The Administrative Recruitment Process for Law Enforcement

This is the opposite of some years back when it was a struggle for police agencies to identify qualifies recruits (Orrick, 2008). This has been caused by the great economic downturn, the reduction of employees in the corporate world, and the increase in the population without an increase in the number of available jobs. Police chiefs feel that these people who are victims of corporate reductions are better for law enforcement because they have experience, have been part of teams, and are more mature when it comes to the world of work (Oliver, 2014). The process of recruitment and selection is critical to any agency’s success, and almost all the promotions in police agencies are internal. Therefore, it is important for qualified recruits to be hired as police officers.

Any applicant found to have provided information that is false during any of the phases in the process of hiring faces the risk of being disqualified permanently. The first step is the application where the person interested in becoming a police officer fills in a general form of application about themselves. This happens either happens before or after one has taken the written examination. While some police departments may review the application first, others may want to see the results of the written examination first before one can submit their application. After this follows the written exam. Most of the time, the physical ability examination is taken immediately after one has dome the written examination. In the fourth step, one is required to provide background information about themselves.

This happens when one has completed both the written exam and the physical abilities test. The purpose of this important step is to make sure that there is nothing in your background that can hamper you from qualifying to become a police officer (Patrick, 2016). There are police departments that will hire investigators to carefully look into your background and make sure that there is nothing that can hinder you from becoming a law enforcement officer. The sixth step is a polygraph test, or the lie detector test. This step is usually a test of the truthfulness of the applicant on the basis of their background report. This step, which typically takes a few hours, is administered by a professional examiner who is trained in this matter (Patrick, 2016).

In most cases, the applicant undergoes the polygraph test towards the end of the process of hiring. A very important exam takes place in step seven, and this is the psychological exam. Some of the things that are measured under the physical examination include the height, weight, hearing, vision, and blood pressure (Oliver, 2014). The physician also takes an x-ray of the chest of the applicant. This is one of the last tests in the process of police recruitment and hiring. Besides all the steps described above, there are other steps that are involved in the recruitment process. For instance, the applicant may be interviewed by the chief. References Oliver, P.  Recruitment, Selection & Retention of Law Enforcement Officers. Looseleaf Law. Orrick, D.