BECKLEY — The Beckley Police Civil Service Commission will give an entry level probationary police officer test March 3 at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center.

Applications are available now at City Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Applications can also be downloaded from the Beckley Police website at www.beckleypd.com.

Applications must be received by the end of business Feb. 17.

To qualify to become an officer of the law, one must complete the application and be 18 to 40 years old; have a high school diploma or GED; pass a written exam; pass a physical agility test; pass a polygraph and background test; pass the interview board; and pass a medical exam, drug and psychological screening, Chief Tim Deems explained.

Study guides are available at City Hall for $12 apiece. The test consists of multiple-choice questions. Participants scores will then be ranked from the highest to lowest, he said, adding that the civil service test is good for three years.

To pass the physical agility test, one must be able to perform 18 push-ups in one minute, 27 sit-ups in one minute, and run 1.5 miles within 15 minutes and 20 seconds.

Beckley Police officers are entrusted with responsibility to keep the city safe from crime. Therefore, a history of ethical and moral behavior is important, Deems explained.

Applicants are subjected to an intensive background evaluation, which will include past behavior and the choices you have made must demonstrate positive traits that will support your candidacy for police officer and reflect favorably on your character; you must have a history of lawful conduct; you must possess high standards of honesty and integrity as demonstrated by your dealings with individuals and organizations — falsifying, misrepresenting or omitting information on any document during the selection process will be closely scrutinized; you must respect the rights of all people and have appreciation for diversity, Deems said.

“The city has a diverse community, and we would like to see that represented in the police department,” Deems said. “I encourage anyone eligible to apply. We have never passed over a qualified person.”

In addition to the above, one also must have a history of making responsible choices regarding the use of drugs and alcohol; one’s employment, educational and military histories must demonstrate the motivation and success-orientation needed to succeed as a police officer; and one’s financial and driving records must demonstrate responsible decisions and appropriate behavior, Deems said.

“We invite and encourage men and women with the talent and experience to become part of our force,” he added. “We are actively seeking individuals from diverse backgrounds and disciplines to join our ranks.”

BPD currently has 45 officers, and Deems said his target number is 49.

“We only test once a year, so we want to get as many people out to take it because that is really the first step,” he said. “We are looking at any qualified person but would like to have some experienced officers.”

Base pay starts at $31,050 a year with an additional $1,000 after the completion of one year. Those who have four-year college degrees make an additional $1,536 per year, Deems said, and will have individual or family health and dental insurance.

BPD has sent out press releases to colleges throughout the state in hopes of attracting those who are eligible because there has been a decrease in people applying, Deems said, adding this is not only a local trend, but a national one as well.

For more information visit www.beckleypd.com for a one-stop shop for any information that applies to becoming a police officer and what BPD’s vision and mission are.

The public should also take a minute to check out the site, Deems said, because it’s a convenient way for the community to learn about the department.

— E-mail: kvanpelt@register-herald.com