It can take between six months and a year for a prospective municipal police officer to complete requirements of the civil service hiring process.
In Greensburg, candidates now will be able to get a jump on that process by applying for a possible spot on the force before they’ve completed police academy training.
“Hopefully, that increases the number of applicants,” Greensburg police Chief Charles Irvin said.
Greensburg Council this week agreed to change the city’s civil service rules to allow that early entry into the police candidate screening process. Applicants still must have successfully completed academy training when they are hired.
The newly modified rule “allows for current cadets in the academy to at least apply and start the process,” Irvin said. “It’s a long process.
“There’s a written test, there’s a physical agility test, there’s an oral examination, a background investigation and psychological and medical (assessments). By the time you get all those applicants through that process, it can take anywhere from six months to a year.”
Full story: Greensburg changes civil service hiring rule, hopes for increased pool of police candidates