NCJ Number
199744
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 72 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2003 Pages: 18-20
Date Published
March 2003
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article reports on the recruitment efforts undertaken by the Fulton, NY, Police Department.
Abstract
Prior to 2000, the Fulton Police Department did not have a serious recruitment campaign in place. As a result, although most applicants passed the written examination, only a small percentage were able to pass the physical agility test, which consisted of a flexibility test, push-ups, sit-ups, and a 1.5-mile run. To rectify the problem of a short candidate list, the department embarked on an aggressive recruitment campaign during 2000 that featured posters, press releases, and most notably, a television advertisement that garnered widespread attention. In addition, in order to boost the possibility of passing the physical agility test, the police department showed applicants the requirements of the physical agility test when they took the written examination. Candidates who passed the written examination received the physical fitness standards again a few weeks prior to the physical agility test. As a result of their efforts in recruitment, 71 percent of all applicants to the police department passed both the written examination and the physical agility test, boosting the number of qualified candidates and saving the police department both the time and money required to screen applicants.