POLICE OFFICER RECRUIT

Recruitment #2108-6307-001

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Introduction




 

The City of Tucson is seeking motivated, dedicated, adaptable, compassionate individuals that have a strong desire to serve the community as a Police Officer. The Tucson Police Department is a unique and very diverse agency, dedicated to providing outstanding law enforcement services. This is an exciting career opportunity for applicants who have a passion for protecting life and property through the enforcement of laws and ordinances.

This is an extraordinary opportunity to work for the Tucson Police Department. It is crucial that applicants be aware and consider the following job elements before submitting an application:

  • The training process is extensive; incumbents will attend an academy that is 24 weeks long and requires a high level of commitment and time dedication. Incumbents may spend over 12 hours per day, 4 days per week training at the academy. 
  • The probation period is 18 months.
  • Employees will be required to work rotating shifts, weekends and holidays. Overtime will be required as necessary.
  • While law enforcement can be a very rewarding career for many, employees will often respond to highly sensitive and graphic crime scenes and calls for service.
Successful candidates from this testing period may be considered for future funded academy classes within the next six months. However, the academy to be filled from this list is February 2022.




The Tucson Police Department was selected by The Military Times as a top agency in their "Best for Vets" 2017 Law Enforcement Jobs Review. Military times evaluated law enforcement agencies on factors including their efforts to recruit Veterans, Veteran preference points during hiring, total numbers of Veterans in the department, the generosity of pay and benefits provided to deployed Reservists, among other factors. The Tucson Police Department, along with only six other agencies, was recognized as a "Top Finisher" among the 20 departments profiled by Military Times.

For more information about the Tucson Police Department, please visit our website at https://www.tucsonaz.gov/police.



 

Tucson has been continuously inhabited for over 12,000 years and celebrates a unique diversity of cultures, architecture, and peoples.  One of the oldest towns in the United States, Tucson officially became part of the United States with the Gadsden Purchase of 1854 and served as the capital of the Arizona Territory from 1867 to 1877.  Now the 33rd largest city in the nation, Tucson maintains a strong connection to our cultural heritage as we look towards the future.

Surrounded by five mountain ranges, Tucson’s 220-plus square miles boast the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert and an unsurpassed climate of more than 350 sunny days a year – yet is just a short drive from the cool sub-alpine meadows on Mount Lemmon.  Tucson is home to world-class outdoor recreation, a vibrant, growing city center, renowned museums, and the University of Arizona. 

Established in 1871, the Tucson Police Department is dedicated to providing professional service to, and in partnership with, nearly one million Tucson metropolitan area community members.  The Tucson Police Department enjoys a close collaborative relationship with our community and proudly incorporates community members on review boards, steering committees, and our basic and advanced training academies. 

The Department is dedicated to ensuring team members are from backgrounds as diverse as the city we serve, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation. The Department is committed to engage in cultural awareness, fighting implicit bias, and ensuring equity. 

The Tucson Police Department was honored to be selected by the Department of Justice as one of fifteen model agencies of the Advancing 21st Century Policing initiative, a recognition of our commitment to the modernization of law enforcement practices.

 

 

 

The City of Tucson and the Tucson Police Department offer a wide range of generous benefits for employees. Some of those benefits include:

 

City-Wide Benefits

 

  • Medical: Choice between a high deductible plan (HSA or HRA), or Network plan.
  • Dental: Choice between a national dental PPO and a local dental HMO.
  • Vision: Coverage for annual eye exam and glasses or contacts, plus LASIK.
  • Life: City-paid coverage for you & dependents, plus option to buy more.
  • Long-Term Disability: Income replacement of up to 60% of your base salary in the event of a qualifying disability.
  • Employee Assistance Program: Enhance your wellbeing when life doesn’t go as planned.
  • Flexible Spending: Pay for qualified health and dependent care expenses using pretax dollars.
  • Colonial Voluntary Benefits: Financial help in the event of cancer, hospitalization, accident, more.

 

Tucson Police Department Benefits

 

  • Continuing Education Program (CEP): Reimbursement up to $350.00, twice per year for continuing education.
  • Second Language Pay: Receive $30.00 per pay period for second language pay.
  • Certified Bilingual Commissioned Officers: Receive $85.00 per pay period.

 

Your Security and Future

 

  • Pension: Generous pension plans that help both civilian and public safety employees retire more comfortably.
  • Deferred Compensation: Save more toward a comfortable retirement with a 457(b) plan.
  • Training & Tuition Assistance: Pursue your dream through internal training or financial help toward a degree.
  • Back-Up Care: Care for your loved ones when your regular care is unavailable.

 

Your Peace of Mind

 

  • Paid Parental Leave: Six (6) weeks paid leave when you welcome a child, plus other generous leave policies for FML, Medical and USERRA.
  • Paid Time Away: New hires enjoy 37 days of paid time off in the first year, with time increasing steadily thereafter (In year one: 13 accrued days of vacation, 13 accrued days of sick leave, and 11 paid holidays).
  • Employee Discounts: Generous discounts, ranging from car rentals to computers, gifts to groceries, electronics to entertainment.
  • Social Connectedness: Forge connections with the community we serve through paid volunteerism and payroll-deducted charitable giving.

General Description

Trains at the Police Academy as a new police recruit to learn the skills and functions of the job of police officer, under the guidance of experienced police staff.

Essential Functions

Attends the Police Academy to learn the skills and practices of a Police Officer.

Assists with performing patrol duties by traveling through designated areas, searching for suspicious, hazardous or criminal activity, conducting field interviews with suspected offenders and making arrests.

With another officer, responds to routine and emergency calls by contacting the reporting person and witnesses, and determining the nature of the call and action to be taken.

Assists with crime prevention by attending public meetings, enforcing criminal and traffic laws, and identifying gang members and criminals.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Education Level & Type: High School Diploma or G.E.D.

Minimum Experience Qualifications: No experience required

Valid and Unrestricted Class D - Driver's License

Special Job Requirements

At least two (2) years of licensed driving experience

U.S. Citizenship

At least 21 years of age by academy graduation date (July 28, 2022)

No felony convictions or drug abuse

Pre-Screen Questionnaire Instructions

The Preliminary Applicant Questionnaire is a fillable web form and can be found as a link in the supplemental questions when you apply. You must complete your application with the City of Tucson AND submit a completed Preliminary Applicant Questionnaire by the deadline to be considered for this job opening (both are required).

Preliminary Applicant Questionnaire link: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/apps/recruiting/

The deadline to submit the application and the preliminary applicant questionnaire is Monday, September 20, 2021 at 5:00 PM.

Completed Preliminary Applicant Questionnaires can only be submitted online. No other form of delivery will be accepted. You will need to type your responses into this web form document and submit into the system when prompted to do so in the supplemental question portion of the application. Please ensure you complete all the questions in the Preliminary Applicant Questionnaire. You may start and save, to complete and submit at a later time. If you utilize this save and close feature, a link will be emailed to you so you can return to where you left off. Do not return to the original link to complete the questionnaire. Doing so will require you to start over.

Please fully disclose all relevant information on the Preliminary Applicant Questionnaire. Discrepancies and omissions will be uncovered during an exhaustive background investigation and polygraph examination, so it is not in your best interest to be less than truthful. One of the fundamental requirements of working in law enforcement is the ability of an individual to adhere to and demonstrate the highest legal and ethical standards. Unfortunately, it is our experience that a number of applicants will fail due to material omissions or untruthfulness. If you are untruthful, dishonest, knowingly omit, falsify, conceal, or obscure required information during any part of the application and hiring process, you will be PERMANENTLY DISQUALIFIED from ever being employed by the Tucson Police Department in ANY capacity.

Selection Plan

Applicants who successfully complete an employment application, meet minimum qualifications, and successfully complete the Preliminary Applicant Questionnaire by the deadlines will receive an email confirmation to attend the physical fitness assessment and written examination. Applicants must pass the preliminary applicant screening process prior to being eligible to continue in the recruitment process. Applicants may be allowed to participate in the written examinations prior to going through physical fitness assessment, however, applicants MUST pass the physical fitness assessment to continue in the recruitment process. Applicants will be notified of their scores after both portions of the testing process have concluded and scoring is completed.

COMPONENTS

Physical Fitness Assessment - The physical fitness assessment will be conducted on Saturday, October 16, 2021 and Sunday, October 17, 2021. 
The physical fitness assessment will take place at the Southern Arizona Law Enforcement Training Center (SALTEC), located at 10001 S. Wilmot Road, Tucson, AZ 85756. 
Applicants will need to pass the physical fitness assessment to move forward in the recruitment process.

Written Examination - The written examination will be held on Saturday October 16, 2021 and Sunday, October 17, 2021.
The written exam will take place at the Southern Arizona Law Enforcement Training Center (SALTEC), located 10001 S. Wilmot Road, Tucson, AZ 85756. 
Passing the written examination requires 60% score or better, which is 100% of the overall score.


SCORING METHODOLOGY

Physical Fitness Assessment:

The Physical Fitness Assessment is a pass/fail portion of the process  It is your responsibility to know your own physical condition. Individuals who are in a poor state of physical conditioning will have difficulty passing this examination. Your participation is at your own risk and the City of Tucson assumes no liability or responsibility for any injuries you may incur during this process.

The physical fitness assessment will include the following:

  • 1.5 mile run - This fitness area measures cardiovascular endurance and is related to performing tasks that may involve sustained activity such as a long foot pursuit followed by a physical confrontation and taking someone into custody.  There is no walking allowed during this evolution.
  • 300 meter run - This fitness area measures anaerobic capacity and is related to performing short intense bursts of effort such as foot pursuits.  There is no walking allowed during this evolution. 
  • Sit-ups - This fitness area measures muscular endurance of the abdominal muscles and is related to performing tasks that may involve the use of force.
  • Push-ups-  This fitness area measures muscular endurance of the upper body muscles to include shoulders, chest, and back of the upper arms, and is related to the use of force involving pushing motion.

Written Examination:
An applicant's ranking on the Employment List will be 100% based on the final score from the Written Exam.

  • 100% of the score from the Written Test

Veterans, Native American, or Disability preference points will be added to the achieved score for those that are placed on the Civil Service Employment List. If you qualify for Veteran or Native American preference points as outlined in your Employment Profile, you must submit your documentation either in-person the time of the Written Examination, upload to your COT application or by email. Copies of DD 214s must reflect a characterization of service.

Applicants requiring an accommodation in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act for any of the applicant evaluations must contact the individuals listed below at least 48 hours prior to the particular evaluation.

Civil Service List:

Applicants that pass both the physical fitness assessment and written examination will be placed on the Civil Service list.

The civil service list will be utilized to fill vacancies occurring within the next 6 months. Candidates placed on the Employment List must successfully pass the following:

  • An extensive background investigation, including local, state and national criminal and fingerprint checks   
  • Motor Vehicle History   
  • A polygraph examination to verify information you have supplied in the background questionnaire   
  • Pre-employment medical and psychological evaluations   
  • Candidates must also continue to maintain all physical minimum standards through the duration of this recruitment process   

All probationary employees in this classification are subject to random drug screening during their EIGHTEEN MONTH PROBATIONARY PERIOD with the Tucson Police Department. 

**The City of Tucson values the safety of our employees, our residents, our community, and our visitors.  In support of these values, if you are selected for this job, you must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, except when vaccination is not medically advised or violates your sincerely held religious beliefs. If you are invited to join our team, you must submit proof that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to your initial HR representative, or you must request an exemption from your representative. New employees must either provide proof of vaccination or be granted a medical or religious exemption before working with the City of Tucson.**

Conclusion

You are high encouraged to print and save this bulletin as a PDF, because it contains important testing dates and information that you will need to refer to later, as it will not be available after the closing date.

CONTACTS: Communications throughout this process will be sent via email exclusively so please ensure your browser accepts emails from jobs@tucsonaz.gov and check your email account regularly. Failure to respond or follow instructions will result in disqualification.   

All email inquiries should be directed to the individuals listed below:    

Demetria Lopez, 520-837-7755 or email: Demetria.Lopez@tucsonaz.gov
Chalis Ruiz, 520-837-4176 or email: Chalis.Ruiz@tucsonaz.gov
Jennifer Urbina, 520-837-7762 or email: Jennifer.Urbina@tucsonaz.gov
 

Pre-employment Medical Testing Requirements

AZ POST Physical

Respirator Physical

Hep A Vaccine/Titer

Hep B Vaccine/Titer

Non-NIDA Drug Test

**The City of Tucson values the safety of our employees, our residents, our community, and our visitors.  In support of these values, if you are selected for this job, you must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, except when vaccination is not medically advised or violates your sincerely held religious beliefs. If you are invited to join our team, you must submit proof that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to your initial HR representative, or you must request an exemption from your representative. New employees must either provide proof of vaccination or be granted a medical or religious exemption before working with the City of Tucson.**

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To ensure accurate payroll information for tax purposes, the successful candidate will need to provide their original Social Security Card or original letter from the Social Security Administration with their social security number prior to beginning work with the City of Tucson.

The City of Tucson hires lawful workers only - US citizens or nationals and non-citizens with valid work authorization - without discrimination. Federal immigration laws require all employers to verify both the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. In its efforts to meet the law's requirements, the City of Tucson participates in the E-Verify program established by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to aid employers in verifying the eligibility of workers.

Retired City of Tucson employees receiving benefits from the Tucson Supplemental Retirement System who are considering reemployment with the City should be aware that pursuant to Section 22-37(g) of the Tucson City Code, retirement benefits shall be suspended during the period of reemployment with the City of Tucson unless you have been separated at least twelve consecutive months before returning to work AND you return to a non-permanent employment classification. Creditable service does not accrue during any reemployment period.