SYSTEMS APPROACH TO EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
The Personnel Bureau and Training Bureau have designed a systems approach to employment and training. Hiring qualified candidates can only be accomplished if qualified applicants are encouraged to work for the LVMPD. The effort to recruit a qualified workforce is the responsibility of every LVMPD employee. The department also calls upon community leaders, agencies and interest groups to support this employment effort.
THE EMPLOYMENT SYSTEM / 4 Stages
STAGE ONE involves recruiting locally and out-of-state and pre-screening applicants for employment. STAGE TWO consists of a series of tests to evaluate an applicant's employment potential, with activities offered quarterly to encourage applicants to participate in the LVMPD selection process. STAGE THREE includes an investigation of the character and history of each qualified applicant to ensure the applicant meets the department's hiring standards. STAGE FOUR facilitates the selection of the most qualified applicants through a selection committee and the preparation of each candidate for employment.
The following outline summarizes the activities of each Stage:
STAGE ONE: Recruitment and Pre-Screening
Recruiting: With the assistance of the community, the LVMPD encourages applicants to prepare for a career in law enforcement. Recruitment officers hold symposiums, visit special interest groups, conduct employment seminars, and meet one-on-one with potential applicants. Men and women interested in law enforcement are encouraged to visit with a recruitment officer who will explain their career options and answer questions. Out-of-state recruiting trips will also be scheduled to attract qualified applicants to our community.
An informational booklet will be provided to potential applicants which includes information on the history of the department, career opportunities, and salary and benefits information. Additionally, the booklet outlines the minimum qualifications each applicant must have to be considered for employment by the LVMPD and information on how to effectively prepare for the position.
STAGE TWO: Selection Testing
The selection testing process consists of the Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ), written examination, physical fitness test and an oral interview. It is imperative that candidates are on time for all stages of the selection process. The LVMPD Late Policy is strictly enforced. Candidates are asked to arrive for their appointments a minimum of fifteen minutes early.
Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ): The Preliminary Background Questionnaire asks questions about your personal history and life experiences. The questionnaire consists of 169 multiple-choice questions. The PHQ is scored immediately and applicants who attain a passing score will be scheduled for the written exam.
Written Examination for Corrections Recruit: The written examination measures areas which have been determined to be important for success as a Corrections Recruit. The examination measures recall and recognition of important detail; knowledge of basic mathematics writing skills; reading comprehension; and interpersonal skills. The examination is scored immediately and weighted as a percentage of the applicant's overall test score. Applicants who attain a passing score 70% and above will be scheduled for the physical fitness test.
Written Examination for Police Recruit: The written examination (prepared by Darany and Associates) measures areas which have been determined to be important for success as a Police Recruit. The examination evaluates the observation and memory skills, written communication skills, and reading comprehension. A section of the exam also measures the applicant's potential success in law enforcement by evaluating non-cognitive skills. The examination is scored immediately and weighted as a percentage of the applicant's overall test score. Applicants who attain a passing score 70% and above will be scheduled for the physical fitness test.
Physical Fitness Test for Corrections Recruit:
Click here to download the Fitness Standards and Descriptions for Corrections Recruit
Applicants who successfully pass the fitness test will participate in the oral board.
Physical Fitness Test for Police Recruit:
Click here to download the Fitness Standards and Descriptions for Police Recruit
Applicants who successfully pass the fitness test will participate in the oral board.
Oral Board: The last evaluation is the oral board which is designed to evaluate the applicant's communication skills and potential as a law enforcement officer. The board consists of 1 supervisory level commissioned officer and two commissioned officers who assess each candidate and prepare an immediate final oral board score. The Oral Board is also weighted and is a percentage of the applicant's overall test score.
Eligibility List and Civil Service Board Approval: Those candidates who successfully complete each of the selection tests are rank ordered by test scores on an eligibility list to be approved by the Civil Service Board. Once the list has been established, background officers begin the comprehensive background process and notify the top candidates that they are potential candidates for employment. Each top candidate receives a conditional offer of employment.
For those candidates living out-of-state, STAGE TWO selection activities will be completed in one visit to the Las Vegas area.
STAGE THREE: Background Investigation
A comprehensive background investigation is completed on each potential candidate to ensure the candidate meets the LVMPD's strict hiring standards. The STAGE THREE background process includes: 1) a background interview, 2) written psychological test, 3) oral psychological interview, 4) polygraph examination and 5) medical examination.
Background Interview: Each candidate is assigned to a background officer who reviews the candidate's Personal History Questionnaire/Polygraph Booklet that candidates are given at the conclusion of STAGE TWO and explores more in-depth background information. The background officer reviews the information about the candidate, conducts site inspections, and coordinates decisions with the psychologist and polygraph examiner. Candidates who arrive at their background interview without requested documentation or incomplete packets are subject to disqualification from the process. Any discrepancies between documents will be closely scrutinized. The background interview lasts approximately 2-3 hours.
Written Psychological Evaluation: Administered by a contracted psychological service provider, the applicant completes an extensive written psychological evaluation. The psychological evaluation will not be scored until the applicant receives a conditional offer of employment with the LVMPD. The psychological evaluation consists of 1,170 questions and takes approximately 4-6 hours to complete.
Oral Psychological Interview: The LVMPD has contracted psychological services to ensure the candidate is prepared to meet the conditions often faced by police and correction officers. The candidate must demonstrate a level of maturity and stability that will allow him/her to be successful and safe on the job.
Polygraph Examination: Qualified polygraph examiners, who are LVMPD commissioned officers, evaluate the candidate's information to ensure it is truthful. Candidates are expected to provide truthful and consistent information. Failure to do so will disqualify the candidate from the hiring process.
Medical Examination: The LVMPD has contracted for medical examination services. Each candidate completes the examination before beginning employment. Medical examinations are given to ensure a candidate is able to perform essential functions of the position. As an equal opportunity employer, the LVMPD is committed to the laws and regulations governing employment, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. Candidates will not be eliminated based on the medical examination unless they can not perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. Candidates are also required to successfully pass a second fitness test prior to going into an academy.
Click here to view the Vision Standards
For those candidates living out-of-state, STAGE THREE background activities will be completed in a single visit to the Las Vegas area.
STAGE FOUR: Final Review and Employment
election Committee Meeting: The selection committee consists of the Human Resources and Patrol Division Commanders, (for police recruits), Detention Services Division Commander (for corrections recruits), and the Bureau Commander of Personnel. During the meeting, the candidate's background history, polygraph, and psychological evaluation are presented and reviewed by the committee. All candidates who successfully meet the LVMPD hiring standards will receive a final offer of employment.
