Those selected to compete for police officer positions must undergo the following prior to an offer of employment:
- physical agility test (pass/fail)
- written examination
- oral board interview
- comprehensive background investigation
- polygraph test
- medical evaluation (after employment offer has been made)
Physical Agility Test Criteria
The physical agility test is used to measure your ability to perform critical and common tasks that police officers are called upon to do. The test is intended to simulate strenuous tasks that you may be required to perform as part of your law enforcement duties, if selected. Your ability to perform tasks such as those represented on the test is critical to your safety, as well as that of the public you will protect.
The physical agility test is pass/fail, and consists of four events. You must successfully pass all four events to pass the test. The events are listed below in the order in which you will perform them, as well as the standards by which your performance will be evaluated.
-
Trigger Pull
Using one hand, pull the trigger of a provided handgun completely through a firing cycle 25 times. Repeat with each hand. The trigger pulls must be non-stop, without rest.
This event simulates firing the service weapon under highly stressful or physically demanding situations.
-
One-Quarter Mile Run
Run one lap around a designated track, for a total of 1/4 mile. The time limit is 2 minutes.
This event simulates a non-obstacle foot pursuit.
-
Short Obstacle Course
From a seated position, run 50 yards to a set of stairs, step up on the first step with one foot, then with the other foot step on the same step, then step down in the same order. Repeat 12 times, must be up/up, down/down motion. Next, run 30 yards to a simulated chain-link fence, jump/climb over the fence, run another 50 yards, turn around, run back and renegotiate the simulated fence, then return to the starting point. The time limit is 1 minute and 25 seconds.
This event simulates a short foot pursuit in which common obstacles must be overcome.
-
Vehicle Push
Push a police car, on a relatively level surface, a distance of 20 feet. The time limit is 25 seconds.
This event simulates pushing a disabled vehicle far enough out of the way as not to present a traffic hazard.
Disqualifiers
- Conviction of any felony or any crime involving moral turpitude (crimes contrary to justice, honesty, or good morals)
- Conviction of any Class 1 or 2 misdemeanor, including traffic violations, within the last 5 years
- Any conviction of Domestic Violence, including simple assault against a domestic partner, spouse, child or parent
- Any individual falling into any of the aforementioned criminal history categories, prior to conviction, that enters a plea agreement or other form of sentencing disposition to the reduction of charges will be disqualified
- Commission of undetected crimes of a serious or repetitive nature
- Three or more negative points on a Virginia Operator's License or the equivalent for out of state licenses
- Two moving violations in any state within the last 12 months
- Any conviction of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, refusal to take blood or breath test, eluding police, racing, or reckless driving or leaving the scene of an accident within the last 5 years
- Any involvement in the sale or distribution of illegal drugs
- Illegal possession of anabolic steroids within the last 5 years
- Illegal possession of marijuana or a derivative thereof within the last 12 months
- Illegal possession of heroin, cocaine, hallucinogens or any other schedule 1 or 2 drug within the last 10 years
Demonstrated history of financial irresponsibility. Problems with credit will be evaluated on a case by case basis, and issues that are not the result of the repetitive poor judgment of the applicant will not normally be disqualifying.
- Dishonorable discharge from any military service (less than honorable discharge will be reviewed)
- Untruthfulness or the intentional withholding of information on any application, interview or paperwork
- Deliberate inaccuracies or incomplete statements may remove you from further consideration for employment
- Cheating on any examination or testing associated with the position