Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the
Police Officer Hiring Process

1. How often do you accept applications and how often do you schedule testing?

We have changed our on line application process (2/12/09).  We will only be accepting on line applications from the 1st-10th of each month.  We schedule our written testing component generally every 3rd Saturday of each month which allows us to minimize the timeframe between the time we receive an application and our first testing component. Our next exam is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, 2009.  We are no longer accepting on line applications for this testing date.   A confirmation packet will be sent out at the end of August to those who will be invited to the exam.  Candidates attending this test will be processed for our July 2010 academy.  (Please check back as the testing dates and academy dates are subject to change)  A confirmation packet will be sent to applicants a few weeks prior to exam dates.  If you do not receive a packet, most likely your on line application was received after the cut off date and you will be scheduled for the following month.  Also, the on line employment application asks for an announcement number - disregard this request. The Dept/Division section can be listed as Police Department.

2. How long does it take to get into the Academy? Why does the employment process take so long?

The time frame from submitting an employment application to the time that an applicant actually enters the Training Academy can vary from approximately four (4) months to nine (9) months or more in some cases. Processing large numbers of applicants requires substantial time. Personnel Division staff must process, schedule, and administer a series of testing components that are designed to identify quality applicants whose background and experience are indicative of the type of individual this agency is seeking to serve our growing and diverse community. Upon the successful completion of these initial testing components, applicants may be assigned for a background investigation. Depending on an individual's life history and experiences, this process can take from several weeks to a couple of months to complete. Upon the successful conclusion of this phase, a polygraph examination may be scheduled. Those applicants successfully completing the polygraph examination may be given a conditional offer of employment at which time they are scheduled for the written and oral psychological examinations as well as being scheduled for a medical examination. If an applicant successfully completes these examinations, he/she may be offered final employment and will be notified of the start date for the Academy.

3. Can I laterally transfer to the Montgomery County Department of Police from another Police or Sheriff’s department?

Yes!. This department has initiated a lateral employment program for qualified sworn law enforcement officers. The premise of the program is to recognize the value of those applicants who have law enforcement experience by providing starting salary/pay incentives commensurate with an applicant’s police/law enforcement experience.

In order to be considered for employment with this agency, applicants must meet all established pre-employment minimum requirements and successfully complete all testing, screening, and background screening components.

To be eligible for consideration within the lateral entry program, the applicant must have/had powers of lawful arrest and authorized to carry a weapon. We will accept applications on an open and continuous basis from applicants employed within any of the following listed categories of police/law enforcement agencies:

• With a Federal police/law enforcement agency
• With a State police/law enforcement agency
• With a County police/law enforcement agency
• With a State/County Sheriff’s department
• With a City/Municipal police/law enforcement agency
• With a University/College police agency
• With a Military Police Unit

All lateral applicants must have the minimum 60 college credits regardless of prior law enforcement or military police experience.  No substitutions can be made for the college credits.

The lateral employment program will provide up to a maximum of five (5) years of starting salary/pay incentives for qualified candidates.

The calculation for years of experience will include a pro-rated formula for partial years of service.

This program does not and will not provide for the lateral transfer of rank or rights to any seniority status.

A number of applicants may want to pursue the option of purchasing retirement credits for prior service. The following provides very basic information concerning this benefit:

• Applicants employed under this program may be eligible to purchase prior, Federal, State, and Municipality retirement service. Eligibility is determined by the County’s Office of Human Resources.
  
• Applicants who have been members of another public sector retirement system with the State of Maryland or another municipality credits from another system to Montgomery County's retirement system. Title 37 of the Annotated Code of Maryland governs the transfer of retirement credits. Check with your retirement system administrator for eligibility and other potential impacts to be considered prior to transferring to another employer
  
• Applicants may also be eligible to purchase prior military service which again, the County’s Office of Human Resources determines eligibility.

Another issue of significant importance to applicants considering transferring from one law enforcement agency to another, is what training requirements will they be required to complete. Recognizing the importance of this issue to both the applicant as well as the department, the following training requirements have been established for those applicants employed under our lateral program:

• For those applicants possessing Maryland certification, we will be requiring the successful completion of a shortened Training Academy compliance class of approximately 12 weeks. In those instances wherein a candidate fails to successfully complete this shortened training session, or in those cases where the department determines that an applicant requires additional training, participation in the basic 26 - week entry level training segment may be an option.
  
• Non-Maryland certified officers will be required to attend our basic 26 - week entry level recruit Training Academy and successfully complete this component.

At the present time, we are not anticipating having an abbreviated lateral class for MD certified officers.   Prospective laterals will receive up to the 5 years of lateral pay but will be required to complete the 26 week academy.  All graduating candidates will be required to successfully complete the respective Field Training component upon graduation from the Training Academy.

4. Is there an accelerated testing process available for applicants who may live out of state?

Yes! The Montgomery County Department of Police does offer accelerated testing/processing to out of state applicants. Our process will require at least three to five (3-5) separate appointments in order to fully complete the employment process. All processing will take place at our Montgomery County, Maryland facilities. Time permitting, out of state applicants will be given priority in completing the initial written test and oral interview on the same day.

5. Can I substitute law enforcement or military experience for the required college education requirement?

No. Our educational requirement mandates that all applicants must possess a minimum of sixty (60) college credits or ninety (90) quarter hours at the time an employment application is submitted. The substitution of police or military experience is not authorized. Again, having police or military experience will certainly be an advantage to those applicants possessing that experience.

6. Is there an age limit for applying to this agency?

No, as long as you meet the listed minimum qualifications for the position, you may apply.

7. If my eyesight has been surgically corrected, will I be eligible to participate in the employment process for Police Officer Candidate?

Applicants who have undergone eye surgery to meet minimum vision standards as listed within our minimum qualifications may be required to submit medical data at their own expense to demonstrate visual stability.

8. If employed as a Montgomery County Police Officer, is there a residency requirement, meaning do I have to live in Montgomery County?

No. Police Department employees are not required to live in the County. However, in order for police officers to be eligible for the Take-Home Car program, County residency is a requirement. The Take-Home Car program authorizes unlimited usage of the assigned police vehicle within the County. This program is governed by existing guidelines and bargaining union agreements.

9. I am fluent in a foreign language. How would this assist me in obtaining a position as a police officer with your agency?

Montgomery County is a culturally rich and diverse community. The need for bilingual employees is critical to the success of our community policing efforts. The County government authorizes pay differential for those employees possessing this critical skill. To be eligible for this pay differential, all employees must participate in a language certification program that evaluates the skill level of those employees possessing language skills. (Language skills include American Sign Language). Based on the certified skill level and the number of hours worked in a given year, a language pay differential of approximately $1,000 dollars to $4,000 dollars per year, over and above base salary may be earned by a Police Officer.

10. Do rank and file police officers belong to a union?

All officers below the rank of Lieutenant are members of and are formally represented by the Fraternal Order of Police (F.O.P.) Lodge 35. Lieutenants and above may maintain membership in a non-union employee organization known as the Alliance of Police Supervisors.

11. How many Training Academy sessions does Montgomery County schedule every year and how long does a training session last?

At the present time, we schedule two (2) Training Academy sessions each year. The Academy is twenty-six (26) weeks long. Upon the successful completion of the Academy, the officer will be assigned to a Field Training patrol shift for an additional fourteen (14) weeks. Our uniform patrol officers work a ten (10) hour, four (4) day work week.

12. What is the work schedule during the Training Academy and will I receive a salary/paycheck during training?

The basic schedule during the Academy's training component is generally Monday through Friday, eight hours per day. There may be occasions when the recruits will have to work evenings and weekends in order to accommodate certain training components. All recruit trainees will be paid their respective starting salary during this timeframe.

13. If I successfully complete all of the testing and background investigation components, do I have to wait until the actual class start date before I can be employed with your agency?

No. * The Montgomery County, Maryland Department of Police has an established early employment/hire program that authorizes and provides the opportunity for the employment of those applicants who have successfully completed all required pre-employment components of our hiring process prior to the start date of the next training academy session. Within established time and process parameters, all successful candidates are provided this opportunity. No applicant is under any obligation to start early; we simply want to provide an option that is appealing to a number of our successful applicants. It should be understood that within the F.O.P. bargaining unit contract provisions, an early hire status does not provide for future seniority rights for those contract provisions that are based an officer’s seniority status. For contract purposes, those applicants hired under the early hire program, his/her respective seniority will be based on the recruit training class actual start date.