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Civil Service Commission affirms recruitment changes and certifies police candidate list
Summary
The Delaware City Civil Service Commission approved minutes from its March meeting confirming changes to the police recruitment process — including moving the polygraph to the preemployment stage — and certified a police officer eligibility list of candidates.
The Delaware City Civil Service Commission on April 2 approved the March 5 meeting summary and confirmed changes to the police recruitment process, including moving the polygraph to the preemployment portion of hiring, and certified a police officer eligibility list.
Commissioners voted to accept the March meeting summary, which recorded approval of a March 2025 police officer certified list and two minor procedural changes to recruitment. The summary stated the certified list included 17 candidates and that the commission had approved shifting the polygraph earlier in the process and combining that step with a Wonderbook assessment and other preemployment activities.
The commission carried the motion on a roll call vote. During the roll call, members indicated support for the motion. The minutes as accepted also noted that the recruitment changes were intended to streamline preemployment screening.
Commission staff reported that background investigations were underway for multiple candidates on the certified list. At the April meeting staff said the commission was actively conducting background checks on nine candidates then on the list. The staff member who described the polygraph change emphasized two separate considerations: verifying truthfulness and assessing whether disclosed conduct rendered a candidate unsuitable for hire.
The commission discussed the mechanics of the polygraph stage and how results factor into hiring decisions. A staff speaker explained that a candidate who is found untruthful would typically not progress; candidates who disclose past misconduct but are truthful about it may still be evaluated for suitability depending on the nature of the conduct.
No further formal changes to the recruitment policy were made at the April 2 meeting beyond acceptance of the minutes and the certified list as recorded.
The commission did not identify a specific statutory source when discussing the recruitment change; the action recorded was procedural approval of minutes and acceptance of the certified list.
