Police officers take on dangerous and challenging duties every day. Most moments in an officer’s life are full of surprises.

They need hard and soft skills, physical stamina, and experience to work in crime sciences, investigate difficult cases, or question criminals. The job requires unique skills, and to test the candidate, civil service exams take place approximately every 4-5 years.

Getting a police officer’s job is not a doddle; it follows strict selection criteria and stages before onboarding. The exam is taken in multiple stages, including a written exam, a physical exam, and an interview. It’s necessary to qualify for all stages to become a police officer officially.

Apart from testing, the police department of NYC values morals and ethics over anything else. They are responsible for the safety of millions of people, so they look for a candidate who can hold up to that reputation.

Since a huge part of the police officer’s job is correcting other people, their criminal background must be spot-free. The police department runs background checks on candidates to ensure they are hiring the right person.

If you wish to prepare for the Suffolk police exam, contact Civil Service Success and start preparing right away.

This post will tell you what you can expect during the background investigation for the NYPD job.

Areas Covered In A Police Background Investigation

Here is a list of areas that the police department checks to hire a candidate as a police officer.

· Education

The police department will verify the educational information in your application. They can obtain your transcripts from college, high school, or university.

There’s also a chance they consult your professors and teachers to learn about your character. They will also look into disciplinary actions against you to see if you were engaged in any questionable activities.

· Criminal Record

It’s by far the most important part of a background check. A felony conviction against you can make the whole hiring process a little difficult for you. Some disqualifying felonies include domestic violence, speeding tickets, gambling, and others.

You will be immediately removed from the shortlisted candidates’ list if any misdemeanor is found during the background check. It’s recommended to confess to a crime unnoticed by law enforcement agencies. Lying about it will only shrink your chances of becoming a police officer.

· Employment History

The police also look into your employment history and contact previous employers to get information about your reputation and why you left the company.

You would have slim chances of getting into law enforcement if your previous employer fired you. On the other hand, a positive referral will add stars to your job application.

· Friends and Family

Don’t be surprised when a police officer walks up to your door to talk with your family members. It’s a regular procedure where they assess the kind of person you are. They might dig into your personal information, question your friends, or even visit your birthplace. They also interview ex-spouses if they were divorced in the last ten years.

It will be a thorough check, so let people speak the truth about you. Don’t ask your friends or family members to lie on your behalf because it will be caught one way or another.

· Drug Use

Drug use is a strict no-no for a law enforcement job. It’s reason enough to get you disqualified for the position even if you have cleared all stages of the job.

The police department will check how long you used drugs, what kind of drugs you used, and how much you used them. You might get through if it was marijuana, but certainly not for hallucinogens, modern drugs, or cocaine.

· Credit History

Lastly, the police department will check your credit history to verify your financial condition. They will check for any debts, signs of bribery, or any outstanding financial obligations.

All of this combined can disqualify you for the job, so it’s best to get your finances checked before applying for the police officer’s job.

How Long Does the Background Check Take?

Becoming a police officer is a long process, and you’re required to sit tight before the final verdict comes in.

The background check can take up to 12 months or more by federal law enforcement agencies. It also includes the time to get security clearance for the candidate so that they can access classified information. It’s a lengthy and complicated process, so you must remain patient and hope for the best during the waiting phase.

Preparing for the Suffolk Police Exam? Let Subject-Matter Experts at Civil Service Success Train You!

The post only tells you about the background check, but a lot goes into becoming a police officer. For starters, the written exam tests the hard and soft skills of the candidate; the physical exam tests their strength and stamina; and lastly, the interview checks the psychological capability of the applicant.

All these tests combined can create the fear of failing in anyone’s mind, but worry no more. Civil Service Success is a leading institution preparing and training students like you for civil exams to take up federal jobs. We offer workshops, training material, and 24/7 support to students to clear the upcoming Suffolk police exam, among other civil services exams.

Today, many of our students enjoy the perks and benefits of federal jobs, achieved with the Civil Service Success’s help. We have an in-house team of ex-police officers, ex-sanitation workers, ex-court officers, and ex-firefighters to fill you with industry insights.

We will lift your morale and train your mind to answer tricky questions in the exam. Who is better at teaching students about a subject other than someone who gave their whole life to it?

Don’t make the mistake of studying alone and take an expert’s help to achieve your goals. Civil Service Success offers preparation classes for the upcoming Suffolk police exams, so don’t forget to register.

Feel free to get in touch with us to discuss federal exams in more detail!