changed afterward.
 
A response such as “miscommunication” or “personal reasons” may leave important questions unanswered. At the same time, a long explanation can become confusing if it includes unrelated details.
 
Use clear sentences, stay focused, and describe your own actions accurately. Read the question again after writing your answer to make sure you addressed every part.
 
Can a PHS Mistake Get Me Disqualified?
It can, depending on the mistake, its significance, the circumstances, and the agency’s standards. An inaccurate answer may raise questions about attention to detail, judgment, or honesty.
 
An honest mistake and a deliberate omission are different circumstances. However, calling something a mistake doesn’t automatically resolve the concern. The investigator will evaluate the explanation along with the available information.
 
You can’t control the department’s decision. You can control how carefully you complete the form and how promptly and honestly you address an error.
 
What Should I Check Before Submitting My PHS?

Before submitting your statement:
 

• Read the agency’s instructions and every question carefully.

• Check that you answered every required item.

• Review employment and residence histories for missing entries or unexplained gaps.

• Verify dates and contact information where possible.

• Make sure written explanations address the actual question.

• Check spelling, punctuation, and sentence clarity.

• Complete required signatures, initials, and attachments.

• Save a complete copy of your submission.
   

Give yourself time for a final review. A form that looks finished may still contain a missing answer, an incorrect date, or an explanation that needs clarification.
 
Want More Help Preparing Your PHS?
This page addresses common concerns, but preparing your statement means working through the details of your own history.
 
The Personal History Statement (PHS) Complete Law Enforcement Applicant Guide from BackgroundPrep.com provides additional preparation guidance as you work through your packet.
 
Use it alongside your department’s instructions to approach your PHS with greater preparation and a clearer understanding of what you’re being asked to provide.
 
About BackgroundPrep
BackgroundPrep.com was founded by Jim Kurkoske, an active background investigator and retired police lieutenant. His experience includes more than 1,000 background investigations.
 
BackgroundPrep helps law enforcement applicants prepare for the hiring process with practical guidance on personal history statements, interviews, and background investigations.
 
Forms, reporting requirements, and hiring standards vary by agency. Always follow the instructions provided by the department receiving your application.