Police Plan Job Testing For New Patrol Officers

By Andrew Gorosko

The town is again working to create a pool of applicants from which it will choose people to become new police patrol officers.

The police department is currently at its full complement of 43 sworn officers. In its budget proposal for the 2005-06 fiscal year, the Police Commission is seeking to create a 44th police officer position.

The starting pay for the patrol officer position is $40,298 annually, plus fringe benefits. The starting pay is higher for people who already have police academy certifications. The Police Commission will consider hiring people who already are police officers elsewhere. Applicants must be at least 21 years old by July 30, 2005.

Positions that become vacant as police officers leave the police department would be filled by the Police Commission from by the pool of applicants to be created through the upcoming police officer testing process.

The town plans to hold a written examination for the post of police patrol officer at 9 am on Saturday, April 2, at the Newtown High School cafeteria. The written test takes approximately four hours to complete. Applications to take that test are available at the police station at 3 Main Street. There is a $50 nonrefundable fee to take the test. Completed applications and accompanying fees must be returned to the police station in person by 4 pm on March 21.

People who pass the written test will be required to take a physical fitness test. That test will be conducted on Saturday, April 23, at the Newtown High School sports stadium.

Before the physical fitness test may be taken, applicants must have their physicians’ formal approval to do so. Those without physicians’ approvals will not be allowed to take the fitness test.

Physical testing includes a 1.5-mile run, sit-ups, sit-and-reach exercises, and push-ups. Performance standards are based on age and gender.

People who have been convicted of a felony or convicted of a Class A or Class B misdemeanor are not eligible to apply.

After the pool of job applicants is reduced following the written and physical tests, the Police Commission conducts interviews with the job seekers. Based on those interviews, the commission develops a list of job candidates who would receive conditional offers of employment, provided that the candidates meet applicable hiring standards. Potential employees are subject to medical examinations, psychological testing, polygraph tests, and personal background checks..

The lengthy police hiring process is designed to find people who are best suited for police work.