Residence

Each applicant for employment with the department must be a citizen of the United States. Sworn personnel must assume a primary residence in the Commonwealth of Kentucky within six monthes after appointment.

Oath of Office

All new police officers, before their appointment to duty and prior to their promotion to higher ranks, shall be required to take oaths of office as required by law.

Age Limit

Appointees to positions in the Police Department (sworn and non sworn) shall be 21 years of age at time of appointment.

Literacy

Each applicant must show proof that he/she is able to read, write and speak the English language well and intelligently. Each applicant must successfully complete and pass a written examination to test such skills.

Moral Character

Each applicant shall be of good moral character and shall not have been convicted of any criminal offense involving any felony, class A misdemeanor, or any drug related offense.

Physical Requirements

Each applicant must be sound in body and of good health. Sworn police applicants shall be required to pass a physical agility test.

Driver's License

All employees operating department motor vehicles shall possess a valid Kentucky driver's license

Education

Applicants for the position of police officer shall have completed and be able to substantiate a minimum of 60 semester or 90 quarter hours from an accredited university or college or have a minimum of two years of experience as a law enforcement officer before the application can be accepted. A combination of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours from an accredited university or college supplemented by a minimum of one year of experience as a law enforcement officer will also be considered an acceptable level of education and training for a police officer applicant. Four years of Active Duty Military Service can also be substituted for educational and law enforcement experience.

Law Enforcement Officer for the purposes of this regulation shall be defined as: a member of a lawfully organized police unit or police force of federal, state, county, city or metropolitan government who is responsible for the detection of crime and the enforcement of general criminal laws, as well as sheriffs, sworn deputy sheriffs, campus police officers, military police officers, jailers, public airport authority security officers, other public and federal peace officers responsible for law enforcement, and special local police officers licensed pursuant to KRS 61.360 or comparable statute of another state.

Applicants for all non-sworn positions shall have completed and be able to substantiate at least a high school diploma from an accredited high school or a G.E.D. equivalency before the application can be accepted.

Training

Kenton County police officers must complete the Basic Police Academy at the Department of Criminal Justice Training or its equivalent in another state. Additionally, police officers must annually complete a minimum of 40 hours in-service training recognized by the Department of Criminal Justice Training. Telecommunications must satisfactorily complete all state mandated training courses, including 60 hours of LINK/NCIC, Basic Telecommunications and Emergency Medical Dispatch training in Richmond, Kentucky.

Upon a conditional offer of employment made by the County Administrator, candidates for the department are required to take and pass the following tests:

A complete medical examination given by a licensed physician as selected by the Merit Board. Should an individual fail to pass the physical, the testing process ends and the candidate is disqualified from further consideration.

A test for the use of illegal drugs and alcohol in accordance with the safeguards as to privacy, procedure, accuracy and confidentiality contained within the Federal Guidelines of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Specimen collection will be conducted at a designated site according to Federal guidelines. Should an individual fail to pass the drug and alcohol screen, the testing process ends and the candidate is disqualified from further consideration.

A polygraph test to be administered by a qualified polygraph expert to be selected by the Merit Board. Should an individual fail to pass the polygraph, the testing process ends and the candidate is disqualified from further consideration.

A psychological assessment test to determine if the individual has the mental and emotional ability to perform as a police dispatcher. This testing will be performed by an independent examiner with expertise in emergency services dispatching who is qualified under existing state and federal guidelines to administer this type of assessment. Should an individual fail to pass the test, the process ends and the candidate is disqualified from further consideration.

A complete background and credit history check to verify that all statements, references, etc., made in writing or verbally by the individual stand the test of scrutiny. Should an individual fail to pass the check, the process ends and the candidate is disqualified.

Questions regarding employment opportunities with the Kenton County Police Department should be directed to Captain Greg Sandel at (859) 392-1940 or Greg.Sandel@Kentoncounty.org .

The Kenton County Police Department is an Equal Opportunity Employer.