WINNEMUCCA — With two new officers slated for hire, the Winnemucca Police Department recently hosted the first stage of the hiring process.

Potential candidates met up at the WPD building on Saturday (Oct. 22) to test their physical fitness, take the written portion of the test, and then be interviewed.

According to Police Chief Eric Silva, only nine of the 22 candidates who initially applied showed up for the first stage of testing. Some of the candidates pulled their application because they recognized they would not pass the physical fitness portion.

Silva explained the physical fitness test was the same one used at P.O.S.T. (Peace Officers Standards and Training). If they couldn’t pass it here, there would be no point in sending them on to P.O.S.T.

Candidates who were not able to pass the physical fitness portion of the test did not move on for consideration; however, they were allowed to complete the test so they would have a better idea of what was expected of them should they choose to reapply.

Putting the candidates through the physical test was Orlando Guerra, who is a reserve officer with the WPD and the Chief of the Nevada P.O.S.T. Academy.

Guerra retired as a sergeant-major from the Marines. When he told the candidates to move, as only a sergeant-major can, they did.

The physical fitness portion of the application process included tests in: jumping, agility, sit ups, push ups, and running.

In the past women were not required to pass the physical fitness test at the same levels as men. For example, they did not have to do as many push ups or run as fast. The test was also weighted depending on age.

That’s no longer the case. Women and older candidates testing to work at the WPD have the same physical fitness requirements.  Only two of the nine women who initially applied arrived on testing day. Only one made it past the physical fitness portion of the test.

The second stage of the application test involved a pencil/paper test administered by DVD on screen. The WPD requested the media not post information on the test in consideration of future candidates.

Briefly, the test was designed to test mental agility, logic, and memory.

The third stage of the test was an interview conducted by members of the police department with various level of experience and responsibility.  Conducting the interviews were Detective-Sgt. Dave Garrison, Officer Andy Rorex, and Officer Mike Rangel.

Known as the oral board, the interview allows the officers to gauge the verbal skills of the candidates.  Each candidate was put through the same list of questions of the sort even someone without law enforcement experience should be able to answer.

As with the written test, the WPD requested the media not publish the list of questions.

Garrison said the board was looking to see the candidate was appropriately dressed in professional wear, to include a suit and tie/businesses wear. Additionally, they were looking to see the candidate was confident and had the appropriate demeanor to be a police officer.

Rorex added successful candidates were able to answer questions right away, with confidence, and without too much thought or stumbling over the answers.

He said, “At this point, they should have things squared away.”

They were also looking for a fresh perspective and not necessarily stale responses or answers given because the candidate thought it was the right answer.

Rangel said he would look at the totality of a person’s answers in giving a score, but he really wanted to see that the candidate was articulate.

The finer points of law enforcement can be taught, like officer safety considerations, but a person who was not articulate would not make an appropriate law enforcement officer.

Going hand-in-hand with articulation was the ability to listen. The board was looking for a person who listened carefully to the questions, interpreted them correctly, and then answered appropriately.

Additionally, Rangel pointed out, police officers were expected to write thorough reports that they may have to testify to in court.

When asked, experienced law enforcement officers advise hopefuls to take English, with special reference to technical writing, and practice their public speaking skills.

Seven candidates successfully completed the first phase of testing. There are currently two positions open at the PD.

Police Chief Eric Silva invited the media to cover each stage of the hiring process in the interest of greater transparency for the community.