How to Become a Police Officer in Hawaii

Becoming a Police Officer in Hilo, Hawaii

With a population of more than 40,000 residents, the city of Hilo is the second-largest metropolitan area in the state of Hawaii. The small size of the city, as well as its location on the main island makes it an exciting and unique area to work as a police officer.

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When becoming a police officer in Hilo, there are a series of steps you must complete first. The Hilo Police Department requires that applicant must complete the following in order to obtain Hilo police jobs:

  • Step 1. Meet Basic Requirements and Qualifications
  • Step 2. Complete Application
  • Step 3. Physical Examination
  • Step 4. Oral Board Interview
  • Step 5. Background Check, Medical and Psychological Exams
  • Step 6. Training Academy
  • Step 7. Field Training

Step 1. Meet Basic Requirements and Qualifications

When figuring out how to become a cop by meeting police office requirements in Hilo, Hawaii, there are a set number of qualifications and requirements you must meet. If you do not meet these standards, you will not be considered for a job with the Hilo Police Department. The requirements are as follows:

  • Must be at least 21 years of age
  • Must be a U.S. citizen
  • Must have a valid driver’s license
  • Must have graduated from high school or have a GED
  • Must be able to legally posses and use a firearm
  • Must not have no domestic violence charges
  • Must have good eye sight with or without prescription
  • Must be in good physical condition

Step 2. Complete Application

If you meet the requirements stated above, you will then be required to fill-out a job interest card with the Hilo Police Department. You will then be contacted by the department when the Hilo Police Department is hiring. The application will include a writing test portion, as well as the usual information: work history, education history, medical history, etc.

Step 3. Physical Examination

If your application is accepted, then the next step will be a physical examination. The physical exam will test your strength, speed, agility and endurance in order to determine whether you are fit enough to handle the physical stress that the job entails.

Step 4. Oral Board Interview

The next step is an oral board interview with a group of representatives from the Hilo Police Department. The representatives will review the information obtained through the hiring process so far, and will go more in depth regarding that information.

Step 5. Background Check, Medical and Psychological Exams

The background check will look into your credit, rental, medical, family, work and education history in order to verify the information given during the application and interviews. If any information is found to be falsified then you will be automatically disqualified from the job as a Hilo police officer.

Once you pass the background check, the next steps are a series of examinations. The medical examination will check your blood pressure and medical history in order to determine whether or not your body is capable of handling the stress involved with the job. The psychological examination will determine whether or not your mind is capable of handling the emotional stress and trauma that could be associated with the duties of a police officer.

Step 6. Training Academy

If you pass the medical and physical examinations, you will be enrolled in the training academy in Honolulu and will be known as a Metropolitan Police Recruit (MPR.) The training academy takes approximately 22 weeks to complete and will involve a series of classes and seminars meant to teach you the skills involved with Hilo police jobs. These skills include how to handle vehicle stops and searches, Hawaii state, local and federal law enforcement, firearm handling and emergency response procedures.

Step 7. Field Training

After completion of the training academy, you will now be known as a Metropolitan Police Officer (MPO,) and will be entered into a field training program. The field training is on-the-job training with police officers that have been working their beats for significant amounts of time. Once field training is over, you will be assigned a beat that meets your strengths and you will be an official member of the Hilo Police Department.

Becoming a Police Officer in Honolulu, Hawaii

The Honolulu Police Department offers plenty of interesting and exciting opportunities to work with the community and protect the city’s citizens. Located on the island of Oahu, the city is one of the largest in the state and is the state capital of Hawaii. In order to apply for a job as a police officer in Honolulu, Hawaii there is a series of steps you must complete.

Here is the step-by-step eligibility process for Honolulu police jobs:

  • Step 1. Review Qualifications and Complete Application
  • Step 2. Physical Agility Test
  • Step 3. Background Investigation
  • Step 4. Interview
  • Step 5. Medical and Psychological Examinations
  • Step 6. Training Academy and Field Training

Step 1. Review Qualifications and Complete Application

When becoming a police officer in Honolulu, there are a basic set of requirements you must meet before completing an application for the job. The qualifications are as follows:

  • Must be at least 21 years of age
  • Must be a United States citizen
  • Must have a valid driver’s license from Hawaii
  • Must have graduated from high school or have a GED
  • Must be able to carry a firearm, have no felonies or major misdemeanors

If you meet the basic requirements, then you can go ahead and fill-out the application. If any information on the application is found to be false, then you will be automatically disqualified from the recruitment process.

Step 2. Physical Agility Test

A representative from the Honolulu Police Department will then review your application. If they feel you are a good candidate for Honolulu police jobs, you will be invited to take a physical agility test. The test will measure your strength, endurance and agility in accordance with the physical demands of the job as a police officer in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Step 3. Background Investigation

The background investigation will look into your history (credit, rental, employment, education, etc.) This information will be compared to the information contained in your job application. If you pass the background investigation you will then be scheduled for an interview with a person from the Honolulu Police Department.

Step 4. Interview

The job interview will go over all of the information obtained thus far in the recruitment process. If the interviewer feels you are qualified for the police officer job you will be offered a conditional job offer, which is dependant on finishing the rest of the steps below.

Step 5. Medical and Psychological Examinations

The medical and psychological exams seek to test your abilities to handle the everyday stress that comes with the job. When considering how to become a cop by meeting police officer requirements in Honolulu, you must be physically and mentally capable of performing the various tasks.

Step 6. Training Academy and Field Training

The police academy will teach you the basic and advanced policing skills needed to work in Honolulu, Hawaii. The academy will teach firearm training, police procedures, arrest procedures, traffic stop and accident investigations, crime scene investigation, forensics and testifying in court, among many other classes. After completing the training academy, you will become a full-time member of the Honolulu Police Department. You will be entered in a year-long probationary period, which includes field training and additional tests and skill enhancements along the way.

Becoming a Police Officer in Kailua, Hawaii

The city of Kailua is the third-largest city in the state of Hawaii, and is located in the largest county (Honolulu County) in the state. Being located near the most densely populated area of the state offers exciting opportunities for people looking to work for the Kailua Police Department, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Honolulu Police Department.

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When considering how to become a cop by meeting police office requirements in Kailua there are a host of steps you must complete. Kailua police jobs are available usually only once a year, so it is best to keep up with the job posting on the police department’s website. When becoming a police officer in Kailua, you will have to go through these steps:

  • Step 1. Basic Requirements and Application
  • Step 2. Written Examination and Orientation
  • Step 3. Clarification Interview
  • Step 4. Psychological and Physical Testing
  • Step 5. Offer of Employment and Post-Offer Interview
  • Step 6. Medical Examination and Polygraph Testing
  • Step 7. Training Academy Enrollment

Step 1. Basic Requirements and Application

Before completing an application with the Kailua Police Department, you must first review the basic requirements for the job and make sure that you have them. If you do not have the basic requirements and qualifications, you will not be considered for a job with the department. The basic requirements and qualifications state that you:

  • Must be at least 21 years of age
  • Must be a United States citizen
  • Must have a valid driver’s license
  • Must have no violent or aggressive charges on your criminal record
  • Must have a high school diploma or equivalent
  • Must have at least 20/200 vision with corrective lenses
  • Must be able to legally posses a fire arm

If basic requirements are met, then you can complete an application and turn it in to the human resources department for the city of Kailua. The application will review various aspects of your history and will be suitable for showcasing any special skills and experience that you may have.

Step 2. Written Examination and Orientation

The Civil Service written examination will test many basic skills that you will need to perform as a police officer in Kailua, Hawaii. The written test is time and is a multiple choice exam. The areas it covers are observational skills, memory, the ability to read and write in English, the ability to follow directions and problem solving skills. If you pass the written test, you will be contacted within 7 to 10 days with an admission letter to continue along in the recruitment process.

If you receive a letter of admission, you will then be invited to attend an orientation seminar. During the orientation, you will be asked to complete a Personal History Statement and Questionnaire, which will be used to check against your background history check later on in the process.

Step 3. Clarification Interview

The clarification interview is a one-on-one interview with a detective from the police department. The information discussed will be elaborations on the information you provided in your application and in the Personal History Statement and Personal History Questionnaire. A background check will be conducted at this time as well.

Step 4. Psychological and Physical Testing

The psychological test is done in two-parts. The first part is a written examination and the second part is a short interview with a psychologist. The goal of these tests is to determine whether you are capable of processing and handling the stress of the job in the proper manner.

The physical test includes a number of exercises meant to measure how physically it and active you are. The duties of a police office in Kailua require that you be physically able to meet the demands of the job. There is an agility run, bench press tests and a 300 meter and 1.5 mile run.

Step 5. Offer of Employment and Post-Offer Interview

Upon completion of the tests, you will be offered a job with the Kailua Police Department. At this point you will be considered a Metropolitan Police Recruit (MPR.) After the offer of employment is accepted, you will be given a post-offer job interview. The interview will focus on all of the information obtained up until this point in the process.

Step 6. Medical Examination and Polygraph Testing

The information elaborated upon will then be used during the polygraph test. If any information is found to be false, you will be automatically disqualified from enrolling in the training academy.

The medical examination will measure things like body mass, heart health and blood pressure. The medical exam is meant to verify that you are more than healthy enough to perform the essential tasks of a police officer in the city.

Step 7. Training Academy Enrollment

You will then be enrolled in the training academy. The academy takes 22 weeks to complete and includes some of the following classes and subjects:

  • Traffic Violations and Control
  • Criminal Law
  • Community Law Enforcement
  • Investigation Procedures
  • Public Safety and Outreach
  • Firearm Handling

After completing the training academy, you will be offered a position with the Kailua Police Department and will be considered a Metropolitan Police Officer (MPO).

Becoming a Police Officer in Kaneohe, Hawaii

Kaneohe is a census designated city in the state of Hawaii and is located on the island of Oahu, which is a popular tourist destination. The city is the fifth-largest in the state and is home to the Kaneohe Police Department.

Kaneohe police jobs require that you meet some basic requirements and go through a series of steps. The process for becoming a police officer in Kaneohe is as follows:

  • Step 1. Meet Basic Requirements
  • Step 2. Complete an Application
  • Step 3. Complete a Written Examination
  • Step 4. Interview
  • Step 5. Physical Testing
  • Step 6. Psychological Testing and Background Check
  • Step 7. Medical Evaluation

Step 1. Meet Basic Requirements

In order to become an office with the Kaneohe Police Department, you must first meet a certain requirements. If you do not meet the basic requirements and qualifications you will be automatically disqualified from continuing on with the recruitment process until you do meet them. Some of the requirements include:

  • You must be at least 20 years of age
  • You must be a graduate from high school or have a GED
  • Must be able to legally own a fire arm
  • Must have no violent charges on your criminal record
  • Must have a valid driver’s license from the state of Hawaii

Step 2. Complete an Application

If you meet the requirements, you can go ahead and complete the application with the Kaneohe Police Department in Hawaii. The application will ask for information about work history, schooling, qualifications and special skills and training. You will also be asked to sign-off on a background check, which will be used later on in the process.

Step 3. Complete a Written Examination

The written test is a timed, multiple choice examination. The test will measure your abilities to manage time, handle stress, follow directions and make sounds judgments, among many other criteria. The results of the test will be e-mailed to you within a week, and if the department thinks you are a good candidate, you will be scheduled for an interview within 7 to 10 days afterwards.

Step 4. Interview

The preliminary interview will focus on elaborating upon the information that has been gathered from you thus far in the process. The interview will be one-on-one with a detective from the Kaneohe Police Department. If you pass the interview you will then be scheduled to take a physical agility test within the next week.

Step 5. Physical Testing

The physical agility testing is a series of test that measure your strength, agility, flexibility, endurance, stamina and aerobic fitness levels. The tests include a bench press, a 1.5 mile run, a 300 meter sprint and an obstacle course.

Step 6. Psychological Interview and Background Check

Next, you will have a psychological interview, which is similar to the preliminary interview but will focus more on the information obtained in the background check, as well as your abilities to handle stress and comfort with the responsibilities that come with being a police office for the Kaneohe Police Department. When it comes to how to become a cop by meeting police officer requirements in Kaneohe, it is very important to be able to handle stress and make sound decisions while under pressure.

Step 7. Medical Evaluation

The medical evaluation is a routine physical in which a doctor will take your vital signs and check your overall health. The purpose is to make sure you are ready and that your body can handle the additional stress that will be placed on it as a police officer.

Becoming a Police Officer in Waipahu, Hawaii

The city of Waipahu, located in Honolulu County, is the fourth-largest city in the state of Hawaii and is one of the fastest-growing areas in the state. Because of the city’s location near the largest metropolitan center in the state, there are often opportunities for aspiring police officers. Waipahu police jobs involve conducting criminal investigations, emergency response, traffic enforcement and community policing and outreach, among many other duties.

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Becoming a police officer in Waipahu requires completing a series of steps. The following is a description of how to become a cop by meeting police officer requirements in Waipahu for the Honolulu Police Department, which runs the Waipahu Police Station:

  • Step 1. Meet Basic Requirements
  • Step 2. Complete Application
  • Step 3. Civil Service Exam
  • Step 4. Personal History Statement and Questionnaire
  • Step 5. Interview and Psychological Testing
  • Step 6. Physical Training and Test
  • Step 7. Psychological Interview, Polygraph and Medical Check
  • Step 8. Training Academy

Step 1. Meet Basic Requirements

The first step in the process involves reviewing the basic requirements for the police office position. If you do not meet the following requirements you will not be invited to continue with the application and recruitment process with the Waipahu Police Department.

  • Must be at least 20 years of age
  • Must have a high school diploma, GED or equivalent educational experience
  • Must have a valid driver’s license
  • Must be able to legally posses and use a firearm
  • Must have a valid Type 3 driver’s license from Hawaii by date of hire
  • Must not have any violent charges in your criminal history
  • Must be a United States citizen
  • Must meet all physical, mental and medical requirements

Step 2. Complete Application

If you meet the requirements and qualifications stated above, the next step involves completing and turning in an application for the job. If any information on the application is found to be fraudulent during sometime in the process you will be automatically disqualified and not allowed to re-apply for at least one calendar year.

Step 3. Civil Service Exam

The Civil Service Exam is a timed, multiple choice test. The test will measure your problem solving skills, memory, your ability to accurately follow written directions, your ability to write and your ability to communicate in a clear and effective way.

Step 4. Personal History Statement and Questionnaire

The Personal History Statement and Questionnaire will seek to gather information from you about your history (medical, family, rental, education, work, credit, criminal, etc.) Even though much of this information is acquired via the application, these documents are meant to be more in-depth and will be scrutinized throughout the rest of the process.

Step 5. Interview and Psychological Testing

The post-offer interview will use the results from your background check in order to compare them with the information received through the job application, Personal History Statement and Personal History Questionnaire. If any discrepancies are found they will be brought up and put to the test during the psychological testing that comes after the interview.

The psychological test will measure your ability to handle stress and work well under fire. The goal is to make sure that you are mentally fit to handle the day-to-day stress of being a police officer with the Waipahu Police Department in Hawaii.

Step 6. Physical Training and Test

The physical training and testing features a variety of physical challenges meant to simulate the physical demands that are needed to work as a police officer.

Agility Run: The agility run is a obstacle course that measure your ability to start and stop while running, as well as changing directions.

Bench Press: This test will show your upper body strength and stamina.

300 Meter: This test measure anaerobic ability and stamina.

1.5 Mile Run: This test measure aerobic stamina and ability.

Step 7. Psychological Interview, Polygraph and Medical Check

The psychological interview is conducted by a professional, as well as representatives from the Waipahu Police Department. The purpose of the interview is to review your information and to make sure you are mentally ready to be a police officer.

The polygraph test will try to identify any problems with honesty and to go more in-depth about any discrepancies or vague information contained in the documents obtained so far in the process.

The medical check is a standard physical that will take your vital signs and ensure that your body is healthy enough and capable of performing the essential functions of a police officer.

Step 8. Training Academy

Training at the training academy takes 5 ½ months, or 22 weeks. The training will teach you a variety of skills, tools and knowledge that will be used while working as a police officer for the Waipahu Police Department. Some classes include fire arms handling, vehicle stops and traffic procedures and becoming familiar with city, county, state and federal law, among many other things.

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