Recruitment & Hiring Plan

We are committed to hiring talented officer and to creating a department whose demographics reflect the Shaker Heights community. This is a priority for the department and the Civil Service Commission, which oversees the hiring and promotion process. (Click here if you are interested in applying to our department.)

Recruitment Plan

Objectives:

  • To maintain actual sworn officer strength as close as possible to authorized budgeted strength by having an eligible list of applicants.
  • To actively recruit the best available candidates for actual and forecasted vacancies in the department.
  • To actively recruit women and minority candidates who are underrepresented in the department.
  • To actively represent the department as an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Highlights of Recruiting and Hiring Process:

  • Police hiring and promotion is handled by a diverse, three-person Civil Service Commission appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by City Council.
  • In 2017, the City implemented a new candidate testing and ranking procedure that reflects current research showing that this process is proven to have a less adverse impact on minorities.
  • SHPD is one of a limited number of police agencies in Ohio that invites residents to participate in the Civil Service testing and ranking phase of the hiring process. This test structure screens for emotional intelligence and maturity, judgement and critical thinking unlike a traditional written exam that only tests for cognitive ability.
  • Recruitment teams always include African American and female officers.
  • Structured interview panels are made up of residents and Shaker Heights Police Officers. The community is actively involved in the hiring process.
  • Panelists from the community are diverse in age, race and neighborhood.
  • Extensive efforts to attract underrepresented populations and women candidates are undertaken for each round of hiring.
  • Rigorous pre-hire testing includes polygraph, background check, psychological testing, physical and drug and nicotine testing.

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