Parkersburg Police Department, Parkersburg, WV

Hiring Process

Be One of the Finest - a Parkersburg Police Officer

Benefits include:

Hospitalization
Paid Vacation
20 Year Retirement
Uniform Allowance
Civil Service Protection
Take Home Cruiser

The Parkersburg Police Department Civil Service Commission conducts a written examination for applicants. The exam evaluates such factors as aptitude, job knowledge, and other related factors to determine the relative fitness for the position.

Applicants are placed on a civil service list ranked in the order of the test score and credit for military service and academy completion. Hiring announcements will be publicized, and anyone having an application on file will be notified by mail of the testing date.

Testing

A physical agility test will be administered soon after the written exam. The agility test consists of:

27 push ups within one minute
29 sit-ups within one minute
Complete 1.5 mile run within 14 minutes, 52 seconds
A sit and reach of 16 1/2 inches

Only those applicants successfully completing this physical agility test will be considered.

After an applicant has been placed on the Civil Service list and successfully completed the physical agility test, they are subject to the following:

background investigation, which includes fingerprinting
driver record check
criminal history check
employment history
neighborhood check
polygraph examination
psychological screening
medical exams, which include a hearing and vision screening.

A review of the applicant's file by the Civil Service Commissioners determines the applicant's certification for employment. All applicants (unless having already completed the Basic Academy Training) hired must complete a Basic Police Officer Academy Class, which lasts approximately 15 weeks. Upon completion of the academy class, the officer completes an orientation training with the department, and then will be placed in the Field Training Program.