Civil Service Test Announcement - Police Patrol Officer (Online Examination)

CIVIL SERVICE TEST ANNOUNCEMENT for POLICE PATROL OFFICER

The City of Wadsworth is announcing a virtual (on-line) Civil Service examination for the position(s) of Police Patrol Officer; the need to fill multiple vacancies in this classification is a possibility. More information about the City of Wadsworth and the examination are listed below.

Minimum Qualifications for Employment:

A qualified applicant must have reached the age of twenty-one (21) at the time of his/her original appointment as a Police Officer. An applicant must be appointed to a Patrol Officer position prior to reaching the age of forty (40). Please note that the appointment process may take several months from the date of the exam to the final date of appointment to the position.

An applicant shall meet or posses all of the following qualifications to be eligible for an appointment:

1. Citizen of the United States;
2. High school diploma or equivalent;
3. Valid motor vehicle operator’s license;
4. A driving record that qualifies the candidate to be insurable and to remain insurable under the city’s vehicle insurance policy as deemed by the City;
5. Favorable employment history; and
6. Criminal record free of felony convictions or other crimes of aggression or violence.

Qualifying Applicants:

An applicant must achieve a minimum passing score of seventy percent (70%) on the Civil Service examination to qualify for employment. Following the examination, the highest scoring applicants will be invited to participate in an oral interview. Applicants who perform well in the interview process and who warrant further consideration at the City’s discretion shall also be required to successfully complete all of the following procedures prior to receiving a final appointment:

• A thorough background investigation, including criminal history and employment reference checks;
• A polygraph examination and/or computer voice stress analysis (CVSA);
• A psychological evaluation;
• A physical fitness test;
• A medical examination; and
• A nine (9) panel drug screen.

Physical Agility Requirements:

An applicant must successfully complete the physical agility requirements to be considered for a final appointment to the position of Police Officer. The successful applicant will be strongly encouraged to maintain the ability to achieve the OPOTA physical fitness standards throughout the candidate’s career.

OPOTA Physical Fitness Standards

Age and Gender Minimum Scores

Males (29 and under) Females (29 and under)
Sit-ups (1 Minute) 40 35
Push-ups (1 Minute) 33 18
1.5 Mile Run 11:58 14:15

Males (30 - 39) Females (30 - 39)

Sit-ups (1 Minute) 36 27
Push-ups (1 Minute) 27 14
1.5 Mile Run 12:25 15:14

Special Credits:

1. Military Credit

An applicant who is an Ohio resident who submits a DD-214 with the application for the Civil Service examination shall receive a twenty percent (20%) credit added to a passing score. The DD-214 must reflect military service of one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days or more with an honorable discharge. No military credit will be added unless the applicant achieves a minimum passing score on the examination.

IMPORTANT: To receive military extra credit, a copy of the DD-214 must be submitted at the time of application.

2. OPOTA Certification

An applicant who holds a current Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) certification at the time of the examination shall receive additional credit of ten (10) percent, provided the candidate achieves a minimum passing score.

IMPORTANT: To receive extra credit for OPOTA certification, a copy of the OPOTA certificate must be submitted at the time of application.

3. Education Credit

An applicant shall receive additional credit for possession of educational achievements as listed below, provided the applicant achieves a minimum passing score.

Four (4) Year Bachelor’s Degree = Twenty percent (20%)
Two (2) Year Associates Degree = Ten percent (10%)

IMPORTANT: To receive extra credit for education, a copy of the degree(s) mustbe submitted at the time of application.

4. Limitations of Extra Credit The combination of all special credits added to a candidate’s minimum passing score shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the total grade attainable.

IMPORTANT: Extra credit shall not be awarded to any candidate who submits evidence after the time of the application.

Compensation and Benefits:

The City offers excellent benefits to include generous accrued leave (e.g., sick, vacation, holiday), uniform allowance, comprehensive health insurance including medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage and participation in the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund (OP & F).

The wage rate for this position is determined by the collective bargaining agreement between the City of Wadsworth and the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association.

The current hourly rate for new hires with OPOTA Certification in calendar year 2024 is $32.37. A lower rate exists for new hires who must achieve their OPOTA Certification in a Police Academy. Typically, there will be a wage increase following the successful completion of a one (1) year probationary period. The rate of pay following the probationary period and any other potential wage adjustments are subject to the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement.

Applications for the Examination:

A completed and signed Civil Service application is required to sit for this examination. The application for the Civil Service examination may be returned by mail or in person in the drop box at the following location:

Human Resources Office
Wadsworth City Hall, 2nd Floor (across from the elevator)
120 Maple Street
Wadsworth, OH 44281

You may also email your application and relevant documentation to jobs@wadsworthcity.org.

To print a blank application, click here.

Application Period:

If submitting an application in person, examination applications will only be accepted in person on business days, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. between the following dates:

Beginning Date: January 10, 2024
Deadline Date: February 5, 2024*

• Resumes must be received in Human Resources by 4:30 P.M. on the deadline date, regardless of the method of submission.

Testing Information:

In preparation for the upcoming online entry-level Police Officer test scheduled for Saturday February 10, 2024, you will receive an e-mail from onlinetesting@invitations.testgenius.com with instructions on how to access the online test.

This e-mail will be sent to you on Thursday February 8, 2024, but it is imperative that you do not click on the test link until Saturday February 10, 2024, Pacific Standard Times apply as noted in the FAQ flyer, as this is the only date the online test will be accessible. (FAQ flyer will be emailed to each candidate who submits an application).

If you cannot locate the test link prior to the test date, please first check your spam/junk folder and you may email help@fpsi.com if you still cannot locate it. We appreciate your cooperation with this request and wish you the best of luck on Saturday February 10, 2024, for the online entry-level Police Officer test!

Applicants may order the “Online Police Test Candidate Orientation Guide” by clicking the following link: https://www.fpsi.com/product/online-police-test-guide/.  The Online Police Test Candidate Orientation Guide is a helpful tool to prepare for the exam and can be downloaded as a .PDF file and saved or printed. Payments can be submitted via a PayPal account or on FPSI’s site using a credit/debit card. Once payment is submitted, the download link will be located on the order details-checkout status page. Applicants must pay close attention to ALL instructions on both FPSI and PayPal’s websites to access the instant download successfully!

Exam Date:February 10, 2024

Instructions for the virtual (on-line) test will be emailed to you using the email address you provided on your Civil Service application. Please ensure that the information you provide is correct and legible at the time of application.

Additional Information:

We encourage you to learn more about the City of Wadsworth and the Wadsworth Police Department by visiting our website at: www.wadsworthcity.com

IMPORTANT: The City of Wadsworth appreciates the interest of all applicants in employment with us. The Human Resources Department will only communicate by telephone with those applicants that have been identified for further consideration. All other candidates will be notified by mail of their score and ranking on the exam. The mailing may take up to four (4) weeks from the date of the exam.

Your name will remain on an eligible list until a hire is made from the list. If you fail to achieve a passing score on the examination, you will not be eligible for further consideration until the next examination is conducted. Should the City need to hire an additional officer beyond its current needs, the current eligibility list may be utilized.

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