Officer recruiting process is extensive
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First order of business is to congratulate “Madam Librarian” Marilyn Trosper for being honored as Montana Librarian Of The Year — well deserved.
Second, to thank the journalists at Polson High School for their excellent production throughout the year of The Salishian. Read it cover to cover.
In last month’s column I shared one of the methods we utilize when we are recruiting potential candidates for the position of police officer for the Polson Police Department. As mentioned before there are several ways we recruit. In this month’s article we will talk about another process that is a fairly lengthy and time-consuming process, especially for a small agency like ours.
The first step is to advertise in our local newspapers and through a statewide teletype to numerous criminal justice agencies. We also use our website.
Applicants are usually given two or three weeks to fill out an application before the job closes. There are times we get as few as three or four candidates applications, yet we have had as high as 21. The economy, no doubt, plays a real dictate as to how many submit their application. The better the economy, the fewer the candidates. We also are hampered by larger cities in the state of Montana who are able to pay starting wages of $5,000 to $10,000 more a year for their new hires.
Fortunately, several years back Polson voters passed a safety levy. That allowed us to be on par with our neighbors down the street at the sheriff’s office. Because of the cost of living going up and tax dollars declining, it’s a struggle to remain close in starting pay. However, because of the safety levy passage by the voters, our turnover, once very high, is negligible.
Once our application time period is closed, we will then begin, under this method of recruitment, an arduous and very time-consuming process. Applicants will be required to take a written and physical fitness test that is administered by a various larger agencies in the state. This testing is held several times a year. Fortunately the Missoula Police have been very accommodating to us in allowing us to test with them.
The rest of the process wheels are beginning to turn as the applications provide us with information to begin conducting extensive background investigation and reference checks.
We are fortunate to have three very dedicated police commissioners who are with us throughout the process and eventually the decision on who we may hire. Don Miller, Dennis Jones and Bob Owens contribute their time, talents and perspective as the selection process continues. This involves one if not more interviews by the commission and police staff. Finally, and hopefully with at least three months behind us time-wise in researching the applicant’s history, we will narrow the field to several possible candidates to hire.
Our three sergeants plus a detective will have been doggedly gathering information about the applicants to assist us in determining if they can meet the standards to be an officer.
As the three-month process begins to wind down, and if several candidates show real promise, we will travel throughout the northwest to the applicants' hometowns. Our sergeants will visit with former employers, school personnel and townspeople. For applicants who are from outside this region, we will intensify our background investigation as costs of travel to distance places would be prohibitive.
If all goes well and the proposed hire is found to be suitable for our agency, and if we have a vacancy, we will offer that prospective candidate a conditional job. Conditional because they still have a doctor’s physical, plus they must pass muster by participating in an extensive psychological exam performed by a Polson psychologist. Then, and only then, they may, if all goes well, get a final offer of employment.
I am extremely proud of our staff of sergeants and the assistant chief in their constant re-assessment of how we can improve our selection of officers. You as a citizen are served by some of the finest women and men in blue who sole purpose is to, as the axiom goes, “protect and serve.”
Next we will visit on the training new officers receive once they become Polson Police officers.
