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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-21-2016 Civil Service Commissionk0d CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION Monday, March 21, 2016 11:00 AM Helling Conference Room (Lobby Conference Room) City Hall 410 E. Washington St. Iowa City, IA 1. Entry level Police Officer testing 2. Police Captain promotional process 3. Old business 4. New business Any late handouts will be included in the meeting minutes. r r,r'lll ®4 CITY OF IOWA CITY I. �� Date: March 17, 2016 To: Civil Service Commission From: Karen Jennings, Human Resources Administrator Re: Entry Level Police Test The certified list for the position of Police Officer has reached the end of its useful life, and I recommend that we test for this position and certify a new hiring list. After consultation with Police Department command staff, staff recommends a process that has been successfully used in the past, satisfies the requirements of Chapter 400 of the Iowa Code, and which we hope will result in a large interview pool from which to recommend a hiring list for certification. Written Test: Staff recommends use of the National Police Officer Selection Test (POST) which is required for acceptance into the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) and the most widely used entry level written test in the state of Iowa. The test includes four sections (arithmetic, reading comprehension, identification of grammar/punctuation/spelling errors, and writing skills) designed to measure cognitive skill critical to successfully learning and performing the job of police officer. No prior training or experience in the job of police officer is assumed of candidates taking this test. A passing score of 70% in each test section is required to continue in the process to the physical fitness test. Candidate information materials will include information on where candidates may purchase POST study guides or practice tests and study guides will be available for on -site review in the City's Human Resources office. The POST will be proctored by City of Iowa City Human Resources staff certified as test proctors by the ILEA. Because the POST is used statewide and a database of test scores is maintained by Stanard and Associates, Inc., I recommend accepting passing POST scores for exams administered within one year of anticipated certification of a hiring list. Candidates with such a score on file will be allowed to proceed immediately to the physical fitness test. Physical Fitness Test: All candidates with a passing POST test will be considered eligible to participate in the physical fitness test. Staff recommends we continue to use the physical test regimen established as a pre -employment standard by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Council. The test is administered on a pass/fail basis and consists of the following: (1) sit and reach; (2) sit-ups; (3) push-ups; (4) one and one-half (1.5) mile run. Eligible candidates who provide acceptable documentation of having successfully completed the ILEA pre -employment physical test regimen administered by another law enforcement agency in the state of Iowa within three months preceding Iowa City's test date will be allowed to proceed to the oral interview phase of the process without having to repeat the fitness test. The POST test and physical fitness test will be administered on the same day in an effort to make the process as convenient for candidates as possible. Oral Interviews: Interviews will be offered to all candidates passing both the POST and the physical fitness test. Interviews are approximately 40 minutes long and follow a structured interview format with the interview panel consisting of Human Resources Division and Police Department staff. This process could take up to two weeks followed by panel discussion and review of criminal history, employment references, and educational verifications to determine the composition of the recommended list. Certification of Hiring List: A rank order list will then be recommended to the Commission for certification. Hiring Process: Following certification, all offers of employment will be made only to individuals on the list. Any offer of employment is subject to the candidate passing a medical examination (including interpretation of the MMPI scores by ILEA) conducted in accordance with the protocols developed by March 17, 2016 Page 2 Municipal Fire and Police Retirement System of Iowa (MFPRSI) as mandated by Chapter 411 of the Code of Iowa. ILEA interpretation of a valid Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) will be required of all candidates as part of the post -offer medical examination process and could result in a required follow-up psychological exam. The Minnesota Multiphase Personality Inventory (MMPI) will be administered to all candidates who do not have a valid result on file with the ILEA in conjunction with the medical examination process. City of Iowa City Human Resources staff with valid proctor certifications from ILEA will proctor the MMPI for candidates without a score on file and will then forward the exam to the ILEA for interpretation. Following is a tentative schedule. Application period: April/May POST test/Physical fitness: June Interviews: July Certification of list: August I look forward to discussing this process with you at your meeting. In the meantime, please contact me at 356-5025 with any questions. Thank you. r i^r,i®A CITY OF IOWA CITY liggtiMEMUKANUUM Date: March 17, 2016 To: Civil Service Commission From: Karen Jennings, Human Resources Administrator Re: Police Captain Promotional process The Civil Service Commission certified promotional lists for the ranks of Police Captain, Police Lieutenant and Police Sergeant on February 12, 2015. Per Chapter 400.11 of the Iowa Code, persons on certified eligible lists for promotion shall hold preference for two years following the date of certification. The Captain list has been exhausted by the June 1, 2015 promotion of its only candidate while the Lieutenant and Sergeant lists remain valid until February 2017. An existing vacancy at the Captain rank makes the certification of a new Captain promotional list necessary. Because promotion to the rank of Captain typically results in subsequent appointments at the ranks of Lieutenant and Sergeant, staff desires to certify lists for all promotional ranks on the same cycle whenever possible. Therefore, staff recommends a promotional testing process for the rank of Police Captain which will result in one individual being recommended to the Commission as qualified for certification on a promotional list. This will allow the current vacancy to be filled and a testing process for the rank of Captain to be held and a new promotional list created in conjunction with the ranks of Lieutenant and Sergeant in 2017. The requirements for the position of Police Captain include a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement or a related field from a DOE accredited institution and six years in law enforcement including four years minimum experience at the rank of Sergeant or higher. A Master's degree in Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement or Public Service Management from a DOE accredited institution is preferred. Human Resources staff has consulted with the Police Chief and recommends the following process: 1. All eligible candidates will be required to submit a promotional testing application, resume, and appropriate documentation of the required degree by the application deadline. Candidates will also be required to submit a completed candidate questionnaire for review by the selection committee. 2. All eligible candidates will be provided the opportunity to interview with a selection committee to be comprised of City Department Directors or Division Heads and a command staff member at the Chief rank or equivalent from another law enforcement agency. If the Commission wishes to be represented in the process, the Commission may also appoint a member to the selection committee. 3. Candidates will participate in structured interviews and the selection committee will identify the candidate to be recommended to the Civil Service Commission for certification on the Captain promotional list. The Chief and I will be available at your upcoming meeting to answer any questions. Thank you.