Critical Concepts & Strategies (CCS Test Prep®)
Dr. David A. Paprota, Ed.D.
Chief of Police (Ret.)
Executive Director & Lead Instructor

As the premier entry-level law enforcement exam preparation company, Critical Concepts & Strategies (CCS Test Prep®) was founded by Dr. David A. Paprota, Ed.D. (Chief of Police, Ret.) to provide law enforcement candidates with the most effective exam preparation training possible. Dr. Paprota served as a Chief of Police with 28 years of law enforcement experience and retired from law enforcement in 2016. Chief Paprota has over 30 years of formal experience training candidates for their competitive, entry-level law enforcement examinations. His formal research and education at Seton Hall University specifically focused on multi-factor psychometric testing which is the form of testing utilized throughout the country in entry-level law enforcement. Chief Paprota’s formal educational credentials, experience in exam preparation, and success in training law enforcement candidates are unmatched in the exam preparation field.

As the Founder and Executive Director of CCS Test Prep®, Chief Paprota ensures that only the most effective educational techniques and materials are utilized in the entry-level law enforcement exam preparation programs. Chief Paprota has personally trained over 20,000 successful law enforcement candidates and incumbents over the past 30 years.

CCS Test Prep® utilizes the most contemporary and sophisticated technology to enhance the learning experience of each student. Exams are formally scored utilizing a sophisticated, proprietary, software-based scoring system developed by Dr. Paprota. This allows for the production of individualized scoring reports at the completion of course assessments. As a result, each student is keenly aware of his or her strengths and weaknesses to better guide the student’s studies as he or she prepares for the actual examination. This important aspect of the course further enhances the learning experience provided through the well-developed instruction, visual presentations, very focused course materials, and practice examinations.

Chief David A. Paprota, Ed.D. (Ret.)
Biographical Information

Chief David A. Paprota began his law enforcement career in 1989 working as a special officer with the Beach Haven Police Department in New Jersey. He attended the Ocean County Police Academy, Class #54, in 1990 where he graduated #1 overall in his class. He joined the Tinton Falls (NJ) Police Department in 1991 after finishing #1 on both the written and the physical open-competitive examination. He transferred to the Lacey Township (NJ) Police Department in 1992.

Chief Paprota was promoted to Sergeant in 1998 after achieving the highest exam score in the State of New Jersey (over 2,500 candidates tested in 1996). He was then promoted to Lieutenant in 2001 after again achieving the highest exam score in the State of New Jersey. Likewise, after achieving the highest exam score in the State of New Jersey, he was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2005. Chief Paprota assumed command of the Lacey Township Police Department in 2012 and was ultimately promoted to the rank of Chief of Police in March of 2013 after the civil service commission and the municipality “waived” the testing process. Chief Paprota officially retired from the police department on August 1, 2016, to continue his formal research and to focus on furthering Critical Concepts & Strategies, LLC – CCS Test Prep®.

Chief Paprota earned a Doctoral Degree, Ed.D., from Seton Hall University in 2012; a post-graduate Educational Specialist Degree, Ed.S., from Seton Hall University in 2008; a Master of Arts Degree, M.A., in Supervision and Administration from Seton Hall University in 1999; and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice in 1996. Dr. Paprota is a graduate of the West Point Command and Leadership Program; he is a Certified Public Manager (CPM) through Fairleigh Dickinson University; and a member of Mensa as well as the National Honor Society. He is a published author and has produced a number of police training manuals.

Chief Paprota has distinguished himself in the world of testing throughout the years by not only achieving the highest examination scores within his department on his promotional examinations, but he further distinguished himself in achieving the highest examination scores throughout the State of New Jersey for each of his promotional examinations. Furthermore, Chief Paprota has conducted focused job-task-analyses as well as authored and administered promotional examination processes for multiple, non-civil service, municipal police departments. Assessment of law enforcement personnel through written and oral testing has been a passion of Chief Paprota’s for over 30 years.

From 2000 through 2012, Chief Paprota served as the vice-president and co-owner of the largest and most successful law enforcement training company in the State of New Jersey. With over 30 years of training experience, after training over 20,000 candidates, Chief Paprota decided to focus exclusively on entry-level law enforcement training with the formation of Critical Concepts & Strategies (CCS Test Prep®). Candidates who do their research will find that CCS Test Prep® is the top entry-level law enforcement training program available.

Unless otherwise indicated, you will be added to the CCS Test Prep® email list to receive updates from Chief Paprota.

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