[Amended 2-4-2003 by Ord.
No. 767, approved 2-4-2003; 3-4-2008 by Ord. No.
828, approved 3-4-2008; 5-23-2019 by Ord. No.
931, approved 5-23-2019]
A.
The
examination for police officer will consist of a written and an oral
examination, which will be graded on a 100-point scale, with the written
examination representing 70% of the final score and the oral examination
representing 30% of the final score, which written examination may
be administered by the South Central Regional Testing Consortium,
the Cumberland County Chiefs of Police Association, or other similar
pooled testing service as the Commission may designate from time to
time. In addition, each applicant will undergo a physical fitness
test and a background investigation. This test and investigation will
be graded on a pass/fail basis for every applicant. After an applicant
has been extended an offer of probationary employment by Shippensburg
Borough, final appointment shall be contingent upon the applicant
passing a medical, psychological and polygraph or computer voice stress
analyzer ("CVSA") examination.
[Amended 1-3-2022 by Ord. No. 957, approved 1-3-2022]
B.
The
polygraph or CVSA examination shall be conducted for the limited purpose
to assist the performance of the background investigation on each
qualifying applicant eligible for certification. The procedures for
conducting the polygraph or CVSA examination are as follows:
(1)
Every applicant for the position of police officer shall fill out
a personal data questionnaire and undergo a polygraph or CVSA examination.
The Commission shall furnish each polygraph or CVSA examiner with
forms upon which the examiner shall state whether any of the applicant's
responses to questions from the applicant's personal data questionnaire
are deceptive. The report on each examination shall be submitted to
the Commission within five days after the date of the examination.
(2)
The examiner shall ask questions based on the information contained
in the personal data questionnaire. Before administering the test,
the examiner shall ask each applicant whether there is any more information
related to the personal data questionnaire which the applicant would
like to provide. There shall also be a post-test review, during which
the examiner shall again ask the participant, if deception is indicated,
whether there is any information which the applicant is withholding.
(3)
If the examiner shall deem any of the applicant's relevant responses
to be deceptive, the examiner must tell the applicant. The applicant
will have an opportunity to explain, deny or admit the deception.
[Amended 12-16-2008 by Ord. No. 835, approved 12-16-2008]
The examination for the positions of corporal,
sergeant, lieutenant and captain shall include a written and an oral
examination which will be graded on a one-hundred-point scale, with
the written examination representing 70% of the final score and the
oral examination representing 30% of the final score. After an applicant
has been extended an offer of promotion, the final appointment to
the promotional position shall be contingent upon the applicant passing
a medical and psychological examination.
[Amended 2-4-2003 by Ord. No. 767, approved 2-4-2003]
The Commission shall appoint a written examination
administrator, an oral examination administrator, a physical fitness
examiner, a medical examiner, a psychological examiner and a polygraph
examiner to conduct the appropriate examination required by these
rules and regulations.
[Amended 3-4-2008 by Ord. No. 828, approved 3-4-2008]
The written examination shall be graded on a
one-hundred-point scale, and an applicant must score 70% or higher
and remain one of the 10 top scores, including ties, in order to continue
in the application process. Any applicant scoring less than 70% shall
be rejected. The applicant shall be given written notice of his test
results within 30 days after the administration of the written examination,
and any passing applicants shall be scheduled for an oral examination
appointment.
[Amended 2-21-2006 by Ord. No. 801, approved 2-21-2006; 3-4-2008 by Ord. No. 828, approved 3-4-2008]
Every applicant who scored 70% or higher and
receives one of the 10 top-highest scores in the written examination
shall be given an oral examination with a score of 70% or higher necessary
for passing. The oral examination shall involve questioning the applicant
on how he would handle situations relevant to police work. Within
30 days after the applicants' oral examination, he shall be informed
of the score in his oral examination and total overall score.[1]
[1]
Editor’s Note: Former § 9-29.1, Act 120 points,
and § 9-29.2, Enrollment at certified academy points, which immediately
followed, were repealed 5-23-2019 by Ord. No. 931, approved 5-23-2019.
[Amended 3-4-2008 by Ord. No. 828, approved 3-4-2008; 5-23-2019 by
Ord. No. 931, approved 5-23-2019]
Pursuant to the Veterans' Preference Act,[1] any applicant for the position of probationary police officer who qualifies as a soldier under this Act shall receive an additional 10 points on top of their total score if the applicant had received passing scores under §§ 9-25, 9-28 and 9-29.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 51 Pa.C.S.A. § 7101 et seq.
[Amended 2-4-2003 by Ord. No. 767, approved 2-4-2003; 10-2-2007 by Ord. No.
07-817, approved 10-2-2007; 3-4-2008 by Ord. No. 828, approved 3-4-2008; 5-23-2019 by
Ord. No. 931, approved 5-23-2019]
Applicants for the position of police officer must demonstrate
a fitness level that would allow them to perform the essential job
functions of a police officer. Applicants must take and pass a physical
agility test (which is job related and appropriate for the Department),
which may be administered by the South Central Regional Testing Consortium.
[Amended 2-4-2003 by Ord. No. 767, approved 2-4-2003; 2-21-2006 by Ord. No.
801, approved 2-21-2006; 3-4-2008 by Ord. No. 828, approved 3-4-2008; 5-23-2019 by
Ord. No. 931, approved 5-23-2019]
A.
The
Commission shall request the Chief of Police or the Chief's designee
to conduct a background investigation on each applicant. The background
investigation examinations of an applicant may include personal background,
including family, education, military, and employment history, character
references and personal associates, credit history and record of criminal
convictions. The applicant may be interviewed directly when the information
collected during the background investigation required classification
or explanation.
B.
After
the background investigation is completed, the Chief or designee shall
make a written recommendation to the Commission on whether the applicant
is appropriate for consideration for appointment as a police officer.
C.
Appropriateness of the applicant shall be based on the criteria set forth in § 9-21 of these rules and regulations. 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 determination on whether the information collected during the background investigation warrants rejection of the candidate. Within 30 days after the Commission considers the recommendation of the Chief of Police or designee, each applicant will be informed of whether he or she has passed the background investigation.
D.
The
background investigation shall also determine whether the applicant
has current Act 120 training.
