OFFICE of the SHERIFF Berks County, Pennsylvania General Order x Order Number Special Order Personnel Order

Transcription

1 Subject Hiring Standards for Deputy Sheriffs OFFICE of the SHERIFF Berks County, Pennsylvania General Order x Order Number Special Order Personnel Order Date Of Issue Effective Date Expiration Date November 30, 2015 November 30, 2015 Until Amended or Rescinded Amended Rescinds Meets Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Standard(s) No. of Pages I. Policy: It is the policy of the Berks County Sheriff s Office that personnel shall be allocated to organizational components and functions in accordance with daily, monthly, quarterly, and yearly personnel needs and work load assessments using all resources at its disposal. The Berks County Sheriff s Office is an equal opportunity employer. It is the Sheriff s Office policy to grant equal employment opportunities to qualified persons without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, age, veteran s status, marital status, orientation, or physical or mental handicap or disability; although candidates for employment still must pass rigorous scrutiny for physical, mental, and psychological fitness for duty set forth by the Deputy Sheriffs Education and Training Act (Act 2). II. Applications: A. All applications for the Berks County Sheriff's Office can be found on the Sheriff s Office page on the Berks County, Pennsylvania Web Site ( Click on the Employment Application hyperlink to complete the application. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Deputy Sheriff job description and this General Order prior to applying. B. Applications are turned into Personnel to determine qualifications and scheduling for testing purposes. If initial qualifications are met, and a testing date is scheduled, applicants are notified of the testing date through the mail. C. Sheriff s Office/Personnel may recruit qualified personnel for both sworn and unsworn positions for, but not limited to, any of the following reasons: 1. To attract the most qualified personnel for the position of Deputy Sheriff. 2. To attract the most qualified personnel for civilian positions. III. Hiring Process: General Order: Page 1 of 5

2 A. Applications received by Sheriff s Office. B. Mail notices sent to applicants of future physical agility and written testing dates. Physical agility and written testing dates will be posted on the Sheriff s webpage. (see above) C. Applicants will be required to pass a physical agility and take a written test. Those applicants who pass the physical agility test and take the written test will have their criminal and driver history reviewed; those applicants who fail the criminal and/or driver history check will not be scheduled for interviews. The top 20% of applicants with the highest scores will be contacted and scheduled for the interview panel phase; however, if no applicant from the top 20% is selected, the next 20% of the highest scoring applicants will be contacted and scheduled for the interview phase. Applicants will receive an averaged score from the interview panel. These percentages can be adjusted at the direction of the Sheriff or his/her designee. D. Applicants who receive the highest averaged score from the interview panel will receive priority review in the remaining background investigations when all required documentation is provided by applicant. In addition, a Computer Voice Stress Assessment will be given to applicants in the background process. E. When Deputy Sheriff position(s) become open, the top scoring applicant(s) will receive a written conditional offer of employment and will be required to take, pass, and obtain the following: 1. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Test; 2. Pennsylvania Certificate to Carry; and, 3. Medical Examination and Drug Screening. IV. Standards and Hiring Criteria for Deputy Sheriffs: A. The Sheriff s Office has documented standards and hiring criteria for all sworn deputies. B. Deputies are expected to deliver critical services to citizens who they serve, and they are expected to perform their duties in a professional manner. C. Hiring Criteria (Position Requirements) for Sworn Personnel: 1. Applicants for the position of Deputy Sheriff must possess the requisite skills, knowledge and abilities for the position, including, but not limited to: a. High school diploma or G.E.D. certification from a recognized issuing agency. Page 2 of 5

3 b. Must be at least 21 years of age and a citizen of the United States. c. Must possess a valid Pennsylvania drivers license and be willing to obtain a Commercial Drivers License as required. Must have a class C CDL or permit with Passenger Endorsement at time of hire or obtain within 30 days of hire. Must possess a clean driving record. d. Must obtain a Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms. e. Must undergo a thorough and objective background investigation in accordance with General Order Applicant must not have any prior or pending criminal history. i. Applicants will have 30 days from the receipt of the Background Investigation packet to provide the Sheriff s Office with all required documentation. Failure to meet the aforementioned timeline, absent a mitigating circumstance to be approved by the Sheriff, will result in the applicant no longer being considered for the position. f. Successfully undergo a Psychological Fitness and Emotional Stability Examination in accordance with General Order g. Must successfully complete a physical agility test in accordance with General Order h. Applicants must be physically, mentally, and psychologically able to perform the duties of a Deputy Sheriff. i. Successfully complete a medical examination and drug screening in accordance with General Order In order to serve as a Deputy Sheriff, selected candidate must successfully complete the state mandated 19-week (760 hours) Deputy Sheriffs Basic Training Academy and be issued an Act 2 certification number by the Deputy Sheriffs Education and Training Board within one year of date of hire. If the applicant is Act 120 certified, then he or she must attend 2 weeks of Act 2 Waiver training at Penn State University given by PCCD. Each candidate for Deputy Sheriff is required to pass: a. An extensive background investigation. b. The Sheriff s Office medical examination. c. The Sheriff s Office psychological fitness and emotional stability examination d. Physical agility testing pursuant to Act 2 requirements. e. The applicant will be interviewed by the Sheriff or his/her designee 3. Physical agility a. Every candidate must complete a physical agility test before being hired as a deputy. b. The physical agility test will be based on the criteria set by the Deputy Sheriffs Education and Training Board Act 2 requirements. 4. Conditional Offer of Employment -- Successful candidates for the position of Deputy Sheriff shall receive in writing a conditional offer of employment. After accepting the offer of employment, the candidate must pass the Minnesota Page 3 of 5

4 Multiphasic Personality Inventory Test, obtain a Pennsylvania License to Carry, and pass a medical examination and drug screening before he or she is sworn as a Deputy Sheriff. This conditional offer of employment is further subject to openings and availabilities in the Sheriff s Office. 5. The Sheriff s Office provides the opportunity to test for the position of Sheriff s Deputy on an annual or as needed basis. Those passing the physical agility and written portions of the hiring process, but who have not been invited to interview after six (6) months of passing the physical agility and written tests, must reapply if still interested in a position as a Deputy Sheriff. 6. Those who have completed the interview portion of the hiring process and have not received a conditional offer of employment prior to the next physical agility and written testing date will need to reapply if still interested in the position. Refer to the Sheriff s webpage (listed above) for testing dates. D. Training of Sworn Personnel -- Deputy Sheriffs shall receive training in compliance with the mandates of this Procedural Manual. E. The Oath of Office shall be administered in accordance with the provisions of General Order of this manual. F. Probationary Period for newly hired deputies- 1. The probationary period for newly hired deputies shall be one (1) year. G. In case of emergency, the Sheriff may deputize qualified individuals of sound mind and body to act as Deputy Sheriffs during such emergency to ensure the welfare and public safety of the citizens of Berks County. V. DEPUTY BASIC TRAINING: A. Deputy basic training is regulated by the Deputy Sheriffs Education and Training Act (Act 2). Act (71 P. S ) ( Act 2 )) B. All Deputy Sheriff candidates who are not Act 120 certified and have not received a waiver, must attend the Deputy Sheriff s Academy located at Penn State University for: 1. a total period of instruction as PCCD has determined.. C. All Deputy Sheriff candidates who are Act 120 certified (retired police officers) must attend the Deputy Sheriffs Academy located at Penn State University for the waiver of training course, for a period of time as PCCD may determine. VI. IN-SERVICE TRAINING FOR DEPUTIES A. All Deputies shall receive in-service training. This Standard for accreditation applies to all in service training courses that are required by the Sheriff s Office Page 4 of 5

5 for its deputies in-service training programs and Sheriff s Office required inservice courses. B. Any member of the Sheriff s Office that routinely provides instruction for other members in any discipline (e.g. Firearms training, Use of Force, Less-Lethal Tactics) shall maintain up to date and current certifications for training in that particular discipline. C. A record (copy) of all current certifications for Sheriff s Office instructors will be maintained in the members personnel file and in the Accreditation Managers Office. By Order of: Eric J. Weaknecht, Sheriff of Berks County Page 5 of 5