The Cherry Hill Police Department is inviting the community and potential applicants to its first recruitment open house event on May 3,
Officers from all areas of the department will discuss their jobs and help community members learn more about local law enforcement, including the K-9 unit, crime scene unit, investigative bureau and honor guard. A full list of the units represented can be found on the department Facebook page.
Community Response Commander Lt. Andrew Spell explained that the decision to hold a recruitment event came from Chief Robert Kempf, so as to be proactive in attracting potential applicants for patrol, Class 1 and Class 2 Special Law Enforcement, crossing guards and dispatchers.
While the department is not offering a written exam at this time, Spell said testing would begin soon. Applicants must be at least 18, and be U.S. citizens and New Jersey residents. They must also have a driver’s license and at least 60 college credits. Following the application, prospective officers have to pass a series of tests before they are hired including medical, physical and psychological.
Once hired, new officers will be trained for 19 weeks at a police academy, followed by a period of field training where they will be paired with an experienced officer to get familiarized with the town they will serve.
“They have to be willing to interact with people,” Spell explained. “That’s the main thing, because you’re going to be constantly speaking with people, so communication skills are very important.”
Other important skills include de-escalation, problem solving, and active listening.
While COVID suspended some of the police department’s regular events, the community can look forward to the return of the Junior Police Academy in August as well as township police s participation in August’s National Night Out and the harvest festival in October.
“Hopefully (a lot of people come out) and they can see how the Cherry Hill Police Department functions, (and) get to know the people we have working here,” Spell said. “We’re looking forward to a positive interaction.”
Recruitment open house hours will be 5 to 8 p.m. at the municipal building. To learn more about what it takes to be a police officer in Cherry Hill, visit https://bit.ly/3MjnZpx.
