Police seeking to hire officers

The Painesville Police are currently seeking to hire two officers to join their department.

The position is open to the public but limited to the first 100 applicants. There are several requirements potential applicants must meet, including possession of a valid driver’s license, high school diploma or GED, and an Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy Certificate.

They must also be a U.S. citizen between the ages of 21 and 35 and be able to pass a physical agility test and a written exam.

The physical agility requirements demand male applicants under the age of 30 to run one and half miles in under 14 minutes and perform 35 sit-ups and 26 push-ups in under a minute. Female applicants under the age of 30 are expected to run a mile and a half in just under 16 minutes and perform 30 sit-ups and 13 push-ups in under a minute. The requirements are slightly less for applicants over the age of 30 for both males and females.

Police Chief Dan Waterman will then take the top 10 applicants who achieved the highest results in both the written exam and the physical agility tests to determine the department’s best fit.

“We want diversity,” he stressed. “We’ve been actively seeking officers that look like the community. We are understaffed regarding those who can speak fluent Spanish and those who are Spanish. We would love to add another officer like that.”

Despite demographic concerns, Waterman is quick to note that only those who first excel in the written exam and physical agility tests will be considered regardless of race or nationality. Successful applicants who are offered a position within the department will begin as patrol officers.

“We want them in patrol because that’s the most contact with the public, especially with a candidate that would reflect the community. We want them in the public, meeting with people and not hidden in an office.” Waterman said in an interview.

Open applications are available at the Painesville City Hall front desk and will be accepted until Feb. 22. Subsequent physical agility tests and written exams will be conducted on March 2 at Lakeland Community College’s Athletic and Fitness Center and Harvey High School, respectively.