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Hiring Process
Hiring Process
- Confirm Eligibility by reviewing qualifications here
- All potential applicants must meet the minimum requirements for consideration. Please ensure you meet these requirements before continuing. If you have any questions about these requirements, please contact our recruiting team via email.
- Contact a Recruiter
- Meet the requirements or have questions? The next step is to contact a recruiter. Email recruiting@manheimtownshippolice.org and a recruiter will get back to you shortly. We will answer any questions you may have, walk you through the application process, and prepare you for application to the department with our hiring team.
- Physical/Written Test
- All applicants are required to undergo a physical and written test prior to employment regardless of Act 120 status. As a first-class township, Manheim Township must meet Civil Service Board standards and hire from a certified list that is developed after a scheduled test. Manheim Township participates in the Lancaster County Chiefs of Police Consortium, which currently holds an annual county-wide hiring test. Manheim Township also has the ability to hold additional hiring tests for applicants to the department as-needed. Our hiring team reviews the civil service list and evaluates candidates based on their ranking on this list.
- Application / Background Packet
- Applicants who pass the physical and written test will be contacted directly by our hiring team. Applicants will be provided a background packet which must be completed in its entirety. This is an in-depth review of the applicant's entire history and is used for reference in the background and polygraph steps. Applicants are encouraged to prepare an exhaustive list of all past education, employment, housing, family relatives, close associates, criminal history, driving record, substance use, volunteer activities, social media accounts, and applicable life experience to expedite the background process.
- Background
- Manheim Township maintains a high standard for its officers and emphasizes honesty, integrity, truthfulness, community service, and hard work. MTPD's hiring team will review all applicants' background packets and thoroughly review the material provided. In addition, investigators will review your history and speak to friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, teachers, previous dating partners, non-listed references, and anyone else who can offer insights into your suitability for police work. Any omissions or falsifications found during this review will be grounds for elimination.
- Oral Interview
- All applicants who pass the background phase will be contacted for an oral interview with MTPD personnel. The interview will be an individually-tailored review of the applicant's background and may include targeted situational questions to gauge the applicant's fitness to handle a variety of scenarios they may face on the job.
- Polygraph Examination
- The required polygraph examination is administered by certified polygraphists and interrogation experts. The test consists of questions designed to verify the truthfulness of the police applicant and the information in the background packet. No candidate will be appointed to the police department unless they take and pass the polygraph examination.
- Psychological Evaluation
- Per MPOETC requirements, applicants are required to undergo a psychological evaluation before employment. Applicants who pass the above steps and receive a conditional employment offer will be scheduled with a department-approved psychologist. Applicants will complete the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2 or MMPI2-RF) by a licensed psychologist and are required to have a psychological evaluation with the psychologist. Pass/fail results of this evaluation are provided to the department.
- Medical Evaluation
- The medical evaluation consists of a complete physical examination. Candidates will provide a medical history and complete an eye examination (corrected vision must be 20/20), color blindness test, hearing test, drug screening, and other examinations consistent with a thorough physical examination. Applicants must pass this phase before proceeding to the next step in the selection process. MTPD also reserves the right to conduct random drug screening tests throughout an officer's employment.
- Police Academy
- Applicants who pass all aforementioned steps and hold a current Act 120 certification (have completed the PA police academy and passed the certification exam) are eligible for hire and may begin the Field Training Officer program upon hire. Non-certified applicants who pass these steps and receive an offer for employment must complete Basic Police Officer Training through a MPOETC-approved academy. MTPD will enroll non-certified hires in an upcoming academy, pay for the academy (and all associated costs), and provide salary and benefits to the new hire for the duration of the academy. New hires are considered probationary officers for the duration of the academy and are subject to termination based on performance in the academy and performance in and outside of the academy.
- Field Training Officer Program
- Newly hired officers are considered probationary officers for 12 months starting on the date of hire. All new officers must participate in the Field Training Program, which includes a minimum of 40 shifts with an approved Field Training Officer. Lateral transfers from other departments are eligible for a condensed Field Training Program which consists of a minimum of 20 shifts with an approved Field Training Officer. Probationary officers will receive daily performance-based evaluations and must complete all criteria of the Field Training Curriculum before being eligible to work independently.
