Buckeye Reporter

The Civil Service Commission for the City of Amherst, Ohio hereby gives notice of an open competitive examination for Patrol Officer. We are an equal opportunity employer.

The City of Amherst is currently accepting applications and test results for entry level patrol officer from December 15, 2022 through January 16, 2023. The Amherst Civil Service Commission offers full testing services for the position of (patrol officer) through National Testing Network (NTN). To register with NTN and schedule a test, go to www.nationaltestingnetwork.com, select ‘Find Jobs’, then select “Law Enforcement Jobs” and sign up for Amherst Police Department. (See additional testing information below)

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must complete the online application on this website under Employment – application and all testing must be completed by Monday, January 16, 2023, no later than 3PM. Applications must be on forms provided by the Amherst Civil Service Commission. No other forms will be accepted.

• No application will be accepted unless accompanied with a COPY of applicant’s:
  • Birth Certificate
  • Valid driver’s license
  • High school diploma or GED certificate
  • College Degree(s) – (if applicable)
  • Non-expired Ohio Police Officer Training Academy certification or proof of current enrollment in an OPOTA academy
  • Military DD214 or honorable discharge (if applicable)
  • Initialed Police Officer Job Description Packet
  • Amherst Police Department Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ)

See the online application on this website under Employment.

TESTING REQUIREMENTS: (all below is conducted thru the NTN website: Visit www.nationaltestingnetwork.com:

• Complete the NTN registration process and schedule your test.
• Review all information related to the Amherst Police Department Patrol Officer testing, including minimum requirements, salary, and benefits.
• Review detailed information about the testing process.
• Review the Frequently Asked Questions and take an online practice test (if desired)
• Take Public Safety Self-Assessment (PSSA) – REQUIRED
• Take Typing Test through your candidate profile on National Testing Network by January 16, 2023. – REQUIRED
• Complete on-line test through NTN – REQUIRED

Upon completion of your scheduled test the scores are automatically forwarded to Amherst Civil Service Commission. Candidates who attain a passing score of at least 70% on the entry level exam will be placed on Amherst Police Department’s eligibility list once any applicable extra credit is applied and the list is certified by the Amherst Civil Service Commission. The Amherst Police Department will then contact candidates on the list and will invite them to participate in further stages of the selection process.

National Testing Network is a service provided to conduct entry level testing in a standardized, professional environment. National Testing Network does not replace the Amherst Police Department’s responsibility and decision making in the hiring process.

The test and all paperwork associated with the testing process and application must be submitted by January 16, 2023 by 3pm in order to be considered for certification by the Amherst Civil Service Commission.

If a candidate has taken the NTN test prior to the opening of this test date, scores may still be valid (only non-expired NTN test scores will be able to be submitted). In addition, you must contact NTN in order to confirm only if all required portions of the test have been completed. Please contact NTN in order to send your scores to Amherst. You must contact NTN before the closing date in order to transfer your scores.

The City of Amherst does not require a PAT (Physical Abilities Test) through National Testing Network. PAT testing will take place during the recruitment process through the City of Amherst.

Again, candidates must complete testing with NTN by January 16, 2023 by 3pm.

Testing and Receiving Applications: December 15, 2022 thru January 16, 2023. The NTN passing score for the Amherst Police Department Civil Service Test is scoring at least a 70% in each of the three sections of the exam (reading, writing and the video portion).

• Interviews
• Physical Fitness Assessment: Candidates will be asked to complete the physical fitness assessment as part of the background process for the City of Amherst

Salary Information:

Patrolman	Effective 1-1-2023	Effective 1-1-2024	Effective 1-1-2025
Starting	$65,449	$67,740	$70,111
1 year	$67,488	$69,850	$72,295
2 years	$70,299	$72,759	$75,306
3 years	$74,065	$76,657	$79,340
OIC/FTO	$82,953	$85,856	$88,861
Sergeant	$84,434	$87,389	$90,448

* The Chief of Police, at his discretion, may start a new hire that has previous experience at a rate higher than starting pay.

Benefits Information: 2 weeks paid Vacation after 1st year- up to 6 weeks of Vacation, Longevity, Fitness Incentive, College Compensation Program, patrol officers work 12-hour shifts with every other weekend off (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), Annual Uniform allowance, Deferred Comp program, and 14 Paid Holidays

Department Overview: The Amherst Police Department is committed to consistently seek and find ways to affirmatively promote, preserve and deliver a feeling of security, safety and quality services to members of our community. We view ourselves as part of the community and not separate from the community. We expect and encourage our officers to be engaged with our residents and business partners and to work together to solve problems, prevent crime and continue to improve the lives of the those that we serve. We hold ourselves to a higher standard and encourage growth and training. Ultimately, every officer is and should be a leader in our department bringing forward new ideas and methods.

The Amherst Police Department is currently designated to have 24 fulltime sworn officers, 2 part-time sworn officers and 10 additional dispatch/civilian positions. The department handles over 12,000 calls for service annually.

City Information: The City of Amherst is in Lorain County, Ohio, United States. It is located 28 miles west of Cleveland. The population in the 2020 census was 12,681 residents. The area of Amherst is approximately 7.14 square miles. Amherst offers a community where most residents own their homes. In Amherst there are restaurants, coffee shops, various businesses, and parks. The public schools in Amherst are highly rated.

Amherst is a wonderful community to live and work in.

Standards for Employment: There are high standards for employment for police employees. This is necessary for police employees who represent our government and help protect the rights of citizens and our community.

This requires the agency to do an extensive background investigation to determine a candidate’s suitability for employment. Various matters may disqualify candidates from the selection process. Not only are a candidate’s truthfulness and honesty regarding past behavior such conditions for employment, but the specific facts revealed regarding past behavior may also cause disqualification from the selection process. Although various factors may lead to immediate disqualification of a candidate, the department also retains the right and the discretion to determine which candidates to select or not select for employment; merely meeting the minimum standards for employment does not, in and of itself, have any bearing on a candidate’s prospect for hire.

Job Description:Responsible to enforce all local, state, and federal laws within the City of Amherst. (See job description provided)

Supervision:Work is performed under the direction of a Sergeant. Work is performed within the guidelines of policies and procedures of the City of Amherst and the Amherst Police Department with some discretion in enforcement of local, state, and federal laws. Work is reviewed daily by supervisors.

Applications submitted who do not meet the minimum requirements will not be considered for employment.

Original source can be found here