1.

Employment Application
Police Officer Recruit Applications are only available online during an open enrollment period
at http://www.phila.gov/personnel.

Click on "Open Competitive" under "Job Opportunities"

and go to "Police Officer Recruit."

2. Reading Examination
Prospective Philadelphia Police Officers will be required to complete the Nelson-Denny Reading
Test

3. Physical Fitness & Agility Test

Prospective Philadelphia Police Officers will be required to complete the Physical Fitness Test
(see 'Requirements' for details). Before the test, applicants will be required to undergo a brief
medical examination to insure they are healthy enough to perform the test.
VIDEO AND INSTRUCTIONS
The physical fitness test confirms that prospective police recruits are performing physically
(based on their age and gender) at the 30th percentile. The test includes the 300-meter run, bench
press (percentage of body weight) sit-ups (within 1 minute) and the 1.5-mile run. Watch a
brief video about the Police Recruit Physical Fitness Pre-Examination . Read the latest physical
fitness requirements as mandated by the Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training
Commission. The Department has also prepared some basic guidelines on how to prepare for the
physical fitness requirements.

4. Drug-Screening Test
Police Officer Candidates will be subjected to a drug-screening test. Random drug-screening is
also performed on all active Philadelphia Police Officers throughout their career.

5. Personal Data Questionnaire (PDQ) Interview

Prior to beginning the background investigation, candidates must complete an exhaustive
background questionnaire called the "PDQ". Every aspect of the candidates previous history is to
be recorded on this document. Police background investigators provide this form to candidates at
their first orientation session and explain how to properly complete it. Because it is so
comprehensive, candidates are given the questionnaire and instructed to take it home, conduct
the necessary research to complete it, and then to return it to the Internal Investigations Unit
located at 22nd & Hunting Park Avenue. It is critical that this form be completed truthfully and
in its entirety. Any falsehoods are grounds for immediate rejection.

6. Background Investigation
During this phase of the process, members of the Recruit Background Investigations Unit initiate
contact with individuals in your employment history, family, friends, associates and neighbors. In
addition to contacting these principles, they may also speak to persons they identify as having
known you.
Investigators will contact former employers and review your work history, they will speak to
coworkers, teachers, and anyone else who can offer insights into your character and fitness for
police work. Our efforts are designed to gain an understanding of the kind of person you are and

to exclude candidates who have demonstrated character traits that are inconsistent with the
highest values of the profession.
We seek candidates with the highest moral and ethical standards for our agency. The background
investigation must indicate that you have the necessary morality, honesty, trustworthiness and
integrity to join our ranks. You must pass this phase to proceed to the next step in the selection
process.

7. Medical Evaluation
The medical evaluation consists primarily of a complete physical examination. You will have a
medical history, EKG, eye examination (corrected vision must be 20/20), your breathing tested,
you will be subject to color blindness tests, and other examinations consistent with a thorough
physical examination. You will also have to submit to a drug screening test during this
examination.
You will have your height and weight recorded and evaluated. Your weight must be
proportionate to your height. Applicants who are overweight will be informed of the target
weight they must attain before being eligible for appointment. Applicants who fail to meet the
weight requirement will be examined again at a later date.
The physical examination is given to all candidates as part of their pre-employment screening
requirement. Applicants must pass this phase before proceeding to the next step in the selection
process.

8. Psychological Evaluation

Candidates who pass the written examination are required to take the MMPI-2, which is a
computer administered, true-false personality inventory. They are then required to have a one
hour psychological evaluation with a State of Pennsylvania licensed psychologist.

9. Polygraph Examination
The polygraph examination is a part of the hiring process.
This test is currently administrated by an outside agency that consists of internationally known
certified polygraphists and interrogation experts. The test consists of questions designed to verify
the truthfulness of the police applicant, and the information that he/she placed in their police data
questionnaire (PDQ) books. This test is at least two hours long and is scheduled by members of
the recruiting unit. No applicant will be appointed to the Police Department unless they take and
pass the polygraph examination.

10. Training Program

If you've satisfactorily completed the process this far, you will be placed on an eligibility list.
When vacancies exist and training classes are scheduled, candidates are sequentially drawn from
this list and invited to attend the scheduled training class.
If notified that you have been selected to attend the Police Academy, you will undergo thirty (30)
weeks of intensive training designed to produce the best police officers in the country.

11. On-The-Job Probation

Candidates who successfully complete their training are promoted to Police Officer I. Upon
graduation, officers are assigned to a patrol district. The date of promotion marks the beginning

of a one-year probationary evaluation period. During this period, the conduct of probationary
officers will be under close scrutiny. At the conclusion of that year of probation, officers are
appointed as full-time employees of the Philadelphia Police Department.