Selection Process

Written Examination

The pre-employment written examination will measure cognitive abilities that are necessary for effective performance as a police officer. The cognitive section includes problem-solving, reading comprehension, mathematics and writing ability. A Study Guide will be sent, by the City of Lincoln Human Resources Department, approximately 2 weeks prior to the test. Only those applicants who achieve a passing score of at least 68% will move on to the Physical Fitness Ability Test, which will be conducted the same day.

The Lincoln Police Personal History Statement must be completed prior to testing. It will be collected upon successful completion of the written exam. Failure to submit the Personal History Statement will result in disqualification. The required documents (such as transcripts, marriage licenses, etc.) will not be needed until the oral interview.

Physical Fitness Ability Test

vertical jump

one minute push-ups

300 meter sprint

one minute sit-ups

1.5 mile run

Male Standards Female Standards 20 - 29

years 30 - 39

years 40 - 49

years 50 - 59

years 20 - 29

years 30 - 39

years 40 - 49

years 50 - 59

years vertical jump 18" 18" 14.5" 13" 13.5" 11.1" 9" n/a one minute push-ups 26 20 15 10 13 9 7 n/a 300 meter sprint 62 sec 63 sec 77 sec 87 sec 75 sec 82 sec 106 sec n/a one minute sit-ups 35 32 27 21 30 22 17 12 1.5 mile run 13:08 13:48 14:33 16:16 15:56 16:46 18:26 20:17

The entire process, both written and physical testing, lasts approximately six hours on each testing date.



Interview

Candidates who attain a passing score on the written examination will advance to the physical fitness ability testing that afternoon. Applicants must meet a minimum score of at least a 30% average over all physical ability events. More information on scoring can be found on Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center's website. The physical test consists of five events:

Candidates who successfully complete the written exam and physical ability test will be scheduled for an oral interview. This interview covers all aspects of the person's life, including education, work history, military experience, drug and alcohol use, traffic record, arrests, litigation, financial history, family history, references, and history of bias or discrimination. Lincoln Police Department's academy is certified through the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center. We follow the same general admission requirements and certification standards when reviewing applicants.

Further Evaluation

The most qualified candidates are then given conditional offers of employment. These offers are conditional as the applicants must still successfully complete a four-hour psychological examination and a three-hour polygraph examination. The psychological evaluation is extremely detailed and examines the candidate for any indications of biased or discriminatory beliefs. Included in the evaluation are the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI), Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), the Neo Personality Inventory, and the Mental Status Exam Screening Inventory. This is all followed by a one on one interview with a trained psychologist. The applicants must also complete a medical examination with drug test and the Test of Adult Education (TABE). The TABE is a two-hour test of the applicant's reading comprehension and language skills.

During this entire process, the background investigators are scrutinizing the candidate's past, searching law enforcement databases, government databases, social media, credit reporting agencies, checking references, and contacting people who may have had past contact with the applicant to ensure the applicant has been truthful throughout the process.

If the candidate passes all of the evaluations and their background investigation, the candidate will be placed on a ranking list which will be used to determine who will receive the final offer to begin the LPD basic law enforcement academy.

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