San Diego Police Department values its employees. The department works with “different communities in order to maintain public safety, support, and trust” (San Diego Police Department, 2014, p. 1). The department’s goal is to provide efficient policing in San Diego (San Diego Police Department, 2014).
The department also addresses the issues affecting the surrounding community. Any citizen who satisfies the minimum requirements can become part of the San Diego Police Department (SDPD). The police department ensures every employee is satisfied with the working environment (San Diego Police Department, 2014). The applicant should be a citizen or inhabitant of the United States.
The targeted age for the job is 20 years. The applicant should take a mandatory Written Test at the age of 20. This requirement ensures every applicant graduated from the Police Academy at the age of 21 (San Diego Police Department, 2014). Another key requirement for this job is education.
The candidate should have graduated from a reputable high school in the United States. The applicant can also have a degree from a recognized university or college (San Diego Police Department, 2014). The targeted applicants should present proof of academic education when they are submitting their Personal History Statements (PHS).
The department also expects every candidate to possess a valid driver’s license. The applicant should also have a minimum of Class C Driver’s License. This license permits the individual to drive a vehicle. This requirement is mandatory at the time of recruitment. The applicant should be a competent driver (San Diego Police Department, 2014). This is a significant part of the policing activity.
Every candidate should also have a valid typing certificate. Every police officer should be able to use a computer. This explains why the department expects every applicant to have a typing certificate. The candidate should be able to type over 30 words per minute. The applicant should also submit his or her certificate during the Department’s Background Investigation Process.
The certificate should also specify the applicant’s gross and net typing speed. The department does not accept any internet-based typing test. The certificate should not specify five or more errors (San Diego Police Department, 2014). The San Diego Police Department will reject any certificate with the above errors during the recruitment process. The department accepts certificates that fulfill the International Typing Contest Rules (ITCR).
Every shortlisted candidate for this job should fulfill these minimum requirements. The screening process consists of different activities, such as written exercises and performance tests. The candidates should also be able to read, interpret, and comprehend technical materials. They should also “follow directions and detect similarities between groups of numbers” (San Diego Police Department, 2014, p. 2). The applicants should also be ready to make critical decisions. The candidates should be able to write and read competently.
The police department also conducts several medical investigations to ensure every applicant is physically fit. The candidate’s medical history should meet the police department’s requirements. These examinations are necessary because they ensure the department hires individuals who can perform every duty of a police officer (San Diego Police Department, 2014).
This discussion explains why the San Diego Police Department follows a rigorous recruitment strategy in order to employ competent persons for the job. This practice has made SDPD one of the most admirable police departments in the United States.
Reference
San Diego Police Department. (2014). Police Officer Requirements. Web.