TOWN OF MANCHESTER, CONNECTICUT
HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT
41 Center Street - P.O. Box 191
Manchester, CT 06045-0191
(860) 647-3126
April 2005
To: POLICE OFFICER APPLICANTS
From: Tricia M. Catania, Human Resources Specialist
Thank you for expressing an interest in working for the Manchester Police Department. Enclosed is a Town of Manchester application, vacancy announcement and job description for Police Officer. Please complete the application and return the application and supporting documentation to the Human Resources Department, 41 Center Street, P.O. Box 191, Manchester, CT 06045-0191.
A Police Officer of the Town of Manchester represents the Town and performs duties affecting safety and security of the community. The process of selecting people for employment as Police Officers is extremely important and includes several parts. The process is described below. Please read through the entire description. It includes valuable information about what will be required of you during this process. No part of the testing process requires any prior knowledge of law enforcement.
Your application will be reviewed after the closing date to insure that you meet the minimum education and experience requirements stated in the job description. If you do meet the requirements, you will be invited to take a written exam.
Physical Ability Assessment - Agility
All candidates are required to complete the physical ability assessment (agility) exam. The agility is conducted by Complete Health & Injury Prevention, Inc. (CHIP, Inc.), and it is the candidate’s responsibility to provide a copy of their valid CHIP, Inc. card prior to the date of the written examination. If you have a valid card from CHIP Inc., please enclose a copy with your application. A description of the agility process is included in this packet. To participate in the agility examination, candidates must register with CHIP, Inc.. To obtain the necessary paperwork, you can call CHIP, Inc. at (203) 235-5865 or access their website at www.policecertification.com. Please be aware that as you continue in our selection process, you may be required to take the physical agility examination more than once (there is no cost for subsequent agility tests). It is a Police Officers Standards and Training Council (POST) requirement that candidates pass the physical agility test within 30 days of the start of the academy. We therefore recommend that you continue to practice the four basic agility tests.
Written
The written examination tests your basic reading and writing skills and your attitude toward police work. The minimum passing score on the written examination is set at 70%. We anticipate holding another written examination in early to mid August 2005. Addtional information about the date, including the time and location will be mailed to you upon review of your application.
The top group of applicants passing the written exam will be invited to participate in an oral panel examination. Not everyone who passes the written exam is invited to participate in the oral examination . A minimum score of 70% on the oral examination is required to pass. Candidates who obtain the highest combined written and oral exam scores will be placed on a certification list and are eligible to continue with the next steps of the process. All others passing the examination will be placed on an eligible list, which means that they may be considered again during the year if any vacancies for Police Officer occur. The names on the certification list shall be forwarded to the Police Chief, who is the hiring authority.
Background Investigation
The Police Department will conduct a thorough background investigation on those candidates under active consideration who are on the certification list. It will include a polygraph examination as well as checking work, school and personal references, military and police records, a credit check, obtaining information on a candidate as an applicant to other police departments and other sources as necessary. Rejection from a police hiring process in another community may be the basis for disqualification in this process. Participation in illegal activities, including narcotics use, will be investigated regardless of whether those activities resulted in conviction of a crime. Results of this investigation will have a major impact on whether you are hired. The Chief of Police has the discretion to hire anyone from within the certified group who is not disqualified based on background or other test results.
A post-offer physical examination, including a test for drugs of abuse, and a stress test will be required of finalists. At that time, if you wear glasses, you must provide a certificate from your optometrist stating your corrected vision in each eye. The Town requires a minimum of 20/30 corrected vision in each eye. A post-offer polygraph and psychological evaluation is also required.
If you have any questions about this process or wish to discuss whether any aspect of your background may disqualify you from consideration, please contact the Human Resources Department to discuss the matter at (860) 647-3126.
Physical Ability Assessment (Agility)
The agility examination consists of four basic tests:
Event No. 1 1 Minute Sit-Up Test - This is a measure of the muscular endurance of the abdominal muscles. It is an important area for performing police tasks that may involve the use of force. The score is the number of bent leg sit-ups performed in one (1) minute.
Event No. 2 Sit and Reach Test - This is a measure of the flexibility of the lower back and upper leg area and the candidate's range of motion. It is an important area for performing police tasks involving range of motion. The test involves stretching out to touch the toes or beyond with extended arms from the sitting position. The score is in inches reached on a yardstick with 15 inches being at the toes and the 36-inch mark being at the far end away from the toes.
Event No. 3 1 Repetition Maximum Bench Press - This is a maximum weight pressed from the bench press position and measures the amount of force the upper body can generate. It is an important area for performing police tasks requiring upper body strength. The score is a ratio of weight pressed divided by body weight.
Event No. 4 1.5 Mile Run - This is a timed run to measure the heart and cardio vascular system's capability to transport oxygen. It is an important area for performing police tasks involving stamina and endurance. The score is in minutes and seconds.
40 th PERCENTILE STANDARDS
Sex/Age
Male Sit-up Flex Bench 1.5 Mile
Press Run
20-29 38 16.5” 99% 12:25
30-39 35 15.5” 88% 12:51
40-49 29 14.3” 80% 13.46
50-59 24 13.3” 71% 14:54
Female Sit-up Flex Bench 1.5 Mile
Press Run
20-29 32 19.3” 59% 14.49
30-39 25 18.3” 53% 15:25
40-49 20 17.3” 50% 16:12
50-59 14 16.8” 44% 17:14