CAREERS

Police Officer   or   Public Safety Dispatcher

- Police Officer - Pre-Requisites: Currently, you are required to have 30 accredited college level credit hours. Exam: A civil service exam for Schenectady Police Officer is given usually each December. The official Civil Service announcement for this exam is announced the preceeded September. You may sign up for the exam by filling out a Civil Service application and returning it to the Schenectady County Civil Service Commission once the exam is announced. You may download an exam announcement by visiting the Schenectady County Civil Service Commission website. When the results of the test are posted you will be ranked based on your grade. Post Exam: If you are or become reachable on the list you will be called for an interview. The hiring process begins at this point. It is quite complex and thorough. Once completed and if you pass all aspects of the pre-employment background investigation, you will be sent to the Zone 5 Law Enforcement Academy for approximately six months. After successful completion of the police academy, you will be assigned to the Schenectady Police Department's Field Training and Evaluation Program for a period of fourteen weeks. Benefits: Click to view the many employment benefits of a Schenectady Police Officer.

- Public Safety Dispatcher - Pre-Requisites: Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma. Exam: A civil service exam for public safety dispatchers is given periodically in Schenectady County. You can sign up for the exam when it is announced by filling out a Civil Service application. You may also check with the Schenectady County Civil Service Commission at any time for the official exam announcement. Post Exam: If you successfuly pass the written test, Civil Service will rank you according to your grade then contact you for a follow-up typing test. If you successfully complete the typing test, your name will be certified by Civil Service and passed to the Police Department. Based on your ranking, you will be called for an interview. After the interview, an extensive background check will be performed. Candidates who remain successful may then be hired and sent to a two week basic telecommunicators School. After completion of the school, new telecommunicators will then enter a sixteen week field training program. Benefits: Click to view the employment benefits of a Public Safety Dispatcher. - Criminal Justice Degree - Thinking about starting your career in the growing criminal justice field by earning a degree first? Click here Criminal Justice Degree for help finding the school that is best for you.