Montclair Township – Entry Level Police Officer Job – Montclair Township Police Department – Montclair, New Jersey – Police News

MONTCLAIR POLICE DEPARTMENT

NOW HIRING 

POLICE OFFICERS

PURPOSE:

To establish a fair and consistent procedure designed to enable the Montclair Police Department to recruit and select qualified candidates for employment who will best serve the needs of the agency.

POLICY:

The selection process is generally acknowledged as a key event in the operational effectiveness of a law enforcement agency. This agency will attempt to identify and recruit individuals who best possess the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to contribute to the agency. This agency will use a selection process, which is in compliance with applicable law and applicable standards of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP).

Applicants will be classified in the following classes:

  • I. Residents of the Township of Montclair
  • II. Other residents of Essex County
  • III. Other residents of the State of New Jersey
  • IV. All other qualified applicants.

Appointment of duly qualified applicants, if any, will be made by class as provided in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-123.1a.

B. Vacancy and advertisement of vacancy

  • When a vacancy exists, the Montclair Police Department will use its electronic platform, PoliceApp.com, requesting an advertisement for candidates and will post the vacancy on the Township website. The vacancy will also be posted through other electronic print and media outlets.
  • The vacancy shall be advertised for a minimum of two weeks and include a deadline for application. The advertisement will provide a brief description of the duties of a police officer and the minimum eligibility requirements. Furthermore, the advertisement will state that the agency is an equal opportunity employer.

C. Selection Process

  • Only those candidates that meet the minimum eligibility requirements as outlined in Paragraph I of this policy are eligible. 
  • An introductory meeting with the Department’s Recruiting Officer will take place to give the candidate an opportunity to ask questions and to see if they would like to proceed through the interview process. The Recruiting Officer will then brief the Chief of Police or his/her designee on the meeting enabling the Chief to make a decision on whether or not the candidate will be scheduled for a formal interview. For Montclair residents or Montclair Dispatchers who are not PTC qualified already:

Physical Agility Entrance Tests Prior to advancing to the next phase of the selection procedure, Wavier Candidates must successfully complete a physical agility test. This test will be administered by a New Jersey Police Training Commission Certified Physical Training Instructor. All tests are scored on a pass \ fail format and a police candidate must successfully complete all five (5) components of the prescribed pre-admission physical fitness test. Any failure will result in the candidate’s ineligibility into the Police Academy. The test is not gender specific. The events and minimum scores to pass are:

  • 1.5 mile run in 15:55 or less
  • 300 meter run in 70.1 seconds or less
  • Vertical jump of 15 inches or more
  • 24 push-ups in 1 minute or less
  • 28 sit-ups in 1 minute or less

An interview panel shall interview the applicants.  The panel may consist of the following people: sworn police officers selected by the Chief of Police; the Township Manager; representative from the Township Human Resources Department; and the Affirmative Action Officer.  Each member of the interview board shall evaluate candidates on their oral communications skills, interpersonal skills, and decision-making skills based on standard and situational questions. 

Candidates shall be evaluated by the panel. 

  • Candidates selected by the panel shall submit to a background investigation as outlined in Section II A of this policy. 
  • The candidate must satisfy the requirements of Section II C for medical and psychological evaluations. 
  • After successful completion of the background investigation, medical and psychological examinations the Chief of Police shall forward his/her recommendation to the Township Manager for authority to issue a conditional offer of employment. 
  • The Township Manager shall have the authority to issue a conditional offer of employment prior to completion of the psychological examination. 
  • After the Township Manager grants approval, the Department of Human Resources shall issue a conditional offer of employment to the candidate(s). 
  • The Chief of Police or his/her designee shall notify ineligible candidates in writing.

Administrative Practices and Procedures

Background Investigation: 

Each candidate selected to continue with the process shall submit to a background investigation. A detective shall be assigned to complete a background investigation, minimally including:

  • A check of the applicant’s driving history;
  • A fingerprint check for criminal record;

Candidates for sworn positions shall be checked against the New Jersey central drug and domestic violence registries with particular attention to acts of domestic violence, sexual abuse, stalking, elder abuse, and child abuse. 

Verification of at least three personal references. 

The background investigation shall be forwarded to the Chief of Police for review.

Each candidate shall submit to a drug screening analysis as part of the background investigation.

Medical examination/psychological examination:

A medical examination must be performed prior to appointment for all sworn positions to establish fitness for the position, following a conditional offer of employment. 

The psychological testing must be administered by a licensed professional after a conditional offer of employment is issued

Notification – The successful candidate(s), will be presented to the Township Manager for final approval.

Civilian Personnel and Dispatcher Hiring Procedures

Eligibility – No individual shall be appointed to a civilian position unless the person;

Vacancy and advertisement of vacancy

  • When a vacancy exists, the Montclair Police Department will use its electronic platform, PoliceApp.com, requesting an advertisement for candidates and will post the vacancy on the Township website. The vacancy will also be posted through other electronic print and media outlets.
  • The vacancy shall be advertised for a minimum of two weeks and include a deadline for application. The advertisement will provide a brief description of the duties of a police officer and the minimum eligibility requirements. Furthermore, the advertisement will state that the agency is an equal opportunity employer.

Selection Procedure: 

  • The Chief of Police and / or designee(s) shall interview eligible applicants. 

  • Each member of the interview board shall evaluate candidates on their oral communications skills, interpersonal skills, and decision-making skills based on standard and situational questions.

  • Selected candidates will be reviewed with the Chief of Police for final selection.

  • The selected candidate(s) shall submit to a background investigation as outlined in Paragraph III D of this policy. 

  • Upon review, the Chief of Police shall make a recommendation to the Township Manager. 
  • After the Township Manager grants approval, the candidate will be advised in writing of the employment offer. 
  • The Chief of Police or his/her designee shall inform any candidate not selected in writing.

Background Investigation: 

  • Each candidate selected for a background investigation shall submit to a background investigation. A detective shall be assigned to complete a background investigation to include, but not limited to, a check of the following: 

  • Verification of eligibility credentials; 

  • A local, state and federal criminal record check; 

  • Verification of at least three personal references; 

  • A check of the applicant’s driving history, if driving is a requirement of the position.

Jobs close at 11:59 PM (Eastern) on the deadline date specified, or when the position capacity has been met, or unless otherwise specified in the announcement. If the deadline date is not specified in the announcement, the agency has sole discretion on setting the deadline and jobs may close without notice. It is the applicant’s responsibility to thoroughly read and understand the deadline requirements and capacity limits as outlined by the agency.

Please direct questions regarding this position to twilliams@montclairnjusa.org