Residence Requirements:

THIS EXAMINATION IS OPEN TO ALL QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES OF ERIE COUNTY TOWN AND VILLAGE POLICE DEPARTMENTS (EXCEPT CHEEKTOWAGA). There is one future vacancy in the Town of Amherst and the annual salary is $95,228.  *Salaries at other municipalities or agencies may vary.  The eligible list resulting from this examination will be used to fill future vacancies and will have a maximum duration of two years. As a condition of receiving a permanent appointment to the position of Police Captain, a police officer must satisfactorily complete the prescribed Course in Police Supervision and be awarded a certificate of satisfactory completion by the Executive Director of the Municipal Police Training Council within one year of appointment.

The eligible list resulting from this examination will not supersede currently existing promotional eligible lists for this title, if any.

Examples of Duties:

A Police Captain (Second Line Supervisor) supervises the work of Police Lieutenants, Police Officers and Detectives;

Assigns tasks to subordinates and reviews operations;

Prepares and submits reports to the Police Chief as scheduled or directed;

Directs raids and makes arrests;

Directs police activities at riots, serious crimes, fires or unusual disorders;

Investigates crimes where unusual and difficult law enforcement problems are likely to occur;

Investigates complaints regarding the activities of the police department;

Supplies recommendations to the Police Chief for improvements in the service;

Acts as an administrative aide to the Police Chief and directs the department during absence of the Chief.

Qualifications:

QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE FOR TAKING THE TEST:

Candidates must be permanently employed in the competitive class and must be serving and have served continuously on a permanent or contingent permanent basis in the competitive class for 24 months immediately preceding the date of the written test as a Police Lieutenant or Desk Lieutenant.

Notes:

None.

A Guide for the Written Test for Second- and Third-Line Police Supervisors is available at the New York State website: https://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm . Candidates not having access to a computer or the internet may request copy of the test guide from the municipal civil service office conducting this examination using the contact information found elsewhere on this announcement.

Subjects of Examination:

SUBJECTS OF EXAMINATION: A written test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills and /or abilities in the following areas:

1. Law enforcement methods and practices

These questions test for knowledge of accepted police methods and practices and/or their application to situations in the police field. The questions are a sampling of the various knowledge that police personnel may be required to possess in the course of their day-to-day work-related activities.

2. New York State Laws

These questions test for knowledge of the laws in effect on January 1, 2018 that law enforcement personnel may encounter in the course of their day-to-day work-related activities. The questions are a sampling of job-related sections of the Penal Law, Criminal Procedure Law, Vehicle and Traffic Law, Family Court Act and other laws relevant to law enforcement in New York State.

3. Planning, supervising and administering police programs and activities

These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices involved in managing an organizational segment of a police department in New York State and directing the activities of subordinate staff, including subordinate supervisors. These questions cover such areas as planning, controlling, directing, organizing, and coordinating the activities of the organizational section. Questions also cover the personal interactions between an upper-level supervisor and subordinate supervisors in the accomplishment of objectives and deal with issues of work assignments, job performance, and training.

4. Understanding and interpreting written material

These questions test how well you comprehend written material. You will be provided with brief reading selections and will be asked questions about the selections. All the information required to answer the questions will be presented in the selections; you will not be required to have any special knowledge relating to the subject areas of the selections.

5. Preparing written material in a police setting

These questions test for the ability to prepare the types of reports that police personnel write. Some questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately. They consist of restatements of information given in note form. You must choose the best version from each set of four choices. Other questions test for the ability to organize paragraphs. They consist of paragraphs with their sentences out of order. For each of the paragraphs you must choose, from four suggestions, the best order of the sentences.

P. E. R. C. Statement

The final rating key for this examination will be established by the State Civil Service Commission prior to the testing date, upon recommendation of a committee of police experts who will review all the questions for appropriateness and accuracy. There will be no review of the questions by candidates. The committee was selected with the assistance and endorsement of the Police Conference of New York, Inc., the New York State Association of PBAs, Inc., and the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police, Inc. 

INFORMATION FOR PROMOTION CANDIDATES

Unless otherwise indicated, the eligible list resulting from this examination will have a duration of four years and will not supersede existing promotional lists, if any.

RATINGS REQUIRED:  Test is rated on a scale of 100 with a passing mark at 70.  Test instructions may further divide the tests into parts and set minimum standards for each part.

Points will be added to scores of candidates who achieve a passing mark as follows: Seniority:  For each year of service in the classified service:

Less than 1 year……………………..................…0 points

1 year up to 6 years…………….…........................1 point

Over 6 years up to 11 years.....………......….........2 points

Over 11 years up to 16 years….…........….........…3 points

Over 16 years up to 21 years………..................…4 points

Over 21 years………………………..................…5 points

VETERANS:  Disabled and non-disabled veterans as defined in Section 85, New York State Civil Service Law, will have 5 and 2.5 points, respectively added to their earned scores if successful in the examination.  You must claim these credits when you file application but you have an option to waive them any time prior to appointment.  If you have already used these credits for a permanent position in NYS, you may not claim them again.

**IMPORTANT APPLICATION FEE - READ CAREFULLY**

A $30.00 filing fee is required for this exam. The required fee must accompany your application. Send or bring check or money order made payable to Erie County Personnel Department and write the examination number(s) on your check or money order. Do not send or bring cash, as the County cannot be responsible for cash payment. As no refund will be made, you are urged to compare your qualifications carefully with the requirements for admission and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified.