employment

The North Coventry Police Department requires all police applicants to be a high school graduate or have obtained a G.E.D. Applicants are also required to have obtained or to be in the process of obtaining their Police Academy Certification. Upon the acceptance of an application, candidates must successfully pass a physical agility test that includes a 1.5 mile run, push-ups, sit-ups, bench press, and completion of a 300 meter run in a time of 69.1 seconds or less.

After successful completion of the physical agility test, applicants are given a written examination and must successfully complete a polygraph test. The top candidates are then interviewed by an oral interview board, which generally consists of the Chief of Police, a Sergeant and a Corporal. Once a candidate is given a preliminary offer of employment, they are required to submit to both physical and psychological testing, as well as drug and alcohol screenings. Candidates are also required to undergo an extensive background investigation which includes a check of school records, driving record, criminal history, former and current employment checks, credit history, interviews with the candidates family, current and former neighbors, and reference checks.

The Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Law, ACT 120 of 1974, requires municipal police officers, defined by the law, to have a current certification prior to enforcing the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, moving violations of the Vehicle Code, and carrying a firearm.  The Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission (MPOETC) requires all municipal police officers to attend a certified police academy in order to obtain their ACT 80 Certification.  Currently, police candidates are required to attend training, which is in excess of 700 hours. The basic requirements for ACT 120 admission are as follows:

• Be 18 years of age
  
• Possess a high school diploma or G.E.D. Equivalency
  
• Be a United States Citizen
  
• Be free from convictions of disqualifying criminal offenses
  
• Successfully complete a medical examination conducted by a Pennsylvania licensed physician
  
• Successfully complete a mandatory psychological test
  
• Successfully complete a physical agility test
  
• Successfully complete a criminal history check

Individual police academies may have prerequisites for acceptance. The core curriculum of ACT 120 training includes an introduction to Pennsylvania Law Enforcement, Physical and Emotional Readiness, Laws and Procedures, Defensive Tactics, Motor Vehicle Law Enforcement, Motor Vehicle Collision Investigation, Patrol Procedures and Operations, Criminal Investigation, Human Relations, Crisis Management, Basic Firearms Training, Operation of Patrol Vehicles, Report Writing, Case Preparation, First Aid/CPR, and Handling Arrested Persons.  There are three local regional certified police academies:

• Montgomery County Municipal Police Academy (Montgomery County Community College www.mc3.edu)
• Reading Police Academy (www.cityofreading.com)
• Delaware County Police Academy (Delaware County Community College www.dccc.edu)

The Montgomery County Municipal Police Academy, which is based at the Montgomery County Fire Academy in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, requires candidates to complete 772 hours of training. The Reading Police Academy is currently located on the campus of Alvernia College in Reading, Pennsylvania. Delaware County Police Academy is located within the campus of Delaware County Community College in Broomall, Pennsylvania, and requires candidates to attend 752 hours of training.
For further information on admission requirements, you may contact the above academies on the Internet links provided. 

Once an officer has completed the ACT 120 program and is hired by a police department, he/she is required to undergo sixteen hours of mandatory in-service training per year for recertification.This training is called ACT 180. 

Each North Coventry Police Officer is offered medical benefits, which include an eyeglass and prescription plan with a member co-pay. Each new hire is required to complete a training period with a field-training officer, which usually lasts three months. Each new hire is also required to complete a one-year probationary period.