DISQUALIFIERS
AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFIERS
CRIMINAL HISTORY
- Any felony conviction
- Any conviction for a crime for which the punishment could have been more than two years
- Conviction of one or more crimes or unlawful acts defined as Class B misdemeanors within the preceding five years
- Conviction of two or more crimes or unlawful acts defined as Class A misdemeanors within the preceding five years
TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS
- Having a driver's license suspended or revoked in the three years before making an application or at any time after the date of application; entering a plea of no contest, being convicted, or receiving a prayer for judgment continued for a traffic offense which may result in the suspension or revocation of driving privileges
- A DUI or DWI conviction within the past 10 years
- Two or more accidents in which the applicant was charged and convicted within the preceding three years
- Three or more convictions of moving violations or the accumulation of eight points using the North Carolina point system within the preceding three years, OR four or more convictions of moving violations within the preceding five years, OR five or more convictions of moving violations within the preceding seven years
DRUGS
- Any involvement in the sale of illegal drugs
- Prior drug usage is evaluated for the extent of the use and how recent the use has been
CREDIT
- Demonstrated history of financial irresponsibility
OTHER
- Dishonorable discharge from any military service (less-than-honorable discharge will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis)
- Untruthfulness or the intentional withholding of information on any application, interview, or paperwork associated with the position
- Deliberate inaccuracies or incomplete statements
- Cheating on any examination or testing associated with the position
EMPLOYMENT PROCESS
1. APPLICATION MATERIAL
When a position vacancy occurs, the UNC-CH DPS will make an announcement using
the Universities human resources website and the departments website. Application
materials can be found on the universities human resource department website at
http://hr.unc.edu, or by calling the university human resources department at
(919) 962-2991. Application materials must be submitted by deadlines specified in
vacancy announcements. Failure to submit all documents by dates and times
indicated may result in removal from the application process.
Interest card information will be maintained on file until the next position vacancy
is announced or six months, whichever comes first. Persons will be contacted
electronically (e-mail) or by U.S. Postal Service unless otherwise specified.
Interested applicants are responsible for keeping The University of Chapel Hill at
Chapel Hill, Human Resource Department abreast of any changes in contact
information. (addresses, phone numbers, email, etc.)
Interested applicants are also encouraged to visit The University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill Human resources website or the departments website
(http://www.dps.unc.edu/dps/) regularly or call Cindy Reardon at (919) 962-5052 to
learn more about position vacancy announcements.
2. APPLICATION SCREENING PROCESS
UNC-CH Department of Public Safety Human Resources does a preliminary
background check prior to forwarding the applications on to the Director of Public
Safety and Lt. Col. for review
3. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION
Professional business attire is required for this interview. Applicants will be
contacted by Detective Division Personnel to schedule an appointment for a one on
one interview and to begin processing the applicants application. The applicant
must bring the NC Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission
F-3 Personal History Statement when they meet with a Detective. This form is
available for download on UNC-CH DPS website. A detailed ten-year
work history must be outlined in the F-3 without any time lapses. Failure to disclose
relevant information will likely result in your disqualification from the hiring process.
The applicant should also bring the following documents to their scheduled
appointment. Failure to bring these documents would delay the processing of your
application or preclude you from moving further in the process.
- Copy of a birth certificate or certificate of naturalization
- Copy of high school diploma or certified copy of transcript, or GED and college transcript if applicable
- Copy of military discharge papers, if applicable
- Copy of Social Security Card
- Certified copy of warrants for arrest, criminal summons or any and all traffic offenses, in which the applicant has been charged
- Copies of all law enforcement certificates including BLET
- Valid driver’s license
The applicant will be fingerprinted and photographed and required to provide a
writing sample, which will consist of 1 to 2 page biography of themselves outlining
personal history and detailing why they are interested in working for the UNC-CH
Department of Public Safety.
A background interview will be conducted by the detective with the applicant at
this time. The interview will consist of state mandated background questions. The
applicant will then be asked to complete a Release of Information Form, which will be
notarized by department if not notarized prior to coming in for this interview.
The applicant will also complete an online background summary sheet called the PHQ
(Personal History Questionnaire) for LESI and other tests as deemed necessary.
Following the initial interview, the applicant’s file will be returned to the Deputy
Chief for further review and consultation with the Chief of Police with the potential to
be reviewed by a designated committee. Applicants are selected for further
background investigations based on overall qualifications and the needs of the
departments.
During the background investigation the investigator is going to be interviewing
references provided and past employers. It is the investigator’s goal to determine
if the candidate would be a good fit for this department and to verify the candidate’s
qualifying credentials.
4. FINAL INTERVIEW
Professional business attire is required for this interview. DPS-HR will notify
applicants selected for the final interview by telephone. Applicant will be scored on
several predetermined elements during the interview. Upon completion of the final
interview, selected candidates will be given a conditional offer from DPS-HR. This
offer will be conditional and subject to the candidate’s medical, psychological, drug
testing and polygraph exam.
Candidates not selected for hiring will be informed in writing within 30 days of such a
decision by the Department of Public Safety.
5. MEDICAL EXAM, PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAM, DRUG TESTING & POLYGRAPH TESTING
A medical exam, psychological exam, polygraph test, and drug test must be
successfully completed in a timely fashion. These exams are scheduled and paid for
by the Department of Public Safety. Final hiring decisions will be made after the
receipt of the results from physical examinations and psychological examinations.
6. TRAINING
While in training, recruits will not be allowed to engage in any off-duty employment.
Each phase of the application process requires departmental approval and the applicant will be notified upon approval.
APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS
- Must be 20 years of age
- No maximum age restriction
- High school graduate or equivalent
- United States citizen
- Must be of good character and moral background
- Valid NC Driver’s License or ability to obtain one
- Have corrected vision of 20/20 – Applicant can not be colorblind
- Ability to wear a gas mask and work in confined spaces when needed
- Ability to work a rotating schedule of days and nights – 48 hours first week & 36 hours second week
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively orally and in written form
- Customer Service oriented when dealing with the general public
- Act in a professional manner when dealing with representatives from the criminal justice system
- Preferred, but not necessary a candidate that has as Associate’s Degree or higher from an accredited community college or university.
- Firearms pre-qualifications (must score at least 80%)
* Prior to employment candidates are required to undergo a physical, psychological,
drug, and polygraph testing, along with a thorough background evaluation to include
driver’s history and criminal history with no felony convictions.
* Out-of-State transfer applicants must have at least two years of full-time law
enforcement experience and cannot have a break in service exceeding six months.
* All applicants must meet standards for certification as a police officer set by the
North Carolina Training and Standards Commission.
VARIOUS CERTIFICATIONS CONSIDERED
NC Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) with university experience
- NC Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET)
(County, municipality, special police, etc.)
- In the process of becoming BLET and has never worked anywhere
- Out of state certified with university experience
- Out of state certified
- Non-certified Individuals
NON-CERTIFIED/OUT OF STATE TRANSFERS-TRAINING
- Complete entire Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) if hired without certification
- If from out of state, completion of the 96 hour NC legal block within one year of hiring date is required in order to obtain NC Certification as long as out of state certification transfers.
- Most state certifications are transferable
FIELD TRAINING
A new officer is trained in department policies and procedures and other areas unique to The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The field training period will allow the new officer to apply the principles and procedures to the actual situations on campus. Officers will be rotated among assignments to include, but not be limited to, routine patrol, traffic enforcement, report writing, radio communication, traffic direction, etc.
- Upon completion of the University’s orientation and the completion of the department’s three week orientation, the officer is then sworn in by the Chief
- The officer will then complete a 12 week program with a field training officer (FTO) during the probationary period
- A probationary period must be completed by public safety officers.
