Recruitment

"Into the Blue" Rockville City Police Recruitment Video
Watch this 9-minute video online to learn more about working for the Rockville City Police Department.

Can You Be a Rockville Police Officer?

Perhaps no professional group other than police is subjected so continuously to the range of physical and mental stress under hazardous conditions common in police work. Each applicant must be measured in all dimensions, including mental ability, social skills, character and psychological health, as well as physical health, fitness and stature. 

To be considered for employment, you must be able to meet the following standards:

1. U.S. Citizen
     
2. Excellent health
     
3. Weight proportionate to height
     
4. Age 21 or older at the time of your appointment as a Police Officer
     
5. You must have a high school diploma or a GED equivalent (higher degree preferred)
     
6. Possess or can acquire a valid Maryland driver's license
     
7. Applicants cannot become a police officer in the State of Maryland if they have:
    
   a. Ever committed, been involved in or convicted of a felony or serious misdemeanor.
    
   b. Ever illegally sold, produced, cultivated, distributed, or transported a controlled dangerous substance, narcotic drug, or marijuana.
    
   c. Illegally used a controlled dangerous substance, narcotic drug, or marijuana for any purpose within the 3 years prior to application.
    
   d. Illegally used a controlled dangerous substance, narcotic drug, or marijuana while employed as a law enforcement officer.
    
   e. Ever used heroin, phencyclidine (PCP), or lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD).
    
   f. Other than letter “d” above, used any controlled dangerous substance or narcotic drug that exceeds:
        i. A total of five times, or
        ii. One time since becoming 21 years old.
    
   g. Used marijuana
        i. More than 20 times, or
        ii. Five times since becoming 21 years old.

STATISTICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Department Budget FY '07: $7.2 million. 
Total Employees: 82 (52 Sworn; 30 Civilian)      
   

SPECIALTY ASSIGNMENTS Criminal Investigator Gang Investigator Traffic Unit/ Motor Officer Tactical Unit K-9 Officers Community Services Officer Truck Inspector DARE Officer Intoximeter Operator Radar/ Laser Operator

Police Officer Application Process

The selection process utilized by the Rockville City Police Department is thorough, to ensure the best qualified candidates are selected. The following are the components of the police officer selection process which must be completed by every applicant. The approximate amount of time required for each segment is also indicated.

Written Examination

Applicants who have submitted an application at least two weeks prior to the test date should receive a notice in the mail advising them of the test date, location and time.  All applicants will be requested to bring a valid state driver's license and a second form of identification, such as a birth certificate or social security card.

Next test date: Saturday, September 29, 2007
Location: Rockville Senior Center, 1150 Carnation Drive, ROckville, MD. For directions call 240-314-5019

Walk-ins will also be accepted on the date of the written test.  However, applicants will be required to be at the testing site at least 6 0 minutes prior to the test time.  All walk-ins will be required to complete a City of Rockville application prior to the test.

To apply online, you will need to create an account with a user name and password. Or, for a City of Rockville Employment Application Form (.pdf), save the job application to your computer's hard disk, print and complete the form and return it either in person; by fax at 240-314-8484; or by mail. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the Employment Application in .pdf format.

Candidates can discuss their denial of employment at any time by making an appointment with the Chief of Police, by calling 240-314-8910. The Personnel Department of the City of Rockville can answer any other questions relative to the selection process by calling 240-314-8470.

Fitness Test

Rockville City Police Department Physical Fitness Standards
Common sense dictates that law enforcement professionals should have a level of physical fitness that ensures they are able to perform emergency functions effectively. The purpose of fitness testing is to determine who can effectively perform the physical job tasks versus who cannot effectively perform the job tasks, which are direct indicators of job readiness.

Rockville City has adopted physical fitness standards based on research conducted by The Cooper Institute of Dallas, Texas. Based on more than 70 validation studies performed on federal, state and municipal agencies over the past decade, The Cooper Institute has an updated recommended test battery that are job-related, not job-specific. Physical fitness is a proven component of law enforcement readiness and one of the officer’s prime street encounter survival tools.

The Test
The fitness test battery recommended by The Cooper Institute contains those items that measure both the underlying fitness components and predictive fitness components. The five tests recommended accurately measure aerobic capacity, anaerobic power and muscular endurance.  View the scoring sheet for the following tests: 

 I. 1.5 Mile Run (measures aerobic capacity, cardiorespiratory)
The test is administered on a standard 440-yard track, so candidates must complete 6 laps. The test is measured in minutes and seconds. Candidates should warm up and stretch prior to the run. The object is to complete the 1.5 miles in as little time as possible.

II. 300 Meter Run (measures anaerobic power, sprinting ability)
A measure of anaerobic power, this test is also recommended as part of the public safety fitness assessment battery. Participants should warm up and stretch prior to the run. The object is to run 300 meters as quickly as possible.

III. Vertical Jump (measures anaerobic power, explosive leg strength)
A measure of explosive power, the vertical jump is scored based on the best jump out of three attempts. The subject stands with one side toward the wall and reaches up as high as possible to mark his/her standard reach. The subject then jumps as high as possible and marks the spot on the wall. Prior to the jump, one foot must remain stationary on the floor.

IV. Maximum Push Ups (measures muscular endurance, upper body) 
The push up test measures the upper body’s muscular endurance. The hands are placed slightly wider than shoulder width apart, with fingers pointing forward. The administrator places one fist on the floor below the subject’s chest. Starting from the up position (elbows extended), the subject must keep the back straight and lower the body to the floor until the chest touches the fist, then push back up. This is one repetition. Resting is done only in the up position. Both hands must remain in contact with the floor. The total number of correct push ups that the candidate can do is the score.

V. One-minute sit ups (measures muscular endurance, core body)
The sit ups measure abdominal muscular endurance. The candidate starts by lying on the back, heels flat on the floor, approximately 12” from the buttocks, with fingers interlaced behind the head. Avoid pulling on the head with hands. The buttocks must remain on the floor with no thrusting of the hips. In the up position, the elbows should reach the knees, then return until the shoulder blades touch the floor. Resting is only done in the up position. The total number of correct sit ups is the score.

Test Preparedness
As is customary when beginning any fitness program, candidates should consult with their doctors to ensure they are healthy enough to start training.

To prepare for the physical fitness test, candidates should ensure they do not “jump into” a routine, especially if they have not worked out in a while. Candidates are advised to begin their programs slowly to assess their baseline level of fitness. From that point, candidates are recommended to practice the individual tests and build on their scores. Repetition is key to increasing their performance on the tasks at hand.

Again, it is not recommended that candidates begin the program and push themselves too hard. Injuries frequently occur this way. Take time at the beginning of your fitness program and build up to test day.

Each individual candidate should develop his or her own work out routine. Fitness professionals are a great resource to customize a program that will work for you. 

Training and Career Development in a Professional Police Organization

ACADEMY TRAINING
The Rockville City Police does not run its own police academy. Therefore, new candidates are sent to local training academies that meet all of the requirements of the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission. The academy usually runs for approximately six months.

DUTY ASSIGNMENT
Once hired, a recruit is placed on a one-year probation. After sucessful completion of a six month police academy, the recruit is assigned to the Field Training program with an experienced officer for about 12 weeks.

PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Promotions are obtained on the basis of various competitive processes. After 5 years from the date of hire, an officer is eligible to compete in the promotional process for Sergeant. To be eligible to compete for the next higher rank (Lieutenant), an officer must have 3 years experience as a sergeant.

Salary and Benefits

Rockville City Police Department Salary Schedules (Fiscal Year 2006)

OVERTIME PAY
Time and one half the employee's hourly rate is paid for work in excess of 40 hours per week. A minimum of 3 hours overtime is paid when the employee is required to appear in court while off duty. When required to work on holidays the overtime rate is two and one half times the basic rate of pay.

EQUIPMENT
All uniforms and equipment are furnished by the Department to new employees. After initial issue, officers may purchase new items from their allotted uniform allowance each fiscal year. Dry cleaning is provided free of charge to all sworn personnel for uniforms.

ANNUAL LEAVE
Annual leave ranges from 16 to 23 days per year depending upon the length of service.

SICK LEAVE
Sick leave is earned monthly at the rate of 1.25 days per completed month of service. There is no limit to the amount of earned sick leave that may be used in connection with any documented illness. Sick leave shall be cumulative for an indefinite period.

FAMILY SICK LEAVE
Up to eighty hours of earned sick leave may be used each year when there is an illness in an employee's immediate family (parents, spouse, or children).

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE
Employees may take three days of leave for the death of an immediate family member and one day of leave for other close family members.

PAID HOLIDAYS
There are 10 paid holidays per year.

GROUP LIFE INSURANCE
The City pays for life insurance equivalent to one and one-half times base salary. An employee may purchase added coverage up to one times salary at the group rate.

HEALTH INSURANCE
The City provides optional group health insurance through three different plans. The employee and City share the cost of each plan.

RETIREMENT
Police Officers may retire at any age with 25 years of credited service, and receive 2.25% per year of service on their final average earnings.  An officer retiring with 25 years of service will receive 56.25% of his/her final average earnings. The maximum a police officer can earn is 67.5% of his/her final average earnings (30 years of service).  Final average earnings is defined as the Officer’s average salary during the final five years of service.

The City provides the same health benefits to a retiree and his/her family that it does to an active employee.  The retiree must be under 65 years of age and be eligible for full retirement benefits.  If the retiree leaves the coverage area for the City’s health plans, the City will reimburse the employee for health insurance up to the prevailing two-person coverage employer rate granted to current employees. 

The City of Rockville is an equal opportunity employer.