HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-31-2017 Civil Service CommissionAGENDA
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
8:15AM
Helling Conference Room
(Lobby Conference Room;
City Hall
410 E. Washington St.
Iowa City, IA
1. Certification of Promotional Lists for the positions
of Fire Lieutenant, Fire Captain, Fire Battalion
Chief and Fire Deputy Chief
2. Entry level Police Officer testing
If you will need disability -related accommodations in
order to participate in this program/event, please
contact Karen Jennings, Human Resources at 319-
356-5025 or karen-iennings(cDiowa-city.orp. Early
requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient
time to meet your access needs.
` r.®4 CITY OF IOWA CITY
*'Ps MEMORANDUM
Date: October 27, 2017
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 we
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 to
the physical fitness phase of testing without retaking the POST.
Physical Fitness Test: All candidates with a passing POST test score 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 supervisory staff.
This process could take up to two weeks followed by panel discussion and review of employment
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 background investigation and medical
examination (including interpretation of the MMPI scores by ILEA) conducted in accordance with the
October 27, 2017
Page 2
protocols developed by 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 possessing 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:
POST test/Physical fitness:
Interviews:
Certification of list:
November/December 2017
January 2018
January2018
February 2018
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.
Cc: Chief Matherly