Except for the position of Superintendent of Police, each appointment to the police force shall be made only according to qualifications and fitness, to be ascertained by competitive examinations. Said examinations shall be given at such time or times and from time to time as the Commission shall determine.
The Commission shall conspicuously post in the Public Safety and Township Buildings notice of the time and place of every entrance-level written examination for the police force, together with the information as to the type of position to be filled, the requirements for that position, where applications may be obtained for the examination and the deadline for filing those applications. In addition, at least two weeks prior to each examination, publication of the notice shall occur in at least one newspaper of general circulation or a newspaper circulating generally in the Township.
[Amended 2-18-1998 by Ord. No. 3478]
Applications for positions in the Police Department shall be distributed only after an examination has been properly advertised and before the deadline for receiving applications which must be set forth in the public advertisement. Individuals requesting an application will remit the current application fee, such application fee to be established by the Township Manager and set forth in the public advertisement. The person accepting the application shall record the receipt by time-stamping all such applications and provide each applicant with notice of the time and place for the first portion of the testing procedure, the written examination. Any application containing material errors or omissions may, at the direction of the Commission, be returned to the applicant for correction prior to the deadline for filing applications after which no new applications or amended applications will be accepted.
[Amended 2-18-1998 by Ord. No. 3478]
In order to be eligible for participation in any examination for any position with the Police Department, every applicant must submit a completed application form to the Commission before the deadline stated by the Commission for that specific examination. The applicant must take an oath or affirmation that the application is completed truthfully, and the applicant is subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 4904, relating to unsworn falsification to authorities. Omissions and/or falsifications on the application shall be considered grounds for rejection.
The Township is an equal opportunity employer. It is the Township's and the Commission's policy to grant equal opportunities regarding hiring, promotion and all other aspects of employment to qualified persons. Neither the Township nor the Commission shall discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, age, veteran's status or non-job-related physical or mental handicap or disability or any other unlawful reason. The Township and the Commission will provide equal opportunities in employment and promotion.
Pursuant to the Veterans' Preference Act,[1] preferences and credits based upon veterans status shall be given as provided by law.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 51 Pa.C.S.A. § 7101 et seq.
[Amended 2-18-1998 by Ord. No. 3478]
Application forms shall be available to all interested persons through the Police Department. The Commission assumes no responsibility for missed filing deadlines due to a delay in the mail.
[Amended 2-18-1998 by Ord. No. 3478; 6-18-2003 by Ord. No. 3682; 11-16-2005 by Ord. No. 3761; 9-29-2021 by Ord. No. 4225]
All applicants must have reached their 21st birthday before the deadline for submitting completed applications.
[Amended 2-18-1998 by Ord. No. 3478]
Every applicant for any sworn position in the Police Department shall possess the following:
A. 
A diploma from an accredited high school or a graduate equivalency diploma and 60 credits from an accredited college or university, or, in lieu of the 60 credits, five year’s full time service as a police officer with a municipal or state police force. Any applicant who possesses current Act 120 training is not required to possess an additional 60 college credits. Instead, an applicant possessing current Act 120 training need only possess the required number of college credits which, along with Act 120 training, equals a total of 60 college credits.
[Amended 2-17-1999 by Ord. No. 3519; 11-16-2005 by Ord. No. 3761]
B. 
United States citizenship.
C. 
Physical and mental fitness to perform the full duties of a police officer, including meeting the qualifications promulgated by the Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training Commission for certification as a police officer in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
D. 
Personal qualities.
[Amended 4-21-2021 by Ord. No. 4213]
(1) 
Good moral character. The applicant's background report, following an extensive investigation, must reveal the applicant to be of good moral character, law-abiding and possessing the fundamental traits of honesty, personal integrity and an overriding respect for the rights of the persons and property of others.
(2) 
Emotional stability. The mental acuity to respond rapidly to stressful stimulus in a manner both measured and effective to the situation. The ability consistently to exercise good judgment and make sound decisions based on demonstrated facts.
(3) 
Personal stability. A personal history evidencing a lifestyle characterized by appropriate, well-thought-out decisions and consistent and responsible behavior.
E. 
A valid motor vehicle operator's license issued by this or any other state.
[Amended 9-29-2021 by Ord. No. 4225]
[Amended 2-18-1998 by Ord. No. 3478; 6-18-2003 by Ord. No. 3682]
The Commission may refuse to examine or, if examined, may refuse to certify as eligible after examination any applicant who is found to lack any of the general or specific qualifications prescribed in these rules and regulations for the particular position for which the applicant has applied, who fails to meet the Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training Commission requirements, or who at any point in the examination or certification process is, in the Commission's sole opinion, physically or mentally unable to be processed. In addition, to the extent permitted by law, the Commission may refuse to examine or, if examined, may refuse to certify any applicant who is physically or mentally unfit to perform the full duties of the position to which he/she seeks employment, or who is a habitual substance abuser, who is guilty of any crime involving moral turpitude or of infamous or notoriously disgraceful conduct, or who has been dismissed from public service for delinquency or misconduct in office, or who is affiliated with any group whose policies or activities are subversive to the form of government set forth in the constitutions and laws of the United States and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Any applicant or other person who believes that he/she is aggrieved by the actions of the Commission in refusing to examine or to certify him/her as eligible after examination may request a hearing before the Commission. Within 10 days after such request, the Commission shall designate a time and place for the hearing, which shall be conducted pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Local Agency Law, 2 Pa.C.S.A. § 101 et seq. The applicant or aggrieved party must make his/her request for a hearing, in writing, within 10 calendar days of the date when the party knew or should have known of the Commission's action which is being challenged. The decision of the Commission following review of its refusal to make such examination or certification shall be final.
[Amended 3-15-1995 by Ord. No. 3387; 6-18-1997 by Ord. No. 3455; 2-18-1998 by Ord. No. 3478; 6-18-2003 by Ord. No. 3682]
A. 
Upon consultation with the Township Manager, the Commission may appoint a written examination administrator, an oral examination administrator, a polygraph examiner, a medical examiner and a psychological examiner to conduct the appropriate examinations required by these rules and regulations.
B. 
General examination requirements.
(1) 
The examination for the positions of police officer, Sergeant and Lieutenant will consist of a written and an oral examination which will be graded on a scale of 100 points. The written examination will account for 45% of the final grade and the oral examination will account for 55% of the final grade, provided that the applicant meets the minimum passing score established herein.
(2) 
The examination for the position of Captain will be determined by a competitive examination to be prescribed by the Commission.
C. 
Written examinations shall be graded on a one-hundred-point scale, and an applicant must achieve a passing score of 70%. All applicants will be given written notice of their test results.
(1) 
Prior to the administration of the written examination for the position of police officer, the Civil Service Commission shall meet, and, based on the number of applications received and the current need of the police force, a pre-selected number of applicants and all other applicants with a matching grade may be chosen to proceed to the oral examination, provided that the number selected achieved the minimum passing score and had not otherwise been rejected.
(a) 
On the date of the test of record and prior to the administration of the written test, all participating applicants will be advised of the pre-selected number, plus matching grades, that will be advanced to the oral examination.
(b) 
The identity of each applicant taking the written examination for appointment to the police force shall be concealed until after the Commission has determined the exact number of participants with matching scores.
(2) 
All candidates for promotion to the rank of Sergeant and Lieutenant of Police receiving the minimum passing score on the written examination shall be scheduled for an oral examination.
D. 
The oral examination is a pass/fail examination and an applicant must achieve a passing score of 70% on the oral examination in order to continue in the examination process. The oral examination shall be graded on a scale of 100 points and shall involve grading the applicants on how they handle situations relevant to police work. After the oral examination, the applicant shall be informed of his/her written score and his/her oral examination results, and passing candidates will be advised of their overall score.
[Added 6-18-2003 by Ord. No. 3682]
When the Township requests the certification of a list of eligible candidates for the position of police officer:
A. 
The applicants selected shall submit to a preoffer polygraph examination; and
B. 
The Commission shall request the Superintendent of Police to have background investigations conducted on each applicant. The background investigation shall be in compliance with the standards mandated by the Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training Commission. The background investigation shall include interviews with the applicant's family, acquaintances, 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 allegations, charges and convictions will be investigated. The applicant will be interviewed directly when the information collected during the background investigation requires clarification or explanation. After the background investigation is completed, upon consultation with the Township Manager, the Superintendent, or his/her 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 § A164-25 above. The Commission shall make the final determination on whether the information collected during the background investigation warrants rejection of the candidate.
C. 
The Township may object to the Commission as to one or more of the persons so certified for any of the reasons stated in § A164-25 above. Should such objections be sustained by the Commission and the name of the candidate be removed, the candidate shall have a right to a hearing before the Commission as is provided in § A164-26 above.
[Amended 2-18-1998 by Ord. No. 3478; 6-18-2003 by Ord. No. 3682]
A. 
After the appointing authority selects a candidate from the eligible list for appointment to the vacant sworn position, that applicant shall submit to a physical examination, a psychological examination by the appropriate medical experts and a post-offer polygraph examination.
B. 
The appointment shall be contingent upon successfully passing the physical and psychological examinations. Failure to pass either of these examinations shall result in the applicant being rejected from consideration.
C. 
The Commission shall then certify another name to be included with the two previously certified names for consideration by the appointing authority pursuant to the appointment portion of these rules and regulations.
D. 
If the candidate is unable to take or to pass any of these examinations due to a temporary physical disability, the candidates' name shall be returned to the eligibility list by the Commission for consideration when the next vacancy shall occur.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former §§ A164-30, Polygraph examination, and A164-31, Background investigation, as amended 2-18-1998 by Ord. No. 3478, were repealed 6-18-2003 by Ord. No. 3682. For current provisions, see §§ A164-28 and A164-29.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former §§ A164-30, Polygraph examination, and A164-31, Background investigation, as amended 2-18-1998 by Ord. No. 3478, were repealed 6-18-2003 by Ord. No. 3682. For current provisions, see §§ A164-28 and A164-29.