The City of Whitehall is a suburban community located in the heart of Central Ohio. The city is located one-quarter mile south of Port Columbus International Airport in the metropolitan Columbus, Ohio area. Whitehall is 5.5 square miles in size and is adjacent to Interstates 270 & 70 and is intersected by SR 16, SR 317, and US Route 40.
Whitehall has a nighttime population of approximately 19,000 people and is home to over 600 businesses. City government is comprised of a strong mayor/weak council form of government. Basic city services include a Police Division, Fire Division, Parks and Recreation Division and Service Division. The annual city budget is 19.7 million and is supported by a strong tax base, which includes the Defense Supply Center Columbus, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, and Ebco Manufacturing, makers of Oasis water coolers.
About the Whitehall Division of PoliceThe Whitehall Division of Police has an authorized strength of 45 sworn officers, 35 auxiliary officers and 16 civilian employees. The Division operates on an annual budget of over $4 million.
The Division of Police is known throughout the state of Ohio as a progressive and professional organization. Our reputation is led by our world class Honor Guard, highly skilled SWAT team, dedicated investigators, and highly revered and respected patrol officers.
Patrol officers are equipped with the best tools in the law enforcement field. Late model patrol cars are all equipped with advanced safety and security features, weapons, traffic enforcement electronics, and in-car video systems. Patrol officers are organized in three platoons that work non-rotating shifts with rotating days off. Shift assignments and days off rotation are bid by seniority annually.
Our investigators are trained in the latest technologies in forensic crime scene processing and investigative techniques. They utilize the latest in equipment including a fully equipped mobile crime lab and in-house evidence-processing lab.
Our police supervisors have all received advanced training in police management. Most are graduates of the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville, the Northwestern University School of Staff and Command, or the F.B.I. National Academy in Quantico Virginia and many have related college degrees.
The Division of Police employs the latest in technology to fight crime and protect it's citizens. The use of sophisticated computer systems, digital mug shot indexing systems, digital scanning and information storage and retrieval systems put Whitehall on the leading edge of suburban police agencies.
The Whitehall Division of Police is truly a full service police agency equipped to serve the community through the 21st century.
The Division of Police was accredited by CALEA in 2003. Plans are also under way for the construction of a new police facility.
The City of Whitehall Division of Police offers an attractive wage schedule that is competitive with private business and other area police departments. The following pay rates are effective for 2005:
| Pay Steps: | Seniority: | 2005 Rate: | |
| A-Step | Hire - 12 mos. | $39,783.74 | |
| B-Step | 12 - 24 mos. | $51,494.98 | |
| C-Step | 24 - 36 mos. | $54,401.26 | |
| D-Step | 36 - 48 mos. | $56,575.26 | |
| E-Step | Over 48 mos. | $58,383.94 |
BenefitsThe City of Whitehall Division of Police offers an attractive and competitive fringe benefit package that is completely funded by the City of Whitehall. These benefits include: |
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| Coverage is available to all full-time employees and their families. | |
| Pays to the employee's estate $100,000 upon death of the employee or $200,000 for accidental death. | |
| The deductible is $5 per prescription with the remainder at 100% | |
| Seven paid holidays per year plus five personal holidays taken at the discretion of the officer. | |
| 130 hours per year. | |
| 11 days per year after 6 months increasing on a sliding scale to 26 days per year after 20 years. | |
| Uniforms and equipment at no cost to the officer plus a uniform maintenance of $1000 per year for uniformed officers and $1000 per year for non-uniformed. | |
| Fully furnished by the City of Whitehall | |
| After 25 years of service and age 48 through the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund. | |
| $3,000 per year | |
| Paid yearly starting with your 6th year of service | |
| Elegible to take Sergeant's Exam after 3 years. Pay differential is 15% between ranks. | |
*Benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of a collective bargaining agreement between the City of Whitehall and the Fraternal Order of Police - Capital City Lodge #9
The police officer selection process is usually completed by means of the following chronological events, the sequence of which may slightly change in order to most efficently meet the needs of the Division of Police.
| A: |
FORMAL APPLICATION: Civil service applications for the position
of Regular Police Officer are distributed and collected by the Whitehall
Civil Service Comission. Applications for Auxiliary Police Officers are available
at the clerical window in the lobby of the Division of Police. |
| B: | WRITTEN EXAMINATION: Qualifying applicants for the position of Regular Police Officer will be notified by the Civil Service Commission as to the date, time and location of the Civil Service examination. There is currently no written exam for the position of Auxiliary Police Officer. |
| C: | ELIGIBILITY LIST: The Civil Service Commission will post a certified roster of elegible Regular Police Officer candidates who have successfully passed the written Civil Service examination, listing the highest scoring candidates in sequential order. Once an opening occurs in the Division of Police for a Regular Police Officer, the Civil Service Commission forwards the top ten names from the elegibility roster to the Division of Police for processing. Auxiliary Officer applicants is maintained solely within the Division of Police. |
| D: | RECORDS CHECKS: Candidates fingerprints are recorded and thorough and complete records checks and warrants checks are conducted. |
| E: | BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A thorough and complete investigation into each candidate's background is conducted. The function of the background investigation is to determine each candidate's suitability for employment as a Whitehall Police Officer. The background investigation will include, but is not limited to, verification of credentials and identification, past and present employment, age, residence, citizenship; interviews with past and present school officials, neighbors, spouse, employers, and personal references; reviews of tax records, credit history, current and past finances, and school transcripts; and anything deemed appropriate to determine a candidates ethics, lifestyle, character, abilities and inclinations. |
| F: | POLYGRAPH/PSE TEST: A detection-of-deception test is administered to each candidate by trained examiners. The subject areas explored include, but are not limited to, employment history, general background, personal conduct, childhood, educational history, illegal drug use, criminal history and activity, theft and criminal sexual activity. Deception will automatically preclude appointment to the position of Police Officer. |
| G: |
ORAL INTERVIEW: Candidates who successfully complete the previous stages are
then scheduled for an oral interview which is conducted by a panel consisting of the
Safety Director, the Chief of Police, and other members who are selected to
participate in the interview. In this process, candidates are evaluated and rated based on
such considerations as appearance, image, demeanor, attitude, communication ability, mental alertness,
judgement, reasoning, analytical ability, general personality, social interaction, interpersonal
and human relations, and overall suitability. (At this point, providing elegible candidates remain, a candidate is usuall selected for the vacant position and a conditional job offer is made contingent upon the candidate's successful completion of a psychological evaluation and a medical examination.) |
| H: |
PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION: The psychological evaluation, provided by the City and
conducted by qualified psychological or psychiatric professionals, is conducted
on the selected candidate to determine whether the candidate posesses an appropriate, adequate,
acceptable, and desirable psychological profile to perform as a Whitehall
Police Officer.
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| I: |
MEDICAL EXAMINATION: A contracted health care provider will complete
the medical examination, including a drug screen. The specifics of the
examination are those tests that are currently required by the Ohio Police and Fire
Disability and Pension Fund.
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