Becoming a Police Officer in Ogden, Utah
The Ogden City Police Department advertises itself as the most diverse police department in the state of Utah. In existence since 1855, today Ogden police jobs involve working closely with the diverse community found within the city limits.
Working to become a police officer in Ogden may be a challenging process, but when you pin on that badge you’ll know it was well worth the effort.
This article gives instructions on how to become a cop by meeting police officer requirements in Ogden:
- Validate that you meet the principal qualifications
- Pass written and physical tests and an oral interview
- Participate in a background check and polygraph test
- Pass medical, psychological and drug tests
- Attend Ogden Police Officer Training
Step 1. Meet the Principal Qualifications for Ogden Police Officer Candidacy
You must meet just a few principal qualifications before applying for Ogden police officer candidacy:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be at least 21 years old
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent
- Have a valid Utah driver’s license
- Have no felony convictions
- Have no domestic violence convictions
- Preference is given to applicants with an associate’s degree
- Preference is given to applicants with a National Peace Officer Selection Certificate (explained in Step 2)
- Preference is given to applicants who are already POST-certified (if you are not, this will be provided during training – see Step 5 for details)
If you meet these qualifications, apply online to become a police officer in Ogden.
Step 2. Pass Written Tests, Physical Agility Test and an Oral Interview
Before you apply, you should take the NPOST test and receive a certificate stating that you have passed this test. This test mimics a high school equivalency exam, and includes sections on grammar, math, reading comprehension, and a section in which you will be asked to write a simulated incident report. You must receive a score of 70% or better in each section to pass. Once you pass, your score never expires. You may take the NPOST test at one of the locations listed here.
After you submit your application to become a police officer in Ogden, you will be notified of the time and date of the next written examination. You must pass this examination to continue in the process.
The next test you must pass to become a police officer in Ogden is a Physical Agility Test. This test will ask you to perform as many sit-ups as you can in 60 seconds, as many push-ups as you can continuously, a 1.5 mile run in the fastest time you can, a 300 meter run in the fastest time you can, and a vertical jump as high as possible. You must meet certain standards (listed here) in order to pass the Physical Agility Test, and you must pass each event to pass the test as a whole.
If you pass the Physical Agility Test, you will be invited to an oral interview with a board of representatives from the Ogden Police Department. They will assess your behavior, comportment and suitability to become a police officer in Ogden.
Passing all of the above tests places you on an eligibility list for the next police officer job openings that occur in Ogden. The higher you score on each test, the higher your cumulative score and resulting placement on the list. You will remain on this list for one year or until you are called for a job as a police officer in Ogden.
Step 3. Pass a Background Investigation and Polygraph Test
If you are called for an open police officer job in Ogden, you will next be subjected to a full background investigation. A polygraph test (truth verification exam) is included in this process. Things that could be discovered in your background that could disqualify you from becoming a police officer in Ogden include (but are not limited to):
- Dishonesty, lying or omission on any part of your application or in interviews to this point
- Felony convictions (if occurred when you were under age 18, this may not disqualify you)
- Conviction of any misdemeanor involving unlawful sexual conduct, dishonesty or physical violence within the past four years
- Any other misdemeanor convictions within the past year
- Use of illegal drugs while in a law enforcement position
- Any undisclosed use of illegal drugs
- Alcohol abuse
- DUI convictions in the past two years
- Excessive moving violations
- Financial irresponsibility
- Spotty employment history
- Associations with criminals, criminal groups, gangs and hate crime groups
If you pass the background check and lie detector test, you will be given a tentative offer to become a police officer in Ogden. This offer is subject to you passing the tests in the next step.
Step 4. Pass a Medical Exam, Psychological Exam and Drug Screening Test
You must now pass thorough medical and psychological examinations, both given by appointed professionals authorized by the Ogden Police Department to do so. A drug screen will be run as part of this process. Your physical and mental suitability to perform the duties of an Ogden police officer will be assessed. If you pass this series of tests, you will receive a firm offer of employment with the Ogden Police Department.
Step 5. Attend Ogden Police Officer Training
Congratulations! You have made it to the training portion of the process of becoming a police officer in Ogden! Under Utah law, you must receive basic training before certification as a law enforcement officer will take place. If you have not completed it before, you must complete 15 weeks of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Basic Training. In order for certification to take place you must complete both the Special Function Block and the Law Enforcement block. Classes that you will take include (but are not limited to):
- Court procedures
- Criminal code
- Court procedures
- Integrity
- Bill of rights and amendments
- Use of force
- Defensive tactics
- Driving
- Firearms training
- Physical fitness
Becoming a Police Officer in Provo, Utah
The Provo Police Department currently has 100 sworn police officers that respond to approximately 100,000 service calls each year. If you would like to join their ranks, keep reading to learn how to become a police officer in Provo, Utah:
- Verify you meet the basic prerequisites
- Pass written tests, physical fitness test and interview
- Participate in a background check and polygraph
- Pass medical, psychological and drug screening
- Attend Provo Police Officer Training
Step 1. Meet the Basic Prerequisites for Provo Police Officer Candidacy
You must meet a few prerequisites if you are considering applying to become a police officer in Provo:
- 21 years of age
- High school diploma/GED
- US citizen or in active process of becoming one
- Certified in Utah POST law enforcement or special function, or currently enrolled in a state-recognized law enforcement academy
Before applying to become a police officer in Provo, you must become POST-certified. This includes training in both law enforcement and special function. More information on this process is available here. Once you have achieved POST certification, apply online to become a police officer in Provo.
Step 2. Pass Written Examinations, Physical Fitness Test and Interview
If your application is selected to participate in the hiring process for police officer in Provo, you must pass a written examination of general aptitude. You will be notified of the place, time and date of the exam. If you have not yet taken the NPOST (National Police Officer Selection Test) certification exam, you must also take that at this time. You must pass these exams to participate further in the process.
You will be chosen to take the physical fitness test based upon your score on the written exam. Standards that you must meet based on gender and age may be found here. You must complete a vertical jump, dynamic strength exercise (maximum number of sit-ups in one minute), 300 meter run, dynamic strength exercise (maximum number of pushups in one minute), and a cardio respiratory fitness test (1.5 mile run in the shortest time possible). This test is pass/fail, and you must pass to continue in the process.
Next is an oral board interview. You will meet with representatives from the Provo Police Department and they will evaluate your suitability to become a police officer in Provo. This, too, must be passed to continue in the process.
All certified scores for the above tests must be submitted to the Provo Department of Human Resources prior to the closing date on the job announcement. Your combined scores will determine your placement on the eligibility list, from which candidates are chosen to participate in the rest of the hiring process. Your name will remain on this list for two years or until you are chosen to participate in the hiring process, whichever comes first.
Step 3. Pass a Background Investigation and Polygraph Test
If your name is chosen from the eligibility list, you must submit to a background investigation and polygraph test. The background investigation will thoroughly investigate all areas of your history, including (but not limited to):
- Education
- Employment
- Residential
- Personal
- Credit/financial
- Driving/traffic
- Criminal
You must also take a polygraph test. This will be used to verify the veracity of the information you have provided to the Provo Police Department and Department of Human Resources so far.
Step 4. Pass a Medical Exam, Psychological Exam and Drug Screening Test
The next steps in becoming a police officer in Provo are to pass medical and psychological exams. Licensed professionals appointed by the Provo Police Department conduct both, and both are tasked with discovering your suitability for the position.
You must also pass a drug screen at this time.
If you pass these tests, your information will be forwarded to the Chief of Police for final approval. You may then receive an offer to become a police officer in Provo.
Step 5. Attend Provo Police Officer Training
Congratulations! You were victorious in the prolonged hiring process and are now a Provo Police Officer! The next step is to complete training. First, you will attend 30 days of in-house training, including practical and classroom time. Next, you will be assigned to a senior Provo police officer for field training for one month.
You will work on a probationary status for the first six months of your employment as a Provo police officer.
Becoming a Police Officer in Salt Lake City, Utah
In Salt Lake City, Utah, police jobs are found within the various divisions of the Salt Lake City Police Department, including the Investigative Bureau, Logistics Bureau, Patrol Bureau, Special Operations Bureau, and Strategic Deployment Bureau.
Becoming a police officer in Salt Lake City is a challenging task, but well within reach if you have the qualities necessary to succeed. Below you’ll find instructions on how to become a police officer in Salt Lake City:
- Confirm that you meet the key qualifications
- Pass written examinations and a physical agility test
- Pass a background check and Computer Voice Stress Analysis
- Pass a psychological exam, interview, medical exam and drug screening
- Attend Salt Lake City Police Officer Training
Step 1. Meet the Key Qualifications to Become a Police Officer in Salt Lake City
There are some key qualifications you must meet before applying to become a Police Officer in Salt Lake City. They are:
- Possess a high school diploma or GED
- Possess U.S. citizenship
- Be at least 21 years old when you take the first exam
- Possess a valid Utah Driver’s License
Do you meet these qualifications? Fill out the Police Officer Interest Form to be notified when the Salt Lake City Police Department is hiring police officers.
Step 2. Pass Written Examinations and a Physical Agility Test
Before the application deadline on the job posting for police officer in Salt Lake City, you must turn in a copy of your scores from the Utah National Police Officer Selection Test (N.P.O.S.T.). Approved testing sites are listed here. This entry level law enforcement exam is used in many states. It tests your knowledge and skills in the following areas:
- Memory recall
- Vocabulary
- Reading comprehension
- Spelling and grammar
- Reading a directional map
- Report writing techniques
- Basic math
You will receive your scores by mail two weeks after taking the N.P.O.S.T. Submit them with your application to become a police officer in Salt Lake City.
Your application will be reviewed, and if you qualify, you will be notified of the date, place and time of the next written exam you must pass. This multiple-choice test assesses your skills in sentence structure, punctuation, grammar and spelling. It is also scored on a pass/fail basis.
If you pass this exam, you will next be scheduled for a Physical Agility Test. You must complete sit-ups, push-ups, a vertical jump and a 1.5-mile run to the 50% standards. You must pass all of these events in order to pass the Physical Agility Test, and you may not move along in the hiring process to become a police officer in Salt Lake City without passing this test.
Passing the Physical Agility Test places you on the Civil Service Commission’s Police Officer Eligibility Register. Your scores on the exams taken to date will determine your placement on the register. You may be called from this register to participate in the hiring process.
Step 3. Pass a Background Investigation and Computer Voice Stress Analysis
If you are one of the top candidates on the eligibility register for police officer in Salt Lake City, you will next undergo a thorough background investigation. Your background in all areas – personal, driving history, criminal history, employment record, credit/financial records, and interviews with family, friends, supervisors, co-workers and neighbors- will be investigated. You will also participate in a Computer Voice Stress Analysis test. This is used to verify the truthfulness of your answers to background questions. You must pass both of these to remain eligible to become a police officer in Salt Lake City.
Step 4. Pass a Psychological Exam, Interview, Medical Exam and Drug Screening
Next, you must pass a psychological examination and evaluation, with a licensed psychologist appointed by the Salt Lake City Police Department.
After that, you must participate in an interview with the Police Chief. If you succeed in this interview, you will be offered the job, contingent upon passing a medical examination.
You will be subject to a medical exam and urine analysis for narcotics. Passing all of these tests earns you a final offer of employment to become a police officer in Salt Lake City.
Step 5. Attend Salt Lake City Police Officer Training
Way to go! You have passed all of the steps necessary to become a police officer in Salt Lake City. Now, you must complete training at the Salt Lake City Police Academy. You will train for 20 weeks, 40 hours per week, for a total of 832 hours of training.
Once you graduate from the Police Academy, you will be on probation for the first year of your employment with the Salt Lake City Police Department.
Becoming a Police Officer in West Jordan, Utah
As a rapidly growing suburb of Salt Lake City, West Jordan, Utah is the state’s fourth most populated city. In West Jordan, police officers protect the city’s 100,000 residents and keep the peace by upholding state and municipal laws.
The article below will instruct you on how to become a police officer in West Jordan:
- Confirm that you meet the minimum qualifications
- Pass written, typing and physical agility tests
- Participate in a board interview and chief’s interview
- Pass background, polygraph, medical, psychological and drug screening
- Attend West Jordan police training
Step 1. Meet the Minimum Qualifications Necessary to Become a West Jordan Cop
You must meet these qualifications prior to applying for cop status in West Jordan:
- Be 21 years old or older
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Have one year experience working with the public
- Have a valid driver’s license
- Be Utah POST certified (see this link for information)
Applications will be posted on this website when police officer positions are available in West Jordan.
Step 2. Pass Written, Typing and Physical Agility Tests
Before you even submit an application to become a police officer in West Jordan, you must pass a series of tests:
- A typing test online (must type 30 words a minute or greater to pass)
- The Utah NPOST (National Police Officer Selection test)
Once you have these scores, you may submit your application to the West Jordan Police Department. You will then be notified of the date and time of your Physical Agility Test. You will be asked to complete a 1.5-mile run, pushups, sit-ups and a vertical jump, to the standards listed here. This is a pass/fail test, and you must pass all events in order to pass the test and continue in the hiring process.
If you pass the Physical Agility Test, you will be scheduled for a Report Writing Test. You will be presented with a fictional scenario and must write a simulated police report based upon it. You will be scored on this test on a pass/fail basis. You must pass this test to continue in the process to become a police officer in West Jordan.
Step 3. Pass a Board Background Questionnaire Interview and Chief’s Interview
If you scored well in the above-mentioned tests, you’ll be interviewed by the administrative board. In addition to interviewing with the panel of representatives from the West Jordan Police Department, you will participate in a role-playing exercise and an in-basket exercise.
Then, you will be placed on an eligibility list for police officer jobs in West Jordan, based upon your cumulative score to date. As police officer positions become available, you may be called to an interview with the Chief of Police based upon your position on the list.
After your interview with the Chief, you may receive a conditional offer of employment with the West Jordan Police Department. This offer is contingent upon you passing the tests listed in Step 4.
Step 4. Pass a Polygraph Test, Background Check, Psychological Exam, Drug Screen and Medical Exam
You must now pass a series of tests before earning a final offer of employment:
- Polygraph test – to verify your honesty so far in the hiring process
- Background check – to explore all areas of your history and discover things that may disqualify you from the process (such as felony or serious misdemeanor convictions)
- Psychological exam- you will take an exam to test your psychological suitability for the job. Your psychological profile will be taken and compared to one of a successful West Jordan police officer.
- Medical exam and drug screen – a thorough physical exam will be conducted by a doctor chosen by the West Jordan Police Department. A drug screen will also be performed.
If you pass these tests, you will receive a final offer of employment to become a police officer in West Jordan.
Step 5. Attend West Jordan Police Officer Training
Kudos to you! You have braved the sometimes daunting hiring process to become a police officer in West Jordan! You will now participate in some in-house training and field training with senior officers in the West Jordan Police Department.
Becoming a Police Officer in West Valley City, Utah
As a suburb of Salt Lake City and the second largest city in Utah, West Valley City is a bustling town with a distinguished police force. In West Valley City, police jobs involve protecting some 130,000 residents by deterring crime and maintaining the peace.
Becoming a police officer in West Valley City may take many months and hard work to achieve, but being hired as a West Valley City Police Officer make it all worthwhile.
This article offers directions on how to become a police officer and meet established PD requirements in West Valley City:
- Verify you meet the minimum qualifications
- Pass written exams, physical agility test and oral interview
- Participate in background check and Computer Voice
Stress Analyzer test - Pass medical, psychological and drug screening
- Complete West Valley City Police Officer Training
Step 1. Meet the Minimum Qualifications to Become a West Valley City Police Officer
You must meet these minimum qualifications if you wish to apply to become a West Valley City Police Officer:
- You are at least 21 years old
- You have a high school diploma or GED
- You are a U.S. citizen
- You have a valid driver’s license
- If you are a resident of West Valley City, you will receive preference points
- If you are a military veteran, you will receive preference points.
If you wish to be notified when there are job openings for police officers in West Valley City, sign up here.
When positions are available, applications will be made available on the West Valley City Police Department website. Along with the application, send:
- A copy of your high school diploma, transcripts or GED certificate
- Copy of your birth certificate or naturalization papers
- Copy of your driver’s license
- NPOST scores, if you have taken the state-required exam already (see Step 2)
- Current utility bill in your name to verify city residency, if applicable
- Military discharge papers, if applicable
Step 2. Pass Written Exams, Physical Agility Test and Oral Interview
Before you apply to become a police officer in West Valley City, or before you take the city’s examination for police officer, you must pass the Utah P.O.S.T. exam. This basic exam tests your abilities in reading, writing and math. You must score a 70 on each section and a 70 overall to qualify to continue in the application process.
Next, you must pass the West Valley City written exam for police officer. You will be notified of the date and time of the exam. It tests general knowledge in reading comprehension, writing, language, reasoning, problem solving and accuracy. This test must be passed in order to go on with the hiring process.
The next test you must pass is a Physical Agility Test. This consists of completing all of the following events:
- Run 1.5 miles in 15 minutes 54 seconds or less
- Do 25 pushups consecutively
- Complete a 16 inch vertical jump
- Do 35 sit ups in one minute
- Bench press 75% of your body weight
If you pass the Physical Agility Test, you will next participate in an Oral Board Interview. This interview is with a panel of representatives from the West Valley City Police Department. They will judge your appropriateness for the position of police officer in West Valley City.
After you have completed the above steps, your cumulative score from all of them will place you on an eligibility list established by the Civil Service Commission. You may be called from this list to participate in the hiring process further to become a police officer in West Valley City.
Step 3. Pass a Background Investigation and Computer Voice Stress Analyzer Test
If you are one of the top candidates on the eligibility list, you may be called to undergo a background investigation. This will investigate all areas of your life history, including:
- Employment
- Education
- Criminal activity
- Driving record
- Personal
- Residential
- Financial/credit
Interviews may also be conducted with significant persons in your life, both in the past and currently.
You must also pass a Computer Voice Stress Analyzer Test at this time. This will judge the honesty of the answers you have given thus far in the hiring process.
Step 4. Pass a Psychological Exam, Drug Screening Test and Medical Exam
If you pass the above-mentioned tests, you may be called in for psychological testing. A licensed psychologist appointed by the Department will interview you and administer tests. Your mental and emotional stability for the job of police officer in West Valley City will be assessed.
You will next undergo a full medical examination, including a drug screening test. Your physical aptitude and fitness to serve as a police officer in West Valley City will be evaluated.
If you pass both of these evaluations, you may receive an offer, as openings exist, to become a police officer in West Valley City.
Step 5. Complete West Valley City Police Officer Training
Congratulations! You have triumphed over the extensive hiring process and are now a West Valley City Police Officer trainee! You must now complete the mandatory training required both by the state of Utah and by West Valley City. In addition to academic, law enforcement, and physical training at the Police Academy, you will also complete 22 weeks of field training with a senior Police Officer on the job in West Valley City. Each year, you must receive 40 hours of training to maintain your law enforcement certification.