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Commission certifies four police officer candidates, highlights new school public-safety pathway
Summary
The commission approved a certification list of four police officer candidates to begin employment Dec. 23 and noted a new Davenport Community School District public-safety pathway intended as a long-term recruitment pipeline.
The Davenport City commission approved a police certification list that recommends four candidates to be hired as entry-level police officers. The commission also heard details of a newly launched public-safety career pathway with the Davenport Community School District intended to help build a long-term recruitment pipeline.
A police department representative presented the department’s hiring process and recent recruiting cycle. The department described the entry-level process as a 30/70 split (written/interview as applied locally), a state-mandated physical ability test (sit-ups, push-ups, 1.5-mile run) and a state-mandated written examination. The representative said candidates must reside within a 20-mile circular radius of the corporate city limits (allowing Illinois residents within that radius).
The presenter summarized the recent applicant flow: 97 applicants applied; 75 were qualified to test; 24 withdrew; 17 did not schedule; 14 scheduled but did not show; 4 failed the initial physical; 16 passed the physical and were invited to the written examination; 1 scored below 70% on the written leaving 15; 10 subsequently failed the background screening leaving five finalists for interview; one of those five scored below 70% in the final interview leaving four recommended candidates.
The representative said the four certified candidates’ first day of employment is Dec. 23 and that they will attend the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, a 16-week program starting Jan. 6. The commission moved to approve the certification list; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.
Separately, the presenter described a new collaboration with the Davenport Community School District that launched a public-safety pathway in October with about 90 students. The pathway will expose students to police and fire careers, introduce basic sociological concepts and prepare students with EMT training; students are expected to be EMT-certified at the close of the four-year program. Department staff said the initiative is intended as a long-term recruitment strategy rather than an immediate source of sworn officers because hiring age and certification timelines differ.
The commission recorded the approvals and then closed the meeting until January.
