Waynesville Police Department Full-Time & Reserve Police Officer Hiring Process

Position:            Police Officer

Location:          Waynesville Police Department

Salary:

   Starting full-time Police Officer:

• $12.22/hr = $26,690 annual with a 5% increase after successful completion of a 6 month probationary period (no positions available)

   Auxiliary (part time) Police Officer

• $10.86/hr with increase to $11.45/hr after 9-14 week training period ( Positions Available)

Thank you for your interest in employment with the Waynesville Police Department.  The following information is intended to answer questions about becoming a police officer with the Town of Waynesville. Provisions listed are subject to change at any time and are at the exclusive interpretation of the Town of Waynesville and the Waynesville Police Department.

The Waynesville Police Department offers a professional career in police service.  The highest ethics, dedication, values and integrity characterize WPD officers. When evaluating applicants, the Waynesville Police Department examines the candidate in a manner to ascertain those with the greatest potential for success.

The Town of Waynesville is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, marital status, religion or disabilities unrelated to the essential function of the position.

Duties: Duties include: responding to emergency and public safety calls for service and assisting fire, rescue and other agencies as required, investigating traffic crashes, patrolling residential and business areas, typing reports, testifying in court, working to improve the overall quality of life in Waynesville.  Officers must be able to react quickly and make decisions in emergency situations.  A strong emphasis is placed on customer service.  The applicant must have excellent hearing, clear speech, effective verbal skills, and be able to type quickly and accurately on a keyboard.

 Requirements:  Requires: graduation from high school/equivalent; at least 21 years of age; ability to type, ability to speak distinctly; ability to deal with the public under adverse conditions; possess good computer and communication skills, thorough knowledge of the geography of the city and location of important buildings. Must be B.L.E.T. certified. Applicant must pass written tests, interview boards, background investigation, criminal history, drug screening, polygraph exam, psychological exam, and physical examination prior to employment.

Basic Qualifications:

• Must be 21 years of age or older
• Must be a citizen of the United States
• Must be a High School graduate or possess an equivalency certificate
• Must possess a valid North Carolina drivers license
• Muse possess a valid North Carolina Law Enforcement Certificate (BLET)
• Must be of good moral character
• Have not committed or been convicted of a felony
• Have no more than 4 Class A misdemeanor convictions (within the last 5 years)
• Have no Class B misdemeanor convictions

Physical Agility Requirements

Candidates are required to pass the state mandated Police Officer's Physical Agility Test (POPAT).The POPAT measures applicants' abilities to perform tasks related to the job of police officer. The POPAT is a requirement for certification as a Law Enforcement Officer in N.C. and all applicants are required to complete the POPAT in 7 minutes and 20 seconds.

POPAT Description An applicant will start the test sitting in the driver's seat of a patrol vehicle. The seatbelt will be fastened about the body and the hands will be at 10 and 2 on the steering wheel. The applicant will be given two street names orally. Time will start when the applicant takes his/her hands off the steering wheel. The applicant will remove his/her seat belt, exit the patrol vehicle and advance 100 yards on foot. Then, the applicant will turn around and return the 100 yards to the patrol vehicle. Then, the applicant will open the passenger door and remove the seat belt fastened around a victim (150lbs), body drag the subject 50 feet and place gently on the ground. The applicant will then scale a set of 5-up and 5-down steps three times. The applicant will then advance 25 feet on foot and use body force to open a 50-lb. metal door. The applicant will then perform 20 military style push-ups followed by 20 sit-ups. *(Note: Push-ups and sit-ups will be standardized with no modification for gender or age.) The applicant will then advance on foot back to the steps and scale and circle the same staircase as before. The applicant will then advance on foot 25 feet from the staircase to a 40-foot enclosed culvert. The applicant will enter the culvert and crawl through on hands and knees. Upon exiting the culvert, the applicant will again perform 20 push-ups and 20 sit-ups. The applicant will then advance on foot 100 yards and return 100 yards to the patrol vehicle. The applicant will then grab the victim (standing by the vehicle) and drag the victim 50 feet. The applicant will then give the two street names in the same order they were given at the start of the test. Once this is completed, the clock will stop. (If the applicant does not remember the street names, he/she will have to advance 100yds and return 100 yards to the corner of the steps; then, the clock will stop.)

I. Application Process

1. Town of Waynesville Applications may be obtained through the North Carolina Employment Security Commission located on North Main Street in Waynesville.  Applications will be accepted only for open positions.
2. Applications will be collected from the Employment Security Commission by the Human Resource Officer or his/her designee.
3. Town Applications will be evaluated by a panel of officers.  After evaluation, applicants will be requested to complete a Form F-3, Personal History Statement.
4. Applicants complete the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission Form F-3, Personal History Statement, and return it to the Waynesville Police Department.  At the time the Form F-3 is picked up the applicant will be given a list of documents which he or she will be required to furnish upon returning Form F-3. Applicants will then be required to sign a release of background information.

II. Applicant Testing

1. Written Examinations consisting of spelling and general police procedure. Applicants must pass all written examinations with a score of seventy percent (70%)
2. Failure of any portion of the written or physical tests will result in elimination from the process. Applicants may reapply during future vacancies within one year by submitting a letter stating their wish to reapply.
• Applicants successfully passing both written and physical examinations will be requested for an interview.

 III. Interview Process

• An interview board of five officers will conduct interviews of each applicant. The interview board is responsible for ranking all applicants and making final recommendations to the Chief of Police.

IV. Full Background Investigation

• Officer(s) will conduct background investigations on applicants receiving favorable recommendations from the interview board.  (Forms F-3 and F-8)

V. Conditional Offer of Probationary Employment

• The Waynesville Police Department will extend a conditional offer of probationary employment to each applicant successfully passing Sections I-IV of the Hiring Process.
• The conditional offer of probationary employment consists of:
• Medical History Statement, Form F-1 (LE)
• Physical Examination Form F-2 (LE)
• Drug Screen
• Psychological Written Examination and Interview
• Polygraph Examination
• Physical Agility Test
• Firearms Qualification
• Field Training Officer program successful completion (14 weeks)

VI. Complete North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission form F-5A (LE)

 VII. Swearing in as a Waynesville Police Officer