Becoming an Iowa City Police Officer

The Iowa City Police Department seeks to hire persons of the highest quality who are able to responsibly execute the duties and responsibilities of Police Officer. The Department seeks to hire men and women who represent the community and are responsive to the changing needs of the community. The selection of police officers is guided by Chapter 400 (Civil Service) of the Code of Iowa and Iowa Administrative Code 501 which identifies the minimum requirements for Iowa Law Enforcement Officers.

Minimum Requirements

Iowa Administrative Code 501 specifically identifies the Minimum Standards for Iowa Law Enforcement Officers. In particular, section 501 - 2.1(6) requires that candidates successfully complete a physical test adopted by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.

The standards required to be met for passing as determined by ILEA are available by contacting the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy or the City of Iowa City Human Resources Department. Some of the standards in part are:

• US Citizen and Iowa resident at the time of hire
• High School graduate or GED
• 18 Years of Age
• Valid Iowa drivers license at time of appointment
• Vision Corrected to 20/20

The physical test (501 - 2.1(6)) currently mandated by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy consists of:

• Sit and Reach (measures flexibility)
• Maximum sit ups (1-minute) - measures abdominal muscle endurance
• Maximum pushups (1-minute) - measures of upper body strength
• 1.5 mile run - measures cardio-vascular endurance

Salary

Effective July 2009, the starting salary for an Iowa City Police Officer is $40,123.20. Officers receive step raises at 12, 18, 36, and reach top pay at 54 months. The top salary at the end of the current fiscal year is $58,156.80. Consistent with Iowa Code, all sworn members of the department are required to serve a probationary period of 9 months from the date of graduation from the academy, or if ILEA certified 9 months from the date of hire. In addition to salary, the City of Iowa City also provides benefits to sworn members of the Iowa City Police Department.

Learn About Iowa City Police Benefits

Hiring Process

The City of Iowa City does not have an open application period for Police Officers, however persons wishing to be notified of upcoming tests may contact the Iowa City Human Resources Department at 356-5025 or e-mail jobs@iowa-city.org.

As directed by the Iowa City Civil Service Commission, openings for the position of Police Officer will be posted / published. The posting will include a closing date for application. During the application period, upon receipt of the request for application, an application and recruitment packet will be sent to the applicant. Applicants are not excluded from testing as result of minor errors in the application information. The recruitment packet contains information related to the testing process including:

• application deadline
• written test location
• written test date and time
• cutoff if any, for the written test
• description of written test
• physical agility test date and time
• physical agility test location
• description of physical agility test
• standards for physical agility test
• training tips for physical agility test
• tentative MMPI test date and time and location
• tentative week scheduled for oral interviews
• other tests or documentation needed prior to appointment

Testing Procedure

(This is the format used during the most recent testing process. This is subject to change at the direction of the Civil Service Commission)

The first test administered is the written test. Upon completion of the written test, it will be immediately scored. As soon as all of the tests are scored, they will be posted by an ID number in sequential order. The top scores will be given a time and date for the physical agility testing, usually held on the following day.

The next tests administered are the physical agility tests. These tests are pass/fail and applicants must pass all phases of the agility testing to continue. Upon completion of the physical agility test, the applicants will be advised if they successfully completed each test.

Those candidates, who successfully complete the physical agility testing, will be given the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. (IAC 501.2.2(2)) All persons who fail to proceed through the selection process may reapply, without prejudice, for any future positions with the Iowa City Police Department.

Upon completing the MMPI the candidate will be given a date and time for oral interviews. Prior to hire the candidate must have successfully taken the National Police Officer Selection Test (POST). Those candidates scheduled for an interview will be provided a reminder of the date, time and location of the interview. After interviews, members of the interviewing panel will rank the candidates individually. The panel will then reach consensus of the top candidates. At this time investigators from the Police Department will conduct background investigations of the top remaining candidates. Upon completion of the background investigations, a ranked list of up to candidates will be created by the interview panel. This will be submitted to the Civil Service Commission for Certification. Upon certification, a list of candidates will be submitted to the City Council. Upon certification of the list, the Chief of Police may, as authorized, offer to hire any person on the list, regardless of ranking.

Upon an offer to hire, the candidate will be required to take a pre-employment physical at the city's expense. The examination shall include but not be limited to, those areas mentioned in IAC 501.2.1. Information regarding the exam will be sent to the Municipal Fire and Police Retirement System of Iowa per Iowa Code 411.6. Upon successful completion of the physical exam, officers who are currently certified through the ILEA or an accredited regional academy will be assigned to a watch and begin field training. Their probationary period of 9 months will begin from their date of hire with the City of Iowa City. Officers who are not currently certified as officers in the state of Iowa will attend the ILEA or accredited regional academy. The probationary period will begin upon the date of hire with the City of Iowa City and will end 9 months after the successful completion of the Academy. Failure to successfully complete the assigned academy will result in termination of employment.