Thank you for your interest in becoming a Harrisburg City Police Officer. We have a recruitment process in place and testing is conducted once a year by the Dauphin County Chiefs of Police Association (DCCPA). View more information below.
Overview
All testing, physical and written, is administered by DCCPA and the candidates’ information and results are sent to us after the testing is complete. Therefore, you would first want to apply with DCCPA at Dauphinpolicetesting.org. To apply with the City, you would then have to submit a separate application. Right now you can go to PoliceApp.com and enter your email address to receive updates on the testing. Any additional questions please contact Corporal Hammer at Jhammer@harrisburgpa.gov or 717-255-7326.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Consortium?
Together, the Dauphin County Chiefs of Police Association and its members participate together in a testing consortium that pools its resources to test for those interested in becoming a municipal police officer. Applicants must complete and pass a Physical Fitness test and written test in order to be added to the final listing of interested applicants. You then will be able to apply to Harrisburg Bureau of Police at PoliceApp.com.
What exactly happens in the Consortium process?
Applicants are asked to complete the online preliminary questionnaire and submit the testing fee. Once this is completed, you will be scheduled to take the Physical Fitness test. Once passing Physical Fitness test, you will be eligible to participate in the Written Exam. Once test results are finalized you will receive notification of your score and the Consortium then passes on the initial qualified list to each individual participating department.
How should I prepare for the physical fitness test?
The Physical Fitness Test is a specific battery of tests that applicants must be able to pass. You can download a copy of the Fitness Test Standards along with a guide on how to prepare and complete the test properly. The standard used in the physical fitness test were derived from law enforcement physical fitness norms that are based on a representative sample of approximately 4000 officers that were stratified (by age and gender) and randomly selected from 40 municipal, state and federal agencies. The Dauphin County Chiefs of Police Testing Consortium has selected the 30th percentile as the standard for passing the test. This means that 70% of the officers who took this test, scored above the standard which we require. The physical fitness test measures those job-related physical fitness areas that have been shown to be underlying and predictive factors for officer physical abilities to perform the essential physical tasks and functions of the job. This is a Pass/Fail test.
How should I prepare for the written test?
The written test is designed to measure basic skills, reading, writing and arithmetic that are important for successfully learning and performing an entry-level, law enforcement position. Study Guides will be available for purchase for a cost of $5.00 at the Swatara Township Police Department or at the Physical Fitness test. Guides must be purchased in person as they are not able to be mailed to consortium participants. Study guides are also available online as well as an Online Practice test. The Online Practice Test is available for purchase by visiting https://www.applytoserve.com/Study/. The Online POST Practice Test enables you to prepare yourself by taking an online practice version of the test you will encounter on exam day. Each section of the practice test is timed the same as the real test and feedback is received once the test has been completed or after time expires. Thorough explanations are provided for each incorrect response so you better understand how to improve.