The examination for police officer will consist of both a written examination and an oral examination which will be graded on a one-hundred-percent scale. The written examination will represent 70% of the final score. The oral examination will represent 30% of the final score. Each applicant will undergo a physical agility test. Prior to being placed on the list of certified candidates, the applicant will undergo a complete background examination. These tests and investigations, with the exception of the written and oral exams, will be graded on a pass/fail basis. In compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, an applicant will be required to undergo both a physical examination and a psychological examination only after being given an offer of employment. The final appointment to the position is contingent upon passing both the physical examination and the psychological examinations in addition to all other aforementioned tests, examinations and investigations. Both the examining physician and the psychologist shall be at the selection of the Civil Service Commission.
A. 
The examination for the positions of Assistant Chief and Chief of Police shall consist of three parts, namely:
(1) 
A written examination, which shall include a test of police knowledge and performance and such other written test as the Commission may from time to time designate;
(2) 
An oral examination; and
(3) 
An evaluation of the service ratings or performance records of the applicant.
B. 
The examination shall be graded on a scale of 100% and shall be weighted as follows:
(1) 
For the written portions of the examination, a total of 40 points;
(2) 
For the oral examination, a total of 30 points; and
(3) 
For the evaluation of the service ratings or performance records of the applicant, a total of 30 points.
C. 
So far as they are able, the Civil Service Commission shall provide that the written portion of the examination for the varying ranks shall place emphasis upon those qualifications which are important in each rank. In every case, however, the total weight assigned to the written examination shall be a total of 40 points.
D. 
The minimum passing grade for an examination for the position of Assistant Chief or Chief of Police, shall be a score of 75% and each applicant for any such position shall score at least 75% on each part of the examination.
[Amended 10-14-2021 by Ord. No. 475]
A. 
The Commission shall appoint a written examination administrator, an oral examination administrator, a physical agility examiner, a medical examiner, and a psychological examiner to conduct the appropriate examinations required by these rules and regulations. All appointments will be at the sole discretion of the Committee.
B. 
Any Commission member who serves as an examiner or administrator shall be precluded from sitting as a Commissioner or participating in any deliberations with respect to any hearing on the Commissioner's refusal to examine or certify a candidate. Nothing herein shall preclude said Commissioner from being a witness at the hearing.
[Amended 10-14-2021 by Ord. No. 475]
The written examination shall be graded on a 100% scale. An applicant must score at least 70% to continue in the application process. Applicants who score less than 70% shall be rejected. Within 30 days after the administration of the written examination, all applicants shall be given a written notification of their examination results. Written examination for promotional positions are covered in § 38-35 of these rules and regulations.
[Amended 10-14-2021 by Ord. No. 475]
Every applicant who attained a passing score of at least 70% on the written examination shall be given an oral examination. An applicant must score at least 70% to continue in the application process. Any applicant who scores less than 70% will be rejected. The oral examination shall involve questioning the applicants on how they would handle situations relevant to police work. Within 30 days after the administration of the oral examination, the applicant shall be given written notice of their examination results. Oral examinations for promotional positions are covered in § 38-35 of these rules and regulations.
Pursuant to the Veterans' Preference Act,[1] any applicant for the position of police officer who qualifies as a military veteran under this Act, shall receive an additional 10 points on top of their total score if that applicant had received passing scores under §§ 38-33, 38-36 and 38-37 of these Rules and Regulations. Qualifications necessary for receiving veterans' preference points are outlined in the following rules:
A. 
Anyone who has served in the regular military services, the National Guard or the Reserves since July 1, 1953, and has received an honorable discharge is eligible to receive veterans' preference points. Completion of basic training and receipt of an honorable discharge for members of the National Guard or the Reserves bestows veterans' status on an applicant even when they continue to serve in the National Guard or Reserves.
B. 
Veterans' preference points will not be provided for promotions since such an award is considered to overvalue military service.
C. 
In the selection of a candidate from the certified list of three, under § 38-42, where one or more of the three candidates is a veteran under the Act, the appointing authority must select that individual veteran with the highest score for the appointment.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 51 Pa.C.S.A. § 7101 et seq.
[Amended 4-9-2015 by Ord. No. 450; 10-14-2021 by Ord. No. 475]
A. 
An applicant for the entry level position of police officer, promotional positions, and candidates for Assistant Chief or Chief of Police, both from within and outside the Patterson Township Police Department, must complete a physical agility test. The physical agility examination shall be practical in character and shall relate to such matters as will fairly test the applicant's physical ability to discharge the duties of a police officer.
B. 
This is a cumulative test. Each event is pass/fail. If one event is failed, the entire test is failed. There is no averaging of "scores."
C. 
Applicants who have either successfully passed or failed the physical agility test will be so notified in writing by the Commission within 30 days.
A. 
The Commission shall request the Chief of Police or his designee to conduct a background investigation on each applicant. The background investigation shall cover at least the past ten years and should include interviews with the applicant's family, acquaintances, current and former employers, current and former neighbors, references and current and former teachers and/or school officials. In addition, the applicant's credit history and record of criminal convictions must be investigated. A check of Pennsylvania's or the applicants current and former state of residence Motor Vehicle Operator's License records should also be checked for validity and for revocations or suspensions. The applicant may be interviewed directly when the information collected requires clarification or further explanation.
B. 
After the background investigation is completed, the Chief of Police 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 for the Township of Patterson. The recommendation by the Chief or his designee shall be based on the criteria set forth in § 38-28 of these Rules and Regulations and on any other information developed during the background investigation. This report to the Commission shall be in writing and in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act and must not include any medical history information on a candidate. If the recommendation is to disqualify, then a detailed, written explanation of the reasons for disqualification must be included. The Commission shall then make a final determination on whether additional information is required or if the information collected and reported warrants acceptance or rejection of the candidate.
C. 
Within 30 days after the Commission considers the recommendation based on the background investigation, each applicant shall be notified as to whether they have passed or failed this portion of the examination process.