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Police Officer

Columbus, Ohio

 

Columbus Division of Police

120 Marconi Blvd

Columbus, OH 43215

 

Phone: 614-645-4642

Outside Franklin County, Ohio: 1-800-837-4642

Website: www.columbuspolice.org

 

 

Population:726,601

Sworn Officers: 1,812

 


 

  

                      

Contacting the Recruiting Unit

 

All information on becoming a officer with the Columbus, Ohio Division of Police is contained at http://www.columbuspolice.org/default.htm.  If you would like to be placed on a mailing list to receive an application, please contact the Civil Service Commission at (614) 645-0235 or the Minority Recruiting Unit at jobs@columbuspolice.org.

 

 

The Selection Process

- Step One -

The first step in the testing process is to file an application with the Columbus Civil Service Commission for the position of Police Officer. The requirements for filing an application are as follows:
  1. You must be 20 years of age at the time of application and 21 years at the time of appointment
  2. You must possess a valid driver's license and
  3. You must have a  high school diploma, or GED equivalent.
  4. You must be a US Citizen.
  

- Step Two -

If your application is approved, the Civil Service Commission will notify you of the time and place to report for the three-phase examination. The phases of the examination are:
 
I.  Multiple Choice Examination (Pass/Fail)
II.  Writing Sample (Pass/Fail)
III.  Oral Exercise (B-Pad)
IV. Physical Capability

       

The phases of the examination are numbered according to the order in which the exam will be graded.  The phases will not be administered in the order they are listed above.  Phases I, II, and IV of the examination are administered as "hurdles".  Candidates who fail to pass a phase will not receive a score for subsequent phases.  A candidate must receive a passing score on all phases to be considered eligible.  Passing scores from Phase III will determine the candidate's ranking on the eligible list.

In summary the standards for the Physical Capability will measure the following:

EVENTS STANDARD
agility run - consists of sprinting and dodging around one-foot obstacles over a 60-yard course  21.0 second maximum time
1 bench press repetition 70% of candidate's body weight
vertical jump *to be determined
300 meter run **70 seconds
push-ups 23 repetitions
sit-ups 31 repetitions
1.5 mile run **17 minutes, 53 seconds

* Will be assessed as part of the police officer exam, however, until a standard is determined for this event, all candidates who take this event will be given a passing grade on this event
**May not be tested as part of the police officer exams administered in 2002

  

- Step Three -

Candidates who score high enough on the Civil Service examination(s) to begin the selection process will be mailed a personal history questionnaire. A successful candidate will then be required to report to Police Headquarters for a pre-interview with a background investigator. Pictures, fingerprints, and waivers will be completed to assist in an extensive background investigation.  A polygraph examination and oral interview will be scheduled at this time.
  

- Step Four -

The candidate will be given a polygraph examination to verify all  the information provided to the Background Investigator.
  

- Step Five -

The Civil Service Commission will review your entire package to made sure there are no violations of the background removal standards for Civil Service employment with the Division of Police
  

- Step Six -

A thorough investigation will be conducted by the background investigator including a visit to the candidate's residence.
  

- Step Seven -

All of the information compiled by the investigator is sent to the ORAL Review Board for review.  The candidate will be required to interview with this Board and questions will be asked in regard to the background investigation.
  

- Step Eight -

Oral review board recommendations and background investigations will be reviewed by the Police Administrative Subdivision chain of command.  Summaries of each candidate will be forwarded to the City of Columbus Safety Director for consideration of a Conditional Letter of appointment.
  

- Step Nine -

This step will include a physical examination to include a cardiovascular stress test and a psychological evaluation to evaluate a candidate's overall fitness.  NOTE:   Vision requirements state that you must be correctable to 20/20 and no more than 20/125 BINOCULAR uncorrected, each eye. The  Physical and Psychological must be passed before a final Offer of Employment is given.
  

- Step Ten -

Candidates will be notified by letter of an appointment date for the Police Academy. 

NOTE:  The duration of the entire process ranges from four to twelve months.  A candidate is eligible to retest every twelve months.  A City of Columbus employee is eligible to retest every six months.

Residency Requirements - You must reside in Franklin County or a county that adjoins Franklin County once you begin your 28 week course of training at the Academy.

Police Officer Salary and Benefits

The Columbus Division of Police offers an attractive wage and benefit package that is competitive with private business and other major police departments.

 

Pay Steps Seniority 12/9/01
A-Step hire date ~
12 months
$ 16.64/hr
$34,611.20 /yr.
     
B-Step 12 ~ 24 months $17.46 /hr
$36,316.80 /yr.
     
C-Step 24 ~ 36 months $18.34 /hr
$38,147.20 /yr.
     
D-Step 36 ~ 48 months $21.90 /hr
$45,552.00 /yr.
     
E-Step over 48 months $25.47 /hr
$52,977.60 /yr.

Shift Differential Pay

If the majority of work hours are between the hours of 2:00pm and 7:00am, shift differential is paid:

  • Sept 16, 2001 - $.80 per hour

  • Sept 15, 2002 - $.85 per hour

Health Insurance

The health insurance plan covers the officer and family and is provided at a cost of $10 per month. 
Life Insurance
Will pay to officer's estate one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000)
 
Paid Holidays
Eleven paid holidays per year, including the officer's birthday.
 
Paid Sick Leave
15 days per year. Officers using 8 or less sick hours per calendar year, will receive an additional 16 vacation hours.
 
Paid Vacation Leave
15 days per year.  Officers using 8 or less sick hours per calendar year, will receive 16 additional vacation hours.
 
Clothing and Equipment Allowance
Uniforms and equipment at no cost to the officer plus a uniform maintenance of $850 per year for uniformed officers and $1200 per year for non-uniformed.
 
Prescription Drugs
The deductible is $4 per prescription with the remainder at 100%.
 
Dental Plan
After 1 year of service
 
Personal Liability Insurance
Fully furnished by the City of Columbus
 
Retirement
After 25 years of service and age 48
 
College Tuition Reimbursement
After 1 year of service
 
Annual Service Credit
Paid yearly starting with your 6th year of service
 
Vacation Time
2.4 weeks each year for the first 3 years.  It then advances in stages up to 6.3 weeks after 20 years.

Other Benefits Include:

Family Leave
After 1 year of service
 
Military Leave
When called to service in armed forces of the United States
 
Deferred Compensation Program
Defer up to $11,000 yearly for additional retirement benefits.
 
Credit Union
After 90 days employment
 
Promotions
Eligible to take Sergeant's Exam after 3 years. Pay differential is 18% between ranks.

Upcoming Testing Information

The Civil Service Commission is not currently accepting applications for the position of Police Officer.  It is expected that they will resume accepting applications sometime in 2004. To receive more specific information from the Civil Service Commission about obtaining an application, you may call (614) 645-0235 or go to their website at Columbus Civil Service Commission.  Testing dates (when announced) and an online application are available at: http://www.csc.cmhmetro.net/Pages/police_entry.htm.

Interested persons who would like to speak to a recruiter should contact the Columbus Police Minority Recruiting Unit either in person, by phone, or by e-mail at the addresses and/or phone numbers listed below.

Last Updated - March, 2003

Testing

The Civil Service Commission is not currently accepting applications for the position of police officer. They anticipate that testing will again commence sometime in 2004. General testing information follows:

The phases of the examination are: PHASE I - Multiple Choice: PHASE II - Writing Sample: PHASE II - Oral Exercise: PHASE IV - Physical Capability Phases I, II & IV are on a pass/fail basis. Phase III will be scored and passing scores will determine placement on an eligibility list. You must pass all four phases of the Civil Service examination. Tutorials will be offered for each phase and we strongly urge you to attend these classes.

Tutorials

The Civil Service Commission will conduct tutorials prior to the testing date. You will receive the date, time and locations during the application process.

Vision Standards

The vision requirements are that your vision must be correctable to 20/20 and no more than 20/125 BINOCULAR uncorrected, each eye.

Getting In Shape

It is never too early to begin training your body for the academy. The academy class is a 28-week course of training. It is scheduled during the day, Monday - Friday, with weekends off. It is a quasi-military environment.

 Physical exercise is a daily requirement. From the first day of class, recruits participate in such activities as running, pushups, sit-ups, pull-ups, etc. Recruits will also be expected to complete physical tasks such as scaling 6-foot and 8-foot walls, fully participate with other class members in 'Defensive Tactics' training such as boxing and wrestling matches, and various other physically demanding activities.

Compliance With Standards

It is important to remember that becoming a Police Officer is a sacrifice. You may have to distance yourself from activities that may have a negative impact on your quest to become a Columbus Police Officer.

Here are some areas that are looked at during the background investigation:

Honesty Traffic Record History
Gambling Criminal Activity
Substance Abuse History Family History
Employment History Military History

 

Ride - Along Program

You are encouraged to schedule a Ride-along with a veteran officer to give you a taste of what may be ahead of you as a Columbus Police Officer. Contact us with a date, shift, and possible precinct where you would like to ride. If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity, Call the Minority Recruiting Unit, 645-7582, to schedule a ride-along.

Address & Phone Number Changes

Any changes in address or phone number must be made in writing and mailed to the Civil Service Commission 50 West Gay Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215, or fax it to 645-8334. You may call the Minority Recruiting Unit at 645-4642 or 1-800-837-4642 to verify the reception of your letter.

Residency Requirements

You must reside in Franklin County or a county that adjoins Franklin County upon your employment by the Division of Police.

Questions?

Any concerns or questions regarding the testing and selection process may be answered by contacting the Minority Recruiting Unit. If we cannot find the answer for you, we will direct you to someone who can.

Contact the Recruiting Office

You can contact the Columbus Division of Police, Minority Recruiting Unit with your employment questions at:

Columbus Division of Police
Minority Recruiting Unit
120 Marconi Blvd.
Columbus, Ohio 43215-2838

Phone number: (614) 645-4642
Outside Franklin County, Ohio: 1-800-837-4642
E-mail:
jobs@columbuspolice.org

Testing Dates and Online Application

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