The Springfield Police Department has expanded the minimum qualifications to allow more people to apply to become law enforcement officers.
New qualifications are:
- Two years of experience as a 911 dispatcher and/or telecommunicator or
- Three years of full-time successful ownership and management of a business within the last five years or
- Three years of full-time employment in the last five years providing paraprofessional work experience to the public in social services, health care services and/or education or
- Three years of full-time employment working in the professional trade industry within the last five years or
- Two years of experience as a Traffic Service Officer or
- Three years of full-time employment as a correctional or detention officer within the last five years or
- Three years of full-time employment as a licensed professional security or private security contractor within the last five years or
- Three years of full-time employment working in the professional trade industry within the last five years or
- Three years of full-time employment in the last five years providing paraprofessional work experience to the public or community in one of the following fields: social services, health care services, and/or education
Existing minimum qualifications are:
- 30 semester hours from an accredited college or university or
- Class A POST certified peace officer or currently enrolled in a Class A POST program with successful passing of POST exam within six months of application deadline or
- Two years of experience as a Police Service Representative or
- Two years of active-duty military service with an honorable discharge or
- Four years of honorable military service in national guard or armed forces reserves
In addition to either a high school diploma or a GED, those applying to be a police officer must have at least one of those qualifications.
Springfield Police Chief Paul Williams said in a press release, "adding additional experiences to the list of qualifications opens up the applicant pool for those hoping to begin a career as a police officer."
Recruitment for the 79th academy, set to begin in September, is ongoing. For more information, visit gospd.com.
