Hiring Process.

Do I Qualify?

To maintain a highly qualified, professional complement, Henrico Police Division prides itself on employing individuals of the highest caliber – those who exceed our stringent standards. This ensures the Division exemplifies integrity, character and respect in our service to the public.

No application for the position of Police Officer will be considered if there is an indication of any of the following:

Conviction of any felony
Conviction of or pled guilty or no contest to any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude including but not limited to petit larceny, drugs or other controlled substances, sex offenses, or domestic assault
Sale, transportation, or illegal use of any Schedule I or II drugs (i.e. cocaine, crack, heroin, opiates, LSD, PCP, mushrooms, barbiturates, ecstasy, amphetamines, etc.) within the past 10 years
The sale, transportation, or illegal use of any Schedule I or II drug beyond 10 years will be considered on a case-by-case basis with the following criteria: Age at the time the behavior occurred, passage of time, patterns of past behavior, severity of behavior, probable consequences if past behavior is repeated or made public, likelihood of recurrence, relevance of past behavior to public safety employment, aggravating and mitigating factors, and other relevant considerations
The illegal sale or use of a prescription drug, which may also be a schedule drug, is considered separately
Use of marijuana or THC products from the date of your application
Accumulation of more than six penalty points on the applicant’s driving record within the past 12 months
Applicant is not 21 years of age by the graduation date of the Police Academy
Applicant is not a high school graduate or has not completed a GED program by the date of hire
Applicant does not possess a valid operator’s license by the date of hire
Applicant is not a United States citizen
Conviction of a DUI or DUI-related offense within the past five years. Convictions outside of the five-year period will be considered on a case-by-case basis

An applicant may be eliminated from further consideration on a case-by-case basis, for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to:

Illegal use, sale, or transportation of Schedule III drugs or of prescription drugs (including Adderall)
An extensive history of traffic violations
Commission of undetected crimes of a serious or repetitive nature
Continual or unexplained poor financial responsibilities
Uncorrected vision greater than 20/100 (20/100 must correct to 20/40 in both eyes)

Although individuals with minimum qualifications may apply, only those with the greatest job-related experience, education, qualifications, and brightest background history will be selected.

Becoming a Police Officer :

Becoming a Police Officer in Henrico County doesn’t happen overnight. To be the best, we have to hire the best. That is why we thoroughly vet the qualification of each applicant, in addition to conducting a series of tests and interviews throughout the hiring process.

Hiring Process

Complete Online Application
Physical Agility Test
Preliminary Interview
Background Investigation
Polygraph Examination
Staff Interview
Psychological Testing
Clinical Interview
Medical Evaluation and Drug Testing
Chief Selection and Final Offer of Employment

Hiring Process

It is necessary to successfully complete each task within the established time frame to continue in the hiring process.

Step 1: Apply Online

Complete an Online Application.

Click Search/Apply for Job, then run keyword search for Police.

If you’ve never applied for a job with Henrico County, it’s best to register before filling out your application. Please see the video on your right with instructions on how to fill out an application on our online portal.

Step 2: Physical Agility Test

The Physical Agility Test is held on several dates during the open process. A recruiter will schedule a test date directly with you.

The test consists of various job-related physical activities. These activities are set out in an obstacle course design and will be conducted continuously until the human simulator drag. Time allowed for completion of the first part of the physical agility test is 3 minutes, 30 seconds. Time allowed for human simulator drag is 1 minute.

During the test you will be required to wear certain equipment worn by patrol officers (total added weight of 9-13 lbs). This equipment is provided on site and consists of:

Uniform leather belt and police weapon
Portable radio
Ballistics vest

The Physical Agility Test consists of:

Jump/climb 6 ft. barrier. Task demonstrates if candidate can pull themselves up on any type of object.
Complete a 1/4 mile run, making various turns within the time limit. Task simulates an on-foot pursuit.
Culvert jump. Task simulates a 4 ft. culvert/ditch jump.
Draw and dry-fire police pistol. Police Officers must have the finger and hand strength to hold the police pistol in one hand while pulling the trigger. Both the right and left hand will be used.
Drag/Carry a human simulator (155 lbs.) a distance of 30 ft. After locating either an injured person or apprehending a criminal suspect, an officer is required to pull or carry the subject from the location of the incident in order to save the person’s life, or to keep the person from receiving further injury, or to effect an arrest.

Step 3: Preliminary Interview

You will have a preliminary interview with members from the Division’s Personnel Unit. This interview will not only give Henrico Police the opportunity to learn more about you and your interest in a law enforcement career, it will also provide you an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the hiring process.

Step 4: Background Investigation

Completion of a Personal History Statement (PHS) is the first step of the Background Investigation.
A thorough background check is conducted to ensure there are no personal or professional issues precluding you from police service. Background investigators review your employment history, character references, academic records, residency history, criminal history, and credit history.

All applicants are required to provide:

Valid driver’s license
One of the following:
- Social Security Card
- Passport
- Certified copy of birth certificate
Certified copy of High School transcript(s)
4 character references
Out-of-state driving transcript(s), if applicable
Military Form DD-214, if applicable

You must return your Personal History Statement (PHS) Packet to the Process Coordinator at the time of your physical agility test. Being honest and thorough in your PHS is essential to continuing in the hiring process.

Step 5: Polygraph Examination

The next step in the hiring process is a polygraph exam. The exam determines the validity of the information you provided in the background packet.

A Henrico Police Polygraph Examiner will administer your exam.

Step 6: Staff Interview

The next step of the hiring process is staff interviews. You will meet with a panel of Division members to discuss your qualifications and gauge your fit for Henrico Police. You will be evaluated on a variety of competencies and skills, including communication and critical-thinking skills, understanding of and interest in policing, as well as your response to questions and scenarios.

Step 7: Psychological Testing and Clinical Interview

To ensure you are psychologically stable and mentally fit to handle the stresses of police work you will undergo a psychological evaluation. Testing includes a written questionnaire as well as interview with psychologist.

Step 8: Medical Evaluation and Drug Testing

The medical evaluation determines if you are medically fit to meet the physical requirements of police work. A drug test will also be administered to check for the presence of illegal substances. The physical exam includes height and weight measurements, vision, hearing and blood pressure screenings, electrocardiogram, and blood and urine tests.

Step 9: Chief Selection and Final Offer of Employment

In the final step of the hiring process, the Chief of Police is presented with each candidate’s file. The Chief and members from Police Personnel discuss each applicant’s candidacy, qualifications, test results and evaluations. The Chief makes the final decision on all offers of employment.

Recommendations

Maintain a good employment history
Maintain or improve your credit and financial history
Work on your physical fitness
Review the Personal History Statement and start gathering information
Discontinue marijuana use 12 months prior to applying

Three Henrico Police Officers in a henrico police truck looking at the camera

Make a Difference Everyday

Before you start academy, we invite you and your family to Family Night, where you can meet our executive staff and learn more about the Henrico County Police Division. This is an excellent opportunity for you and your family to get any last-minute questions answered!

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