City of Tigard
Human Resources
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Human Resources can provide
additional basic hiring information.
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The Police Reserves are a group of volunteer citizens who are interested in serving the City of
Tigard to make it a safer and better community. Reserve officers will primarily supplement
the Patrol Division field forces, performing those duties regularly carried out by the Division.
Reserves may also be used to assist the Investigation and Records Divisions, and to
perform any assignment, at the direction of the Chief of Police.
Reserve officers function under the authority of the Chief of Police. While working
as a Reserve officer, they are under the direct supervision of the shift supervisor.
Reserve officers are bound by the same policies and procedures as are the Regular
Officers.
What does it take to be hired?
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Reserve officers must meet the same basic appointment requirements as that of Regular Officers
and go through the same selection process. Cost of physical and psychological tests in the
hiring process will be covered by the city. Reserve officers are volunteer personnel and may
be dismissed at will.
All candidates must have the following minimum qualifications:
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Must be a U.S. Citizen
- Must be 21 years or older
- Must possess or be able to obtain a valid driver license by time of hire
- Must be able to meet all Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) Police Officer standards
- Must pass DPSST certified entry level written exam (70% or better)
- Must pass DPSST ORPAT physical agility test
- Must be able to read and write the English language
- Must possess a high school diploma or GED
- Prefer college degree in related law enforcement field
- Prefer bilingual in English and Spanish
DISQUALIFICATIONS
- A felony conviction under State or Federal law
- A conviction of any misdemeanor under Oregon law within three years prior to application or convictions for two or more misdemeanors under Oregon law as an adult
- A conviction of domestic violence
- A conviction of crime involving controlled substances
- Drug use, distribution or manufacturing
- Any adult use of marijuana within one year of application
- You have a dishonorable, bad conduct, or other than honorable discharge from the armed services
- Three or more moving violations or a single instance of a major traffic offense within three years of application
The following standards have been adopted for public safety applicants with
the City of Tigard Police Department:
Vehicle Operation
- Ability to possess a valid drivers license
- Ability to drive safely
- Ability to control a motor vehicle at high speeds
- Ability to operate a motor vehicle in all types of weather conditions
Integrity
- Refusing to yield to the temptation of bribes, gratuities, payoffs, etc.
- Refusing to tolerate unethical or illegal conduct on the part of other law enforcement personnel
- Showing strong morale character and integrity in dealing with the public
- Being honest in dealing with the public
Credibility as a witness in a court of law
- The ability to give testimony in a court of law without being subject to impeachment due to his/her honesty or veracity (or their opposites) or due to prior felony conviction
Dependability
- Having a record or submitting reports on time and not malingering on calls, etc.
- A record of being motivated to perform well
- A record of dependability and follow through on assignments
- A history of taking the extra effort required for complete accuracy in all details of work
- Willingness to work the hours needed to complete the job
Learning Ability
- The ability to comprehend and retain information
- The ability to recall information pertaining to laws, statutes, codes, etc.
- The ability to learn and to apply what is learned
- The ability to learn and apply the material, tactics and procedures that are required of the law enforcement officer
Personal Sensitivity
- The ability to resolve problems in a way that shows sensitivity of the feelings of others
- Empathy
- Discretion, not enforcing the law blindly
- Effectiveness in dealing with people without arousing antagonism
- The ability to understand the motives of people and how they will react and interact
Judgment under pressure
- The ability to apply common sense during pressure situations
- The ability to make sound decisions on the spot
- The ability to use good judgment in dealing with potentially explosive situations
- The ability to make effective, logical decisions under pressure
No official of the City of Tigard, whether appointed or elected, may be a member of the
Tigard Police Reserve.
The testing process for Reserve Officer is the same as that for a regular officer. The
prospective Reserve completes a basic City of Tigard application form and submits this to Human
Resources (during open recruitment). From this, the applicant is invited to sit for a written examination,
then an oral interview, a typing evaluation, a physical capability/agility test, a
background investigation, a Chief’s interview, a psychological evaluation, and a
medical evaluation.
Tigard Police typically recruit for vacant Reserve Officer positions at various times
throughout the year. The process is dictated by the need to fill open, authorized
positions. Interested individuals are encouraged to contact the Police Reserve
Coordinator, Lt. Rick Boothby. He can be reached at 503-718-2572 or by email at
16829@tigard-or.gov.
What is the written exam like?
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The written exam is a multiple choice test that is designed
to assess the knowledge of the applicant needed to work in the capacity of a police officer.
This includes report writing, logic, vehicle operation, and map reading. This is basic
information, and does not require any specific police training or orientation. There
are several practice tests that are available through bookstores that can give the
applicant a “taste” or feel for what may be on the evaluation, but these are no
guarantee of the material that will be on the test.
What is the oral interview like?
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The initial oral interview involves answering a series of questions presented by other
members of the department, both reserve and regular in an interview setting. Part of
the process is to get to know the applicant and assess his thought process. There may
be situational questions and general information questions.
What is the physical agility test?
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The physical agility test is designed by the State and called the “ORPAT.” This has become
the standard for most law enforcement agencies and involves performance of a series of
physically challenging procedures in close proximity which may reflect actual encounters
in law enforcement. Several websites are available that provide information on the test,
what is involved, and what times are passing.
ORPAT Video: http://www.oregon.gov/DPSST/AT/ORPAT.shtml
What is the background investigation?
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The background investigation involves the applicant completing a packet of material
identifying prior employers, contacts, recapping any potential conflicts with the law,
and a review of the driving record. Certain incidents may be completely barring, felony
arrests or a recent bad driving record could be problematic. The investigation looks
at the individual as a whole trying to determine if there are areas where the
applicant’s credibility may be brought into question.
What is the Chief’s interview?
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The Chief’s interview involves a short meeting with the Chief or the Assistant Chief to
review information on the background, and again, another opportunity to meet and
interact with the applicant to see how he/she will fit in with the department.
At this point, the applicant may be offered a conditional appointment; thus, allowing
the medical and psychological evaluations. The medical evaluation looks for general
health issues that might compromise the performance of the officer. The psychological
evaluation looks at several factors of the applicant, not only to ensure that the
applicant is “sane” but that he/she displays good logic and has a profile that would
interact well with other members of the department.
Additionally, the psychological test has several parameters that will assess the
individual’s response and ability to complete the field training program.
If all phases of the process are satisfactorily completed, the applicant is then
offered a position as a Reserve Officer.
Applicants are enrolled in a Reserve Academy normally operated by one of the County
Sheriffs’ offices. The Academy typically meets on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and
Saturdays over a six-month period and imparts over 300 hours of training following a
curriculum that is similar to the regular police academy held in Salem, Oregon.
Reserve Officers in the Academy learn aspects of patrol procedures, laws of arrest,
traffic enforcement including drunk driving, response to in-progress call officer
safety issues, emergency vehicle operations, firearms, defensive tactics, and
other areas of training that are reflective of conditions they will meet in the
field.
Following graduation from the Academy, the Reserve Officer is then assigned
to work with a regular Field Training Officer
and goes through a field training process similar to the regular officer
utilizing the same training manual. With time and experience, the Reserve
Officer takes on more and more responsibilities. At the trainee level,
the officer is required to work all assignments with a more senior department
member. As the Reserve progresses, the officer may work solo assignments
requiring minimal supervision, and on some occasions, they advance to solo
patrol status where the officer is allowed to work a patrol shift and respond
to calls “on the beat,” in a fashion similar to what regular officers do. Once Reserve Officers
are on solo status, they are evaluated quarterly on their job knowledge.
What are the monthly requirements?
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Reserve Officers are required to complete a minimum of two patrol shifts and one
meeting per month for a total of 20 hours minimum per month. Many officers will
work more than that.
Reserve Officers find the position as one where they can give back to their
community and support the community they care about. Others will use it as a
trial program to see if law enforcement is a career they would like to pursue
and will continue using it as a stepping stone to a full-time assignment.
Reserve Officers are required to provide their duty firearm. The department will
provide a duty belt, holster and ammunition. The department
is now providing the Reserve with a ballistic vest and replacement at set times.
The weapon of choice for new members coming into the department is a Glock handgun model 17 or 19.
The duty weapon is the financial responsibility of the Reserve Officer.
The department provides the required uniforms.
If there is an active recruitment
in progress (coordinated through Human Resources)
you are invited to apply.
Individuals who have accepted applications on file will be notified of the time and
location of the written examination. In all cases, a passing score on the
written examination must be attained. Those individuals with qualifying
scores will be invited for a panel interview with representatives from the
Reserve Program as well as other divisions of the Police Department. Successful
completion of the interview will advance the individual to the background phase.
At the conclusion of the background investigation, the Chief of Police conducts
an interview and determines whether or not the individual shall be advanced to
the next phase of testing — a psychological evaluation. Following is a two-part
medical evaluation. The Chief of Police will ultimately determine candidates
selected to begin training as a Reserve Officer.
After the candidate is sworn in, the recruit Reserve Officer will be assigned to
one of the Reserve Sergeants for guidance and subsequent enrollment into the
reserve academy.
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