Conway officials approve updated certified applicant lists for police and fire after entry-level testing

Conway City civil service officials approved updates to certified applicant lists for the police and fire departments after staff reviewed results from recent written and physical-agility entry-level tests.

Lieutenant Cooper reported that following the commission’s March 3 meeting the certified police-applicant list had seven names; applicants numbered 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 were removed from that list (applicant 3 because a test expired; applicant 4 was hired; applicants 5–7 failed required categories), leaving two existing eligibles. The commission voted to approve the list as read by Lieutenant Cooper.

Cooper also summarized outcomes from a subsequent entry-level testing cycle. He said 14 applicants withdrew before the written test, 16 did not show, and four failed the written portion, leaving 29 candidates eligible for the physical-agility test. The physical-agility exam, held May 3, produced 18 successful candidates; the commission voted to add those 18 to the certified police-applicant list, bringing that list to 20 eligible candidates.

The Conway Fire Department presented a combined six-month list of applicants. The fire chief (name not specified in the record) said 58 people showed up for the department’s most recent entry-level test; 17 failed the written portion and 14 failed the physical-agility portion. The chief asked the commission to certify the combined list, noting 20 names were highlighted to remain on the list for another six months; the commission approved the certification.

Commission members conducted a brief roll call at the start of the meeting to establish a quorum. Commissioners approved the previous meeting’s minutes by motion and then approved the personnel lists after the department presentations. A commissioner asked how many current openings exist; the chief answered there are two vacancies.

No ordinance, statute, or other legal authority was cited in the public record for these personnel actions. The meeting record shows the panel treated the updates as administrative certifications to the civil-service eligible lists rather than as hiring approvals; department staff remain responsible for making hires from the certified lists.

The meeting concluded after routine business and an adjournment motion.