West Whiteland Township - Full-Time Police Officer

Job Announcement:

West Whiteland Township Now Accepting Applications for Full Time Police Officer

The West Whiteland Township Police Department consists of 29 full-time, sworn officers and 2 civilian staff. The police department patrols approximately 14 square miles and serves a population of around 20,000 residents. The township is home to Exton Square Mall, Main Street at Exton, as well as multiple shopping centers and various business parks surging our daytime population to near 30,000. In 2024, the West Whiteland Township Police Department responded to over 15,000 calls for service.

The West Whiteland Township Police Department provides an array of police services. The agency consists of a Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division and Criminal Investigations Division. In addition to these full-time units, West Whiteland Township Police Officers provides additional services such as bike patrol, SWAT, accident reconstruction, drone operations, narcotics investigations, and community policing services such as our school and bank liaison programs.

General Requirements:

• All applicants must be a citizen of the United States of America.
• All applicants must have reached their twenty-first (21st) birthday at the time of appointment.
• All applicants must be physically and mentally fit and able to perform the essential duties of a police officer.
• All applicants must be ACT 120 certified by the Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (MPOETC).
• Any applicant currently in the police academy must successfully complete the academy and pass the MPOETC ACT 120 certification test prior to the projected date of appointment with the West Whiteland Township Police Department.
• Any applicant who successfully completed the police academy within the previous two years, but failed to obtain a MPOETC ACT 120 certification, shall successfully pass the MPOETC ACT 120 certification test prior to the projected date of appointment with the West Whiteland Township Police Department.
• Applicants who cannot obtain MPOETC ACT 120 certification by the projected date of appointment with the West Whiteland Township Police Department shall be disqualified.
• All applicants must possess a diploma from an accredited high school or graduate equivalency diploma (GED) prior to appointment.
• All applicants must possess a valid motor vehicle operator’s license issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania prior to appointment.
• Any felony conviction is an automatic disqualification. Any criminal activity that would be considered a felony under Pennsylvania law, federal law, or the law of the state in which the activity occurred is a disqualification.
• All applicants must possess and retain the ability to provide credible testimony in a court of law.
• Once hired, applicants must be willing and able to receive oleoresin capsicum (O.C.) spray, as well as temporary exposure to a conductive electrical weapon (Taser/Axon).

Job Description/General Duties:

A Police Officer with West Whiteland Township Police Department is entrusted with the lives and property of the public. A police officer enforces the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and ordinances of West Whiteland Township. Officers prevent crime, control traffic, alleviate emergency conditions, maintain building security, and provide general assistance to the public upon request. Duties include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Make arrests of persons who have violated laws and municipal ordinances.
2. Preparation of police reports and documents.
3. Respond to calls for service and investigate complaints of disorder or criminal conduct.
4. Investigate conditions hazardous to life or property.
5. Collection and preservation of evidence.
6. Participation in the prosecution of offenders by appearing in court to truthfully testify to situations observed and actions taken.
7. Ensure the free flow of traffic throughout the township.
8. Investigate traffic accidents and enforce the motor vehicle laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
9. Ensure the continued enhancement of the department image by displaying professional conduct at all times.
10. Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits:

Testing Requirements:

• The physical fitness assessment is pass / fail. The test consists of 1 mile run, 300 meter run, sit ups and push ups.
• Passing applicants will move on to a panel interview in which a passing score of 70% must be earned to continue in the hiring process.

Hiring Process:

Per policy, a select number of applicants will be invited to attend the physical fitness assessment. Those applicants who successfully pass the physical fitness assessment will undergo a panel interview and will be ranked according to score. Other hiring requirements will include background investigation, polygraph exam, psychological exam, and a medical physical.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

It is the township’s and the police department’s policy to grant equal employment opportunities to qualified persons without regard to a person’s race, color, sex, religious creed, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, handicap, disability, or other protected status by state, federal or local statute. The township is an equal opportunity employer.

Please direct questions regarding this position to pdhiring@westwhiteland.org