Alpharetta Looking for a Few Good Men and Women

Is your future in law enforcement? Alpharetta's Department of Public Safety is looking for candidates as reserve officers and to create a pool of prospective candidates as police officers.

Alpharetta wants eight additional reserve officers. Though there aren't any open police officer positions, the department wants to expand its pool of potential candidates.

But if you've broken the law, your chances of getting hired are much slimmer. Felony drug use – even if you've never been arrested or convicted – could keep you from even taking the tests that go along with making an application.

George Gordon, spokesman for the department, said honesty is the key for applicants.

"To determine the initial suitability of a candidate, we require the applicant to submit a detailed application. The key is honesty. After the application submittal, we require the candidate to complete an application process involving many steps," Gordon said. "The candidate takes a physical agility test and written exam.  We check job and school references and perform criminal and driving history checks. We speak with neighbors and contact the law enforcement agencies of record for the candidates previous and current addresses. The candidate appears before an interview panel. The candidate will have a physical, complete a full 10 panel drug test, undergo a psychological evaluation and submit to a polygraph examination." 

"If we have a candidate that doesn’t have any disqualifiers, we can train and mentor them into an outstanding police officer," Gordon said in an email request for comments. "This police officer will become a valued member of our community and serve our citizens faithfully for many years."

Certified peace officer applicants interested must take the physical agility test and written test to be considered for employment. The next physical and written testing period will begin on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 8 a.m. sharp. If you are late, you will be dismissed from testing. Report to the Alpharetta Community Center located at 175 Roswell St., Alpharetta, with valid photo identification.

That's not the first step or deadline, however. First, you must submit your application to the Office of Professional Standards, 2565 Old Milton Pkwy., Alpharetta by Sept. 27 at 5 p.m.  

Reserve officers serve in a volunteer, non-compensated appointment. The department will pay for the successful candidates to attend Reinhardt University’s Public Safety Institute police academy in Alpharetta.  For those certified and uncertified applicants interested in becoming a reserve police officer, you must take the physical agility test and written test to be considered for employment.

The next physical and written testing period will begin on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 8 a.m. sharp. If you are late, you will be dismissed from testing. This testing also will be held at the Alpharetta Community Center.

Applications must be received in the Office of Professional Standards by Aug. 23 at 5 p.m.

Visit Alpharetta's website for more details. Click on the City Departments tab, click onto Public Safety, click onto Recruitment and then click onto Recruitment: Police Tab for the testing details, job description, information, minimum requirements and an overview of the hiring process.