The Hyattsville City Police Department accepts applications for the position of Police Officer on a continual basis, although they are not reviewed unless there is an active Job Announcement in progress.  Applications will remain on file for one year, however applications received after a Job Announcement Closing Date, will not be processed until the next application process begins.

  Opening(s) Status: Job Announcement #16-001 (Police Officer / Entry Level)

The process for employment as a Police Officer for the City of Hyattsville is listed below.  Please note that the steps are progressive, and applicants must pass each one in order to progress to the next step:

1. Initial City Employment Application.  Each applicant must complete the City of Hyattsville general employment application and return it by mail.
    If positions are available, you will be notified by the Background Investigator of the next step.  Click here to download the Employment Application in
    PDF format.

2. Written Test.  All applicants must successfully pass a general knowledge written exam, and each applicant will be notified by mail with the date, time,
    and location of the of the test.  The information contained in the exam is information you should already know, and does not contain any questions that
    would require any specialized training or education.  Applicants with advanced education, including the police academy, are urged to keep this in mind,
    and not to read too much into each question.  For those that are interested, there is a study guide and/or a practice test available online at a nominal
    fee.  To access the Study Guide and/or the Practice Test, click here.  For additional test taking "tips" click here.

3. Physical Agility Test.  Each applicant must successfully complete an agility test designed to measure endurance and the ability to perform the physical
    demands of a police officer.  The requirements of the physical agility test along with the required medical release can be downloaded by clicking here.

4. Background Investigation.  Each applicant must pass a thorough background investigation, which includes the completion of a detailed Personal
    History Statement (Blue Book).  During the background examination, the Investigator will talk to the applicant's past employers, neighbors, personal
    references, and may request additional documents such as military discharge papers, school transcripts, training certificates, etc.

5. Oral Review Board.  Each applicant will sit before a panel of three sworn members of the department and answer questions to the best of his/her
    ability.  The questions are focused on giving the applicant an opportunity to expound why he or she wants to be a police officer, what the
    applicant's strongest (and/or weakest) qualities are, how the applicant would handle him/herself in certain situations, etc.

6. Polygraph Examination.  Each applicant must pass a polygraph (truth verification) examination, as required by the Maryland Police and Correctional
    Training Commission.

7. Psychological Examination.  Testing consists of a comprehensive battery of psychological tests (including written and verbal tests of judgement),
    followed by an intensive personal interview by a licensed psychologist.

8. Physical Examination.  Each applicant must pass a complete and thorough examination at a licensed medical facility, to determine if the applicant is
    physically fit for duty.  The examination will also include a urine test (urinalysis) to detect the presence or usage of certain types of narcotic substances.

 * Please note that successful completion of the above steps does not guarantee employment, as there may be multiple applicants for a limited number
   of positions.