|

To be
considered as a Police Cadet, Lateral Officer or Reserve Officer
with the Albuquerque Police Department, applicants must successfully
complete the selection process. A new selection process
in initiated for each anticipated cadet class. Listed below
are the steps in the selection process and the sequence in which
they are administered. At times, this sequence may be changed
for the convenience of the department. Any and all components
of the selection process can be changed by the Police Department
without prior notice. The entire process takes from two
to three months. Based on Academy starting dates, this time
period may be extended.
Any candidate who does not meet the minimum requirements will
be dropped from the process. Any candidate who wishes to
re-apply for the next Academy class must complete each and every
step of the application process. If you have any questions
regarding the selection process, please contact the Recruiting
and Selection Unit.
The Recruiting Unit is located at 5412 2nd Street NW (2nd
and Montano), Albuquerque, NM 87107.
Step # 1 Interest Card
The Interest Card is
composed of personal information questions (name, social security
number, date of birth, home address, etc…) and basic eligibility
requirement questions. The applicant will also list on the Interest
Card when he/she would like to come to the Police Academy to complete
the weekend testing process. The weekend testing process includes
the Physical Fitness Test, the Nelson-Denny Reading and Comprehension
Test, Personal Integrity
Questionnaire and the Written Psychological Test.
Step # 2 City Police
Entrance Exam Test
This written test is
composed of 100 multiple choice questions and consists of five
sections: observation and recall, cognitive abilities, personal
maturity and integrity, technical skills and written and oral
communication.(Sample test available upon request)
All applicants must successfully complete the City
Police Entrance Exam prior to participating in the physical fitness
test. Upon completing the initial interest card the applicant
will be contacted by recruiting personnel to schedule their test
date.
** This test is administerd every Tuesday and Thursday at 8:30am and 1:00pm
Step # 3 Personal Integrity
Questionnaire
This questionnaire is
composed of 132 questions and will be reviewed by a Recruiting
or Background Detective with the applicant upon completion. A
determination of the applicant’s eligibility to continue
on in the selection process will be made based on the information
provided by the applicant. If the applicant passes this step,
he/she will be given the Personal History Statement and other
relevant documents by the Recruiting and Selection Staff. The
applicant will be directed as to when the Personal History Statement
and the other documents will need to be completed and returned
to the Recruiting and Selection Unit.
The new process mandates that all applicants must bring a completed Personal History Statement and Personal
Integrity Questionnaire with them on their weekend testing date. This is new in the process
and will be a permanent change.
Personal History Statement
and Instructions
Personal Integrity Questionnaire
The Physical Fitness
test is composed of a 1 ½ mile run, a 300 meter run, a
flexibility test, a one minute push-up test, and a one minute
sit-up test. A minimum score of 40 % for each test is required.
There is no physical requirement for State certified officers and
one year exemption for out-of-state laterals. Laterals
proceed straight to written examination.
Step # 5 Nelson-Denny
Reading and Comprehension Test
This written test is
composed of 116 multiple choice questions on vocabulary and reading
and comprehension type questions.
Step # 6 Personal History
Statement
The Personal History
Statement is approximately a 10-page document that requires the
applicant to provide personal information. Personal references,
employment history, prior residences, military service records
are just an example of what the Personal History Statement will
require the applicant to provide to the Selection Unit. The Selection
Unit secretary will review the Personal History Statement with
the applicant for completeness and legibility. The Personal History
Statement will then be given to the Selection Unit Sergeant who
will then give it to a Background Detective to start that applicant’s
background process.
Step # 7 Psychological
Written Test
Upon successful completion of the physical fitness test
applicants will complete a written psychological test on the
following Sunday (this is mandatory).
Step # 8 Background
Investigation
A thorough and complete
investigation into the background of the candidate will be completed.
This investigation is composed of, but not limited to:
- Criminal and Arrest History
- Employment History
- Military History
- Driving History
- Educational History
- Credit (Financial) History
- Verification of at least five references
- Social History
Step # 9 Polygraph
Examination
All candidates will
be required to submit to a polygraph examination by a licensed
polygrapher. This examination is to verify information provided
by the candidate in all papers, documents and statements submitted
as part of the background investigation.
Step # 10 Psychological
Interview
The psychological interview
consists of the scoring and interpretation of the written psychological
tests and an interview with one of the Albuquerque Police Department
Psychologists. The New Mexico Department of Public Safety requires
that candidates pass the psychological test by a licensed Psychologist
prior to certification.
Step # 11 Chief’s
Selection
The Chief’s Selection
committee will interview the Background Detective about their
applicant. The applicant will then have an opportunity to be interviewed
by the Chief’s Selection committee as well. The committee
will decide whether or not to give a conditional offer of employment
to the applicant. This conditional offer is based on the understanding
that the candidate will successfully complete the remaining Selection
Process Steps.
Step # 12 Medical Examination
Candidates will be sent
to the City Health Center for a vision, hearing, medical and physical
test as part of their medical examination.
Step # 13 Drug Screening
Test
Candidates will provide
a urinalysis sample to screen for illegal drug usage.
Step # 14 and
Step # 15 Recruiting Pre-Orientation and Academy Orientation
Those candidates who have been selected
to the Police Academy will be scheduled to attend a Pre-Orientation
session conducted by the Recruiting and Selection Unit staff at
the Police Academy to go through necessary paperwork to be completed
for the Police Academy. In addition, candidates will have to attend
an Orientation session by the Academy Unit staff at the Police
Academy. At this session, candidates will be briefed on the Academy
Rules and Regulations, uniforms, haircuts and all other matters
pertaining to the upcoming Academy class. The Physical Fitness
Test will be administered again at this Orientation session.
|