OPP Interview Questions: What You Need to Know

If you’re getting ready for an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) interview, you’ve probably been Googling things like OPP interview questions, the OPP interview process, and some last-minute OPP interview tips. Good news—you’re in the right place. 

I’m the Managing Director of anEDGE, Canada’s top law enforcement interview coaching company. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants crush their OPP interviews, and I’m here to give you the breakdown so you know exactly what to expect. 

Let’s get into it. 

The OPP Interview Process 

The OPP interview has two parts: 

  1. Essential Competency Interview (ECI) 
  2. Local Focus Interview (LFI) 

They test very different things, so you need to prep for both. 

  1. Essential Competency Interview (ECI)

The ECI is all about how you’ve handled situations in the past. It’s based on the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) core competencies. 

You’ll get behavioural questions and should answer using the STAR method: 

  • Situation – what was going on? 
  • Task – what was your role? 
  • Action – what did you actually do? 
  • Result – what happened in the end? 

They’re looking for skills like: 

  • Communication 
  • Problem solving 
  • Staying cool under pressure 
  • Working with different people 
  • Building relationships 

Translation: they want to know you’re reliable, adaptable, and professional—even when things get messy. 

  1. Local Focus Interview (LFI)

The LFI is unique to the OPP. Think of it as “Do you actually understand what being an OPP officer means?” 

It’s more conversational, but still serious. Expect OPP interview questions like: 

  • Why do you want the OPP and not another service? 
  • What do you know about the OPP’s mandate and values? 
  • How would you handle being posted in a rural or remote community? 
  • What challenges do you think OPP officers face? 

Here’s the difference: 

  • ECI = your past actions. 
  • LFI = your motivation and fit with the OPP. 

OPP-Interview-Questions

10 Sample OPP Interview Questions 

Here’s a mix of common questions we coach candidates on—5 for ECI and 5 for LFI: 

ECI Questions 

  1. Tell me about a time you had to resolve conflict in a team. 
  2. Describe a situation where you had to adapt to a major change. 
  3. Share an example of when you maintained professionalism under stress. 
  4. Give an example of when you had to solve a difficult problem. 
  5. Describe a time you had to work with someone from a very different background than your own. 

LFI Questions 

  1. Why do you want to join the OPP rather than another police service? 
  2. What do you know about the OPP’s role in Ontario communities? 
  3. How would you handle being posted in a remote community away from family? 
  4. How do you see yourself contributing to community safety as an OPP officer? 
  5. What ethical challenges do you think OPP officers face, and how would you handle them?

Example STAR Answers 

Here are a couple of quick examples of how to structure your answers: 

ECI Question: Tell me about a time you had to resolve conflict in a team. 

  • Situation: During a group project at college, two teammates disagreed on how to divide the workload. 
  • Task: As team lead, I needed to keep the project on track. 
  • Action: I met with both teammates separately, then together, to hear their concerns and find common ground. I reassigned tasks based on strengths and made sure everyone felt heard. 
  • Result: The project finished on time, the conflict didn’t flare up again, and we ended up getting the highest grade in the class. 

LFI Question: Why do you want to join the OPP instead of another service? 

  • Situation: I’ve always wanted a policing role and started researching services across Ontario. 
  • Task: I wanted a service where I could contribute meaningfully to both urban and rural communities. 
  • Action: I researched the OPP’s mandate and spoke with current officers about their experiences. I was drawn to their focus on community safety, traffic enforcement, and serving diverse communities. 
  • Result: I chose to apply to the OPP because I believe the variety of postings and challenges will let me grow as an officer and serve Ontario communities effectively. 

OPP Interview Tips 

Here’s how to show up ready: 

  • Prep real examples for the ECI. Think of times you solved problems, led a group, or stayed calm under pressure. Use STAR. 
  • Do your homework on the OPP. Learn their mandate, history, and current priorities—community safety, traffic enforcement, Indigenous relations. 
  • Show you’re adaptable. The OPP often posts officers in rural or remote areas. Be ready to explain how you’ll thrive anywhere. 
  • Keep your cool. Interviewers are judging your self-control as much as your answers. 
  • Practice. Mock interviews with a coach make a huge difference—what we do at anEDGE. 

How anEDGE Can Help 

At anEDGE, we coach applicants just like you through both the ECI and LFI. With us, you’ll learn how to: 

  • Anticipate OPP interview questions before they’re asked 
  • Master the full OPP interview process so nothing surprises you 
  • Apply insider OPP interview tips to stand out 
  • Speak with confidence and clarity 

We run full mock interviews, so you walk in ready, not nervous. 

With the right prep, you can crush your OPP interview and stand out as the candidate they want. 

Ready to level up? Book your OPP interview coaching session with anEDGE, Canada’s #1 interview prep company. 

OPP-Local-Focus-Interview

Scroll to Top