|
 |
  
|
he process that a Police Officer Candidate must complete before
they can become a Philadelphia Police Officer consists of eleven
steps. Candidates must submit an application, successfully complete
a written examination, a reading exam, physical fitness test,
a drug screening test, a psychological evaluation, a medical examination,
a background investigation, a thirty-two week training program,
and a one year on-the-job probationary period before becoming
a police officer in the City of Philadelphia.
Employment Application
The City of Philadelphia will require that applicants for open
competitive examinations for Civil Service positions submit an
application fee of $35.00, via check or money
order, to cover the cost of processing the application. The
fee will be waived for applicants who can demonstrate financial
need. Any employment application received without the fee
will be rejected and the applicant will not be permitted to compete
in the examination.
Employment Applications will only be available after an examination
has been announced. They can then be obtained at the following
locations:
| • |
Personnel Department's Application Center
Municipal Services Building Concourse
1401 John Fitzgerald Kennedy Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Hours: Weekdays from 9:00 AM untl 5:00 PM |
| • |
Philadelphia Police Recruitment Unit
22nd Hunting Park Avenue
2nd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19140
215.683-COPS (2677)
215.685-3026
215.685-3027
215.685-3028
215.685-3029 (FAX) |
| • |
Philadelphia Police Headquarters
One Franklin Square
Philadelphia, PA 19106 |
| • |
Local Police Districts |
| • |
Philadelphia Police Web Site |
Written Examination
Candidates will be administered a multiple choice examination
that will last approximately two hours and thirty minutes and
contains approximately 100 questions. The examination is designed
to test competencies that are important to performing the duties
of a Police Officer. On the day of the examination, before the
examination is administered, candidates are given a pre-examination
study booklet that contains information to help them successfully
complete the examination and a forty-five minute study period
to review the information contained therein.
 Reading
Examination
Prospective Philadelphia Police Officers will be required to complete
the
Nelson-Denny
Reading Test.
 Physical
Fitness & Agility Test
Prospective Philadelphia Police Officers will be required to complete
the Physical Fitness Test (see
'Requirements' for details). Before the test, applicants
will be required to undergo a brief medical examination to insure
they are healthy enough to perform the test.
 Drug-Screening
Test
Police Officer Candidates will be subjected to a drug-screening
test. Random drug-screening is also performed on all active Philadelphia
Police Officers throughout their career.
 Personal
Data Questionnaire (PDQ) Interview
Prior to beginning the background investigation, candidates must
complete an exhaustive background questionnaire called the "PDQ".
Every aspect of the candidates previous history is to be recorded
on this document. Police background investigators provide this
form to candidates at their first orientation session and explain
how to properly complete it. Because it is so comprehensive, candidates
are given the questionnaire and instructed to take it home, conduct
the necessary research to complete it, and then to return it to
the Internal Investigations Unit located at 22nd & Hunting Park
Avenue. It is critical that this form be completed truthfully
and in its entirety. Any falsehoods are grounds for immediate
rejection.
 Background
Investigation
During this phase of the process, members of the Recruit Background
Investigations Unit initiate contact with individuals in your
employment history, family, friends, associates and neighbors.
In addition to contacting these principles, they may also speak
to persons they identify as having known you.
Investigators will contact former employers and review your work
history, they will speak to coworkers, teachers, and anyone else
who can offer insights into your character and fitness for police
work. Our efforts are designed to gain an understanding of the
kind of person you are and to exclude candidates who have demonstrated
character traits that are inconsistent with the highest values
of the profession.
We seek candidates with the highest moral and ethical standards
for our agency. The background investigation must indicate that
you have the necessary morality, honesty, trustworthiness and
integrity to join our ranks. You must pass this phase to proceed
to the next step in the selection process.
 Medical
Evaluation
The medical evaluation consists primarily of a complete physical
examination. You will have a medical history, EKG, eye examination
(corrected vision must be 20/20), your breathing tested, you will
be subject to color blindness tests, and other examinations consistent
with a thorough physical examination. You will also have to submit
to a drug screening test during this examination.
You will have your height and weight recorded and evaluated. Your
weight must be proportionate to your height. Applicants who are
overweight will be informed of the target weight they must attain
before being eligible for appointment. Applicants who fail to
meet the weight requirement will be examined again at a later
date.
The physical examination is given to all candidates as part of
their pre-employment screening requirement. Applicants must pass
this phase before proceeding to the next step in the selection
process.
 Psychological
Evaluation
Candidates who pass the written examination are required to take
the MMPI-2, which is a computer administered, true-false personality
inventory. They are then required to have a one hour psychological
evaluation with a State of Pennsylvania licensed psychologist.
 Training
Program
If you've satisfactorily completed the process this far, you will
be placed on an eligibility list. When vacancies exist and training
classes are scheduled, candidates are sequentially drawn from
this list and invited to attend the scheduled training class.
If notified that you have been selected to attend the Police Academy,
you will undergo thirty (30) weeks of intensive training designed
to produce the best police officers in the country.
 On-The-Job
Probation
Candidates who successfully complete their training are promoted
to Police Officer I and assigned to a patrol district. The graduation
date marks the beginning of a one year probationary evaluation
period. During this period the conduct of probationary officers
will be under close scrutiny. At the conclusion of that year of
service probationary officers are appointed as permanent employees
as Police Officers.
| Information
listed here is believed to be current at the time of publication.
However, some of the material presented here may have expired
since it was posted. Persons should contact a Philadelphia Police
representative whenever relying on dated material or information
that is subject to change. |
|
| |
|
This page is entitled:
The URL of the page is:
Downloaded at:
|
|
|
