Q&A
Public safety position exams and the Level 1 Public Safety Exam
0:51:14
ยท
3 min
Council Member De La Rosa inquires about various public safety position exams, including probation officers, police officers, and correction officers. DCAS officials provide updates and information:
- The probation officer exam was postponed due to a qualification requirement update
- There's an active list for probation officers with available candidates
- The police officer exam list was established on January 22nd
- The correction officer exam has a $68 application fee, which seems high compared to the starting salary
Additional details:
- The Level 1 Public Safety Exam acts as a bridge exam for multiple public safety roles
- It results in one list for multiple titles and is currently a pilot program
- The exam is designed to supplement standalone title exams
Carmen N. De La Rosa
0:51:14
End of February.
0:51:15
Okay.
0:51:18
Okay.
0:51:19
And for public safety positions, asking a few questions on on those.
0:51:24
In addition to school safety exam, we observed that several other examinations for public safety positions were announced last fall, including exams for probation officers, police officers, correction officers, and the level 1 public safety exam.
0:51:38
Why was the probation officer exam postponed?
0:51:42
Exam number 5129.
Katrina Porter
0:51:45
So, yes, that exam was postponed, because we're working with, the Department of Probation on a qualification requirement update.
0:51:54
And so, we wanted to ensure that, the update was completed before the exam opened for filing.
0:52:00
I believe that, that update is almost complete, so we will be engaging Department of Probation to get the exam back on the schedule.
Carmen N. De La Rosa
0:52:10
Okay.
0:52:10
This seems significant because in the because as of December, Department of Probation has an 18.5 vacancy rate with, 200 positions open.
0:52:20
So do we think that once that qualification, review is done, we'll be able to fill some of those positions?
Katrina Porter
0:52:28
Well, actually, there's an active list for probation officer with available candidates.
0:52:33
So probation, you know, can reach out to DCAS for certification and we'll we'll send them those names.
Carmen N. De La Rosa
0:52:39
Okay.
0:52:40
The multiple choice testing for the police officer exam began on October 23, 2024.
0:52:45
Has the eligible list for that exam been been released yet?
0:52:49
And if not, when does DCAS anticipate that it will be available?
Katrina Porter
0:52:52
That exam was finalized and established on January 22nd, I believe.
0:52:57
Okay.
0:52:57
So it was, last week.
0:52:58
Okay.
Carmen N. De La Rosa
0:53:00
The notice of examination for the correction officer position imposed a $68 application fee.
0:53:06
However, the position's current minimum salary starts at $53,000 a year.
0:53:12
I believe that in past hearings, you testified that the application fee is, you know, is based on the position's salary.
0:53:18
Mhmm.
0:53:19
Does this high application fee seem to be, commensurate with the salary of a correction officer?
Katrina Porter
0:53:25
So I would need to refer back to our, you know, criteria grid just to confirm, you know, how that salary aligns with the examination fee.
Megan Chambers
0:53:32
Yeah.
0:53:32
Because it's usually
Katrina Porter
0:53:34
it's usually, as, Commissioner Alexander mentioned, it's usually tied to the, lowest, starting salary for the title.
0:53:42
Yeah.
0:53:42
But we can look into it.
Carmen N. De La Rosa
0:53:43
It seems a little high because if the starting salary is 53,000 and that fee is almost $70 just seems a little high.
0:53:50
Does the level 1 public safety exam act as a bridge exam for public safety roles, across several titles?
Katrina Porter
0:53:58
Public safety bridge is similar to the bridge exam.
0:54:01
However, there will only be one resulting list from the examination.
0:54:06
So it's, one exam, one application fee, multiple titles, but one list.
Carmen N. De La Rosa
0:54:15
Okay.
Katrina Porter
0:54:15
And it's really, the idea behind the public safety bridge exam is to help supplement, exams that are already being administered for the stand alone titles.
Carmen N. De La Rosa
0:54:26
Okay.
0:54:27
And are you finding in your experience that agencies are able to, easily access and pull people off the list?
Katrina Porter
0:54:33
So this is a pilot Okay.
0:54:35
Program.
0:54:36
We just had the the multiple choice tests earlier this month, so the list has not been established yet.
Carmen N. De La Rosa
0:54:42
Okay.
Katrina Porter
0:54:42
But we're hopeful, to be able to use this, you know, for future, iterations of of this, model.
Carmen N. De La Rosa
0:54:50
More to talk about once
Oren Barzilay
0:54:52
Yes.