Police Department Employment
To find out how to start the process of becoming a Milton Police Officer, see below. Click the following link, to visit the Human Resources page and view current job postings: Human Resources
Automatic Disqualifiers:
Criminal Record and Activity
Any felony conviction is an automatic disqualification.
Any criminal activity that would be considered a felony under federal law of the state in which the activity occurred is a disqualification.
Traffic Violations
A DUI conviction within 5 years, or a suspension or revocation within 3 years, is an automatic disqualification. A history of traffic violations, or an accumulation of six (6) or more points, is an automatic disqualification.
Drugs
- Use of an illegal drug two years prior to application, or at any time usage of a hallucinogenic drug, will be an automatic disqualification.
Others
- Dishonorable discharge from any military service.
- Untruthfulness and/or intentional withholding of information on any application, interview, or paperwork associated with the position. Examples of intentional withholding of information would include deliberate inaccuracies or incomplete statements.
- Cheating on any examination or testing associated with the position.
Note: This is not intended to be an exhaustive listing of background disqualifiers. Applicants who are successful in the initial testing will undergo a thorough background investigation, including voice stress analyzer / polygraph examination. Areas of concern will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis within the context of the full investigation / review.
Do I Qualify to be a Police Officer?
Before submitting an application, applicants must meet the following requirements:
Citizenship
Applicant must be a United States citizen.
Age
Applicants must reach their 21st birthday prior to completion of the Academy training, and must not be older than 39 on the first day of the Academy.
Education
While high school graduation (or possession of a GED) is stated as a minimum education requirement, most of our successful recruits have had some college. Typically, about half of the recruits selected for an academy class possess an Associates degree. Those who do not possess college level education usually have military or other related work experience.
Residence
No requirement at time of application, however Delaware residency (you must live within 25 miles from the Town of Milton limits) is required at the completion of the academy training.
Driver’s License
Applicant must have a current valid driver’s license and at least one (1) year of driving experience. A DUI conviction within 5 years, or a suspension or revocation within 3 years, is an automatic disqualification. A negative history of traffic violations, or an accumulation of six (6) or more points, is an automatic disqualification.
Criminal Record and Activity
Any felony conviction is an automatic disqualification. Any criminal activity that would be considered a felony under federal law of the state in which the activity occurred is a disqualification. Arrests for any offense must be expunged, and conviction of any offense must be pardoned, prior to submitting an application. (Arrest or conviction for all other crimes and offenses are subject to evaluation.)
Drug Usage
Use of an illegal drug two years prior to application, or at any time usage of a hallucinogenic drug, will be an automatic disqualification. All other drug usage is subject to review.
Weight*
Weight must be in compliance with the Council on Police Training weight chart or maximum allowed body fat percentage.
Hearing*
Normal hearing.
Vision*
Visual acuity can be no worse than 20/40 in each eye, uncorrected, and must be correctable to 20/20 with glasses or gas permeable contacts; or, 20/100 in each eye uncorrected and must be correctable to 20/20 with soft contacts lens only. Normal color vision and normal depth perception.
*(Following an offer of employment, the selected applicants will be examined by the Division’s heath providers for compliance with the above requirements, and will be given a complete medical examination to determine if the applicant is able to perform essential job functions.)
What Can I Do to Prepare Myself?
- Enroll in criminal justice courses at your local community college.
- Contact the department to do a Ride-Along
- Stay fit. Engage in aerobic and strength training activities. Stretch for greater flexibility.
- Check your driving history at your local DMV to ensure you do not have more than 6 negative points on your record.
- Request a copy of your credit history from Equifax, Inc. (1-800-685-1111), Experian (1-800-682-7654 or 1-800-392-1122) or Trans Union (316-636-6100) to ensure that your financial information is correct. Correct any errors.
- You will be asked to provide several personal documents. Begin locating them now. They are:
- Birth Certificate
- Social Security Card
- High School Diploma
- College Transcripts (if applicable)
- Military Discharge Form DD-214 (if applicable)
Job Elements
To perform the duties of a Milton Police Officer, an applicant must demonstrate good judgment, thoroughness, conscientiousness, common sense, motivation, and enthusiasm for the job. Officers must be dependable and willing to get involved in order to help deal with the problems of today’s society. Officers must be able to assume responsibility, make decisions often under pressure, work without supervision, follow orders, function in physical danger, act under pressure, communicate well, and combine physical and mental resources.
Duties and Responsibilities
A Milton Police Officer performs the following duties of patrol, investigation, maintenance activities, and special assignments:
- Patrol duties involve directing traffic; assisting lost, stranded or disabled motorist; approaching motorist on routine or non-routine violations; making arrests; controlling crowds; and supporting other officers in stressful situations. Other patrol duties involve inspecting and safeguarding property, responding to bank alarms, chasing violators on foot, checking buildings at night for burglaries. Investigative duties include interviewing complainants and witnesses; aiding injured people; handling fatal accidents and crime scenes; responding to complaints involving vicious animals; using deadly force; interrogating suspects; and executing search and arrest warrants.
- Officers must maintain a good personal appearance and physical condition. Officers are tested on a regular basis throughout their career to ensure they maintain sufficient aerobic capacity, muscular strength, muscular endurance, coordination, flexibility, percentage of body fat, and sufficient levels of neurological senses to safety and effectively perform job functions. Other responsibilities include proper care of division equipment, uniforms, and vehicles; and maintaining a clean and orderly department.
- Assignments are varied and may include securing major disaster areas, participating in community and public relations programs, escorting dignitaries, conducting speeches or lectures, training recruits and or counseling youth. Manpower scheduling includes working weekends, holidays, overtime, and inclement weather. Assignments may be physically demanding including shift work. Patrol officers normally work a twelve (12) hour rotating shift, working a maximum of three (3) consecutive days. Officers are frequently required to either substantially delay or forego regular meals.
The duties of an officer may become unpredictably hazardous and require acute use of senses to discern various stimuli of danger. Officers typically operate alone and backup assistance is frequently not immediately available. Officers are often required without preparation to run long distances, traverse rough terrain quickly, climb obstacles, remove injured of unconscious people from harms way, engage in physical confrontations using offensive and defensive tactics to subdue combative individuals, and to effect a forceful arrest.
This description is illustrative only and is not intended to represent the actual job description or imply that all duties are required knowledge, skill and abilities are listed.
Application for Employment
Visit the Human Resources page to view current job postings and download the application: Human Resources
Selection Process
1. Physical Fitness Test
- Assessment Information & Authorization Form
- Minimum Requirements (different age brackets)
- Body Fat Percentage
2. Written Examination
3. Oral Board Interview
4. Voice Stress Analyzer Examination
- What is a Voice Stress Analyzer Examination? The CVSA, a computerized voice-recording instrument, aids in determining the truthfulness of individuals by measuring a person’s voice modulations. Stress causes voice modulations to decrease, indicating untruthfulness. The CVSA detects, measures, and charts the stress in a persons voice following a pre-formatted questionnaire.
5. Background Investigation
6. Conditional Offer of Employment
7. Medical Background
8. Psychological Examination
9. Academy