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Clifton Heights police chief seeks civil service test and updated physical standards
Summary
The police chief asked council to authorize a civil service exam to keep the hiring list active and to consider updating the department's physical agility standards by ordinance to match a national model.
The police chief asked the Clifton Heights Borough Council to request a civil service commission exam to keep the department's hiring list active and to consider changing the department's physical-agility requirements by ordinance.
The chief told council he had "a full report" and said the borough is due to "complete a civil service test, to keep our list active in the event that we have a sudden reduction in manpower." He said he had emailed council members about the matter and offered to coordinate with staff to ensure the test is scheduled.
On physical standards, the chief said the borough's current requirements "are a little antiquated" and might not be the "best part of the testing process." He said he obtained model physical-agility standards from MPOEC (Municipal Police Education & Training Commission) used for entry-level police recruits and noted those standards "have stood the test of time and the test of the courts." The chief said any change to local physical requirements would need to be adopted by ordinance.
Council members discussed procedure: the chief recommended two steps at the next regular meeting — a motion requesting the civil service commission administer a patrol officer test and a separate ordinance to update physical requirements. Council indicated it would not take either motion that night but could place them on the regular-meeting agenda for formal action and advertisement.
No ordinance text, schedule, or effective date was provided at the caucus meeting. The chief said he had emailed two council members ("Tom and John") with the report and would help coordinate drafting and advertising of the ordinance prior to the next council meeting.
Council did not take formal action during the caucus; the chief and council agreed to bring motions at the regular meeting for the civil service request and later for the ordinance.
Ending
Council directed the chief to draft the civil service request and to circulate proposed ordinance language; formal votes were deferred to the regular meeting.
