An exploratory investigation of police promotional examinations was made in an attempt to improve the testing procedures that were in use. A primary goal of the study was to identify a pool of performances (tasks, behaviors) of police sergeants, lieutenants, and captains that might serve as referrents for job-related test items for promotional examinations for those ranks. A separate booklet of behaviorally stated objectives was prepared for each rank. A six-point frequency scale and a five-point importance scale were provided. A sample of 10 communities was selected for study, with full-time police officers from more than 100 to less than 50. Each behavioral objective was evaluated by men presently serving in the rank and also by men below the rank and above it. Completed forms were received from 8 of the 10 police departments. A two-way analysis of variance with unequal cell frequencies was used to analyze the frequency and importance ratings of each item for each form. The results are tabulated and discussed. (DB)