The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the New York Police Department (NYPD) are two of America’s well known, effective and efficient police departments and a person wishing to be recruited into the above departments has to pass through a thorough and competitive selection process. The minimum requirement and selection criteria may vary slightly between the two departments but several aspects of the selection process are the same. To be recruited into the NYPD, a person should be 21 years and less than 35 years of age at the time of application. In addition, one should posses a valid high school diploma, an unrestricted and valid New York Driving License, holder of attest 2.0 GPA 60 college credits or a 2 year full time US military Service. Applicants should also be US citizens and residing in the Nassau, Westchester, Rockland, Suffolk or Orange counties of New York (NYPD, 2012).
In addition to possessing a valid driving license, being above 21 years of age and having educational qualification same as those required by NYPD, a person wishing to be recruited into MPD should have served in the US armed Forces for at least 3 years and should agree to stay in the service for a minimum of two years. The initial mode of selections and assessment vary between these departments. For MPD, the selection process starts with filling an online application form after which candidates receive orientation dates to be attended. After orientation, a candidate completes an online qualification survey within 72 hours (MPD, 2012).
During the recruitment day, successful applicants take a physical ability test aimed at determining their physical ability and strength to meet daily job challenges. This step is followed by written examination to determine their intellectual ability to solve issues. Successful candidates then have their documents and fingerprints taken and verified after which background investigation process follows. Here, applicants are scrutinized for prior criminal records. A polygraph examination then follows and applicants who successfully pass this test take a medical and physiological evaluation after which they are approved if they pass (MPD, 2012).
With NYPD, a candidate first takes a written Civil Service examination which after being reviewed by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), a list of eligible candidates is forwarded to the NYPD. The selection process is then conducted by the Applicants Processing Division (APD). A candidate wishing to become a police officer first goes through a medical exam character evaluation process where fingerprints are taken and initial character assessment done. This is followed by written then oral physiological test. A job standard test to determine a candidate’s physical ability to tackle daily job challenges is then carried out. A pre-hire interview is taken carried out to preview medical examination and character investigation report done previously. Candidates who successfully pass the above selection stages are approved (NYPD, 2012).
For quality services delivery to be realized in every organization including police departments, it is imperative that people in the organization remain competitive. An organization can be made competitive by setting targets that the organization should achieve and through motivation of employees. The thorough and competitive selection process used by NYPD, MPD and other police departments ensures that highly qualified and talented people are hired as police officers. According to Kumar, competitive selection and recruitment process is aimed at ensuring that only talented and qualified officers of proven probity are entrusted with police task. (Kumar, 2000)
The NYPD and MPD selection process evaluates knowledge, abilities, skills, character and traits. This is made possible through conducting written and oral examination, character evaluation, physiological, and job standard test. Police recruit require several skills so as to efficiently and effectively execute their duties. These skills include good written and oral skills, judgmental, multi-tasking, and evaluative skills (Kumar, 2000).
References
Kumar, P. (2000). Policing the police: An analytical study of the philosophy and field dynamics of the policing in practice. Midland, Texas: Author Publishers.
MPD. (2012). Application Process. Web.
NYPD. (2012). Application Process | Overview. Web.