Police Officer Recruit

ACADEMY AND FIELD TRAINING: Upon employment, police officer recruits attend a 24-26 week academy training program. Recruits are provided daily classroom instruction in such areas as Basic Law, Criminal Investigation, Report Writing and Cultural Diversity as well as practical experience in Defensive Driving, Firearms and Water Safety. Attainment of mandated objectives, including firearms qualification, shall be accomplished through a series of tests and practical exercises throughout the Recruit Academy session. Students are responsible for maintaining all notes taken during class, and the successful student must maintain a minimum academic average of 80% on all tests during the academy. After completing the academy, successful candidates will be assigned to a Police Training Officer for a minimum of sixteen weeks of "on the job" or field training.

Upon completion of training, a police officer enforces state laws and local ordinances and arrests suspected violators of the law; responds to citizen-initiated calls for service and conducts self-initiated investigations while patrolling a specific geographical area to deter criminal activity; explains laws and police procedures to citizens; operates keyboard data terminals; checks for want/warrants on persons; identifies, collects and preserves evidence; mediates domestic disputes; prepares various reports and documents to complete investigations; and presents evidence and testimony in a judicial setting. Police personnel are required to work rotating shifts and holidays.

SELECTION PROCESS: The City of Virginia Beach Police Officer Recruit selection process is a multi- tiered process. Applicants must successfully complete each component of the process before moving to the next step. The selection process includes the following components: *Written Test *Polygraph Examination *Background Investigation *Oral Interview *Physical Ability Test. Successful candidates must meet the Commonwealth of Virginia's criteria for the issuance of a handgun permit. Conditional offers of employment are extended after the oral interview and physical ability test, contingent upon the successful completion of *Medical and *Psychological exams provided at City expense. As a condition of employment, all new employees must sign an agreement that they will not smoke or use tobacco products either on or off duty. Use of marijuana or any derivative thereof is prohibited; a positive drug screening will result in a withdrawal of any conditional offer.

Candidates who are not successful in certain selection steps may be rescheduled for future testing. If unsuccessful in the written test, candidates must wait six months before retesting. If disqualified in the background investigation phase, there is a six-month waiting period and completion of a new application is required.

Please visit our website at Police jobs for more detailed information about the Virginia Beach Police Department, a message from the Chief of Police, testing tips, other suggestions for success, etc.

The academy staff will request that you complete the following documents and forward to them so that your application can be reviewed for test confirmation; within 24 hours of submitting your application, you will receive an email to complete the forms below and directions on how to submit them to the applicant portal.

• Notarized Authorization for Release of Information form

• Signed Authorization for the Procurement of a Consumer (Credit) Report

The following documents must be submitted with the completed Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ) (required after the written test and also found at Police jobs). Use this time to assemble these documents so you will be able to submit this information in a timely manner when requested:

• Driver's license

• Social Security Card

• Birth Certificate

• High school diploma or transcripts (or GED certificate)

• College transcripts (if applicable)

• DD-214 (if applicable)

The PHQ can be found at Police application forms

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT: Upon academy graduation, recruits receive a career progression to Police Officer 1 resulting in a pay increase. In addition to annual pay increases authorized by City Council, Police Officers are eligible for additional noncompetitive career progressions to Police Officer 2 upon three years' experience (5% pay increase) and Master Police Officer upon six years' experience (10% pay increase) when other professional development requirements for training and specific experiences are met.

NOTE TO LATERAL POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATES WITH ACTIVE CERTIFICATION: Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) certified Police Officers and out of state certified officers with at least 12 months' fulltime uniform patrol experience (following academy training) are encouraged to apply to the separate job posting for Lateral Police Officer/Police Officer I.

DISQUALIFIERS FOR VIRGINIA BEACH POLICE OFFICER RECRUIT1: The following is a listing of concerns that may result in a candidate's disqualification from consideration for employment as a Police Officer Recruit. Candidates are encouraged to contact the Training Bureau staff to discuss any questions or concerns regarding the areas listed below.

Criminal History

1.Conviction, guilty plea, or no contest plea of any felony.

2.Conviction, guilty plea, or no contest plea of any misdemeanor sex offense, including but not limited to sexual battery under Virginia Code §18.2-67.4 or consensual sexual intercourse with a minor 15 or older under clause (ii) of Virginia Code §18.2-371 or any crime requiring registration in the Virginia Sex Offender Registry.

3.Conviction, guilty plea, or no contest plea of domestic assault under Virginia Code §18.2-57.2 or any offense that would be domestic assault under the laws of another state or the United States.

4.Conviction, guilty plea, or no contest plea of any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, including but not limited to petit larceny under Virginia Code §18.2-96 or any offense involving moral turpitude that would be a misdemeanor if committed in the Commonwealth.

Any potential applicant with a misdemeanor conviction is encouraged to contact the Training Bureau at 757-385-6987 and ask to speak with the lead background investigator to discuss their specific issue.

Driving History

1.Any conviction, guilty plea, or no contest plea of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, refusal to take blood or breath test, eluding police, racing, or leaving the scene of an accident within the last 5 years.

Drugs

1.Sale of any drug listed in the drug standards and schedules set forth in Virginia Code §54.1-3443 et seq. without a valid license authorizing sale of specified drugs. Any other distribution will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

2.Unlawful use or possession of any illegal drug, including but not limited to heroin, cocaine, hallucinogens, methamphetamine, etc. or any derivative thereof (except marijuana) within the last 5 years.

3.Illegal use or possession of anabolic steroids within the last 3 years.

Other

1.Dishonorable discharge from any military service.

2.Untruthfulness and/or the intentional withholding of information on any application, interview, or paperwork associated with the position. Examples of intentional withholding of information would include deliberate inaccuracies or incomplete statements.

3.Intentional failure to follow the directions outlined in the testing process or relying on others to complete any portion of the testing process.

NOTE:

This is not intended to be an exhaustive listing of background disqualifiers. The additional areas of concern listed below will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis within the context of the full background investigation/review.

• Involvement in past criminal activity not resulting in criminal conviction

• Reduction of charges as a result of a plea agreement or other form of sentencing disposition prior to a conviction in any of the aforementioned criminal and driving history categories

• Other Class 1 or 2 misdemeanors

• Crimes committed as a juvenile, including undetected crime

• Patterns of reckless and/or irresponsible driving

• Multiple convictions of driving under the influence

• Illegal drug use or possession that does not fall within the parameters defined above, including the use or possession of prescription drugs without a proper prescription

• Less than honorable military discharge, erratic work record, or unfavorable employment references

• Pending litigation or prosecution for criminal offenses must be resolved prior to consideration for employment

• Demonstrated history of financial irresponsibility. (Examples of concerns include unpaid collections or unsatisfactory judgments where no payment plan has been established.)

[1] References are provided throughout from the Code of Virginia; however, comparable violations of other state code or the United States Code would also be disqualifying.

For questions, contact the academy staff at 1-757-385-6987.