A.
The examination for police officer will consist of a written and
an oral examination each of which will be graded on a one-hundred-point
scale with the written examination representing 50% of the final score
and the oral examination representing 50% of the final score. An applicant
to be placed on the eligibility list must pass both the written and
oral examinations. In addition, each applicant will undergo a physical
performance test which will be graded on a pass/fail basis. Prior
to the compilation of the eligibility list, each remaining applicant
will undergo a background investigation. After an applicant has been
extended an offer of employment, final appointment shall be contingent
upon the applicant passing a physical and psychological examination.
B.
Any applicant who has passed both the written and oral examinations
and who is "soldier" as defined by 51 Pa.C.S.A. § 7101 shall
have his/her score credited with an additional 10 points [see 51 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 7103(a)].
C.
On each occasion where Borough Council seeks to fill an entry level
police position, the Commission shall certify the three highest ranking
(as measured by combined written and oral test scores and veterans'
preference points) available candidates. Council is free to select
any one of the three so certified unless one is a veteran. In the
latter case, the one veteran must be the selectee. If two or all three
of the applicants are veterans, Council may choose from among the
veterans.
D.
When the Commission has written notice from an applicant who has
passed the written and oral examinations that he/she does not wish
to be further considered for Borough employment (or where the Commission
has similarly strong proof that such an applicant is no longer available),
the Commission may remove the applicant's name from the eligibility
list.
A.
The examination for the positions of Lieutenant and Sergeant shall
include a written and an oral examination each of which will be graded
on a one-hundred-point scale with the written examination representing
50% of the final score and the oral examination representing 50% of
the final score.
B.
Selection of an officer for a promotion shall be determined by his
or her standing at the end of the testing procedure. The top three
names of the individuals with the highest combined score who have
passed both the written and oral examinations shall be submitted to
Borough Council for final consideration. The individual who in the
opinion of Borough Council is the most qualified for the promotion
will be selected. If it is necessary to promote more than one officer,
each additional promotion shall be awarded using the same process
described above.
C.
Veterans' preference is not applicable to promotion decisions
(per opinions of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.)
D.
The only promotion opportunities for which persons who are not already
members of the West View Police Department may be considered is Chief.
The position of Chief shall be filled as described in 53 P.S. § 46184.
The Council or the Commission, at their discretion, may void
an eligible list at any time, but in no case shall any eligible list
remain in effect for a period of more than two years from the date
of its certification by the Civil Service Commission, except that
the Commission may, at its sole discretion, by a vote of the majority
of the Commission at a duly authorized Commission meeting, extend
the list for up to an additional year.
The Commission may appoint a written examination administrator,
an oral examination administrator, a physical fitness examiner, a
medical examiner and a psychological examiner to conduct the examinations
required by these rules and regulations.
All applicants who meet the basic qualifications, including
passing the physical performance examination, will be admitted to
the written examination after providing proof of identification. The
notification document shall service as the admission card to the examination,
at which the right thumb print of the applicant shall be placed on
the admissions card and the applicant shall sign the card. This procedure
shall be followed at each segment of the examination process.
A.
An applicant for the position of police officer must meet and pass
the agility tests currently being conducted by the Allegheny County
Police Training Academy. Any changes made by the Academy will automatically
be changed for testing purposes.
B.
This test shall be graded on a pass/fail and applicants who successfully
pass this portion of the testing will then be scheduled for a written
examination.
C.
Within 30 days after the physical performance test, all applicants
shall be given written notice of their test results, and passing applicants
shall be scheduled for a written examination appointment.
A.
The written examination shall be constructed to test the nonphysical
capability of the applicants to perform and to be trained to perform
the essential functions of the position. The exact design of the examination
shall be altered from time to time but will be practical in character
and shall relate to such matters and include such inquiries as will
fairly test the merit and fitness of the person examined to discharge
the duties of a police officer.
B.
The Commission may designate an examining agency or qualified individual(s)
to act as examiner for or consultant on the written examinations.
The Commission shall reserve the right to accept or reject for cause,
in whole or in part, the recommendations of the regularly appointed
examining and/or consulting agency.
C.
The written examination shall be graded on a one-hundred-point scale,
and an applicant must achieve a score of 70% on each section of the
written examination and an overall score of at least 70% or higher
in order to continue in the application process. Applicants scoring
less than 70% on any section of the written examination or an overall
score shall be rejected.
[Amended 4-11-2007 by Ord. No. 1440]
D.
Within 30 days after the administration of the written examination,
all applicants shall be given written notice of their test results
and passing applicants shall be scheduled for an oral examination
appointment.
A.
Every applicant who scored 70% or higher in the written examination
shall be given an oral examination which will be graded on a one-hundred-point
scale with a score of 70% or higher necessary for passing. Within
30 days after the applicant's oral examination, he shall be informed
of his score in his oral examination and total overall score.
B.
Organizing the oral examination of applicants who passed the written
examination shall be the responsibility of the Commission. The Commission
shall empanel a board of examiners who shall ask each applicant interviewed
a predetermined series of basic questions (follow up questions may
vary from applicant to applicant depending upon the responses given
to the basic questions.) The basic questions shall relate to predetermined
scenarios or situations which shall be provided to the applicants
being examined at the start of the examination. The board of examiners
shall consist of five individuals one of whom may be the Police Chief
and one of whom may be a member of Council. The Commission shall select
the five members of this board of examiners with a view to the community's
policing needs and with the goal of placing persons on the board of
examiners who are knowledgeable about modern policing techniques,
issues and/or concerns. Each member of the board of examiners shall
interview and rate every applicant. Each applicant's responses
to the five questions shall be rated on a scale of zero to 20 (zero
to four: poor, unresponsive, incomplete, wrong or inadequate answers;
five to nine: marginal to fair responses; 10 to 14 professional quality,
appropriate, adequate to very good responses; 15 to 19 superior response;
and 20 as good a response as one could ever expect a candidate to
give). Members of this board shall score the applicants without first
consulting with any or all of the other board members. The applicant's
score on each question shall be his/her average score on that question
and his/her total score shall be the addition of the average scores
on all five questions.
C.
The persons assigned to conduct oral examinations shall complete
a rating form after interviewing each applicant. The rating form shall
be collected, tallied and recorded by the Secretary, or his designee.
Applicants should be scored for their demeanor and for the content
and relevance of their answers/responses.
Pursuant to the Veterans' Preference Act, any applicant for the position of patrol officer who qualifies as a "soldier" under the Act, shall receive an additional 10 points on top of their total score if that applicant had received passing scores under §§ A296-35, A296-36 and A296-37. "Soldier" is defined as any individual who has served in the regular military, the National Guard or the Reserves since July 1953, and who has completed his military service commitment and has received (or will receive) an honorable discharge from such service at the time they take the civil service appointment examination. An "honorable discharge" may include a general discharge under honorable circumstances. Applicants claiming veterans' preference must submit satisfactory proof of service and honorable discharge with the application, specifically Form DD-214.
A.
The Commission shall request the Chief of Police or his designee
to conduct a background investigation on each of the top three applicants
for each position declared vacant by Council. The number of applicants
subject to the background check may be increased if the appointing
authority has expressed an interest in hiring more than one officer.
The application will provide the basis for the background investigation.
The authority to release portion of the application form must have
been completed by the applicant if the applicant is to continue in
the selection process. The background investigation shall include
interviews with the applicant's family, acquaintance, current
and former employers, current and former neighbors, references and
current and former teachers and school officials. In addition, the
applicant's credit history and record of criminal convictions
should be investigated. The applicant may be interviewed directly
when the information collected during the background investigation
requires clarification or explanation. The background check shall
comply with the guidelines established by the M.P.O.E.T.C.
B.
Each applicant shall be fingerprinted and the finger print cards
shall be distributed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania
State Police and the Borough of West View Police Department.
C.
After the background investigation is completed, the Chief, or his
designee, shall make a written recommendation to the Commission on
whether the applicant is appropriate for consideration for appointment
as a police officer. Appropriateness of the applicant shall be based
on the criteria set forth in these rules and regulations and in the
civil service provisions of the Borough Code. Based upon the results
of the background investigation, the Chief, the Mayor or a member
of Council may request, pursuant to 53 P.S. § 46184, that
an individual be removed from the list. The applicant may oppose this
request and, in turn, pursuant to the Borough Code (53 P.S. § 46183)
request a hearing. This recommendation shall be in writing and, if
the recommendation is to disqualify, then a detailed written explanation
of the reasons for disqualification must be included. The Commission
shall make the final administrative determination on whether the information
collected during the background investigation warrants rejection of
the candidate.
D.
Within 30 days or soon thereafter as possible after the Commission
considers the recommendation of the Chief of Police or his designee,
the applicant will be informed of whether he has passed the background
investigation.
A.
Should any applicant conduct himself in any manner during the course
of the selection process so as to defeat the proper intent, conduct
or course of the examination process, his name shall be removed from
any list of eligibility derived from the examination process (assuming
he was permitted to complete the process), and the applicant shall
not be permitted to make any future application for any position in
the Police Department.
