:: Hiring Information  

For appointment to the Fall River Police Department, applicants must take and pass the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' written police examination. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Human Resources Division administers the Civil Service examination. The exam is given every two years. The date of the last exam was May 19, 2007. For more information about the examination, contact the Massachusetts Human Resources Division at 617-727-3777 or www.mass.gov/civilservice. Other requirements are listed below.

In order to receive a residency preference on the hiring list, you must be a resident of the City of Fall River for at least one year prior to taking the civil service exam. In order to become a Fall River police officer, you must also be a resident of the City of Fall River at the time of appointment and remain a resident for one (1) continuous year (City of Fall River Ordinances Section 50-101). Other requirements are listed below.

To become a police officer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, applicants must:

1. Be a U.S. citizen (birth or naturalized)
2. Be at least 21 years of age
3. Possess a high school diploma, or have a G.E.D. certificate issued by the Massachusetts Department of Education, or have served at least 3 years in the United States Armed Forces with a release or discharge under honorable conditions.
4. Possess a valid Massachusetts motor vehicle operator's license
5. Meet medical and physical fitness standards. Copies of the medical standards are available for review during normal business hours (8:45 am to 5:00 pm) at the Human Resources Division, One Ashburton Place (Second floor), Customer Service Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
6. Not smoke. Smoking of tobacco products is prohibited as outlined by Chapter 41, Section 101A of the Massachusetts General Laws.
7. Not be a convicted felon. No person who has been convicted of a felony shall be appointed as a police officer.
8. Be eligible to obtain a firearms permit (license to carry firearms).

For appointment to the Fall River Police Department, applicants must:

1. Take and pass the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Civil Service Police written examination. The result of the examination will list individuals by highest passing grade to lowest passing grade. Veterans will be ranked before non-veterans and Fall River residents will be ranked before non-residents (see above). Appointments will follow the ranking on the established list when openings exist.
2. Participate in an interview by the command staff of the Fall River Police Department
3. Pass an extensive background investigation, medical examination, psychological examination and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Physical Abilities Test (PAT) please reference the Human Resource web site at www.mass.gov/hrd for information regarding PAT testing.
4. Complete an approved Municipal Police Training Committee Recruit Academy

Once accepted to the Academy, student officers undertake a rigorous 21 week training course encompassing:

• Constitutional Law
• Criminal Law
• Crisis Intervention/Conflict Resolution
• Physical Training
• Patrol Procedures
• Defensive Driving
• Self Defense
• Firearm Training
• First Responders Training

Upon completion from the Training Academy, officers will be assigned to a twelve (12) week Field Training Officer Program.

Benefits

• Base starting salary $40,000 plus incentives
• Twelve (12) paid holidays per year
• Full retirement plan
• Educational incentives
• Health insurance options

The Fall River Police Department employs approximately 50 personnel in non-sworn functions, including electrician, mechanic, detention attendant, signal operator, switchboard operator, and a number of clerical positions.

These are Civil Service positions, as well, and exam information for them can be found at www.mass.gov/civilservice, or the personnel office at Government Center, 1 Government Center, Fall River (508) 324-2000.

In the absence of a Civil Service exam, signal operator positions (formerly known as dispatcher and/or public safety telecommunicator) and detention attendant are filled in a provisional basis.

Persons interested in applying for either signal operator or detention attendant may submit job applications directly to the Fall River Police Department at:

ATTN: Deputy Chief for Administration
Fall River Police Department
P.O. Box 509
Fall River, MA 02722

Job applications may be picked up a any time at the Fall River Police Department front window in the lobby. A resume is extremely helpful. Applicants for signal operator and detention attendant must be high school graduates or have a MA GED, and must be 18 years or older. Applicants for signal operator must also have excellent spelling, reading, and comprehension skills; have good keyboard (typewriter and/or computer) skills; be able to multi-task; and work in a fast-paced, high stress environment.

Applicants for both positions must be willing to work nights, holidays, and weekends on a rotating shift basis (4 days in and 2 days off). All applicants are subject to a thorough background investigation, employment check, physical exam, and drug screen.

Incomplete, inaccurate, or false information on an application disqualifies the applicant.

If you need more information, please contact us at cmoniz@frpd.org or telephone Off. P. Mancini at 508 676-8511, Ext. 227. Please be as specific as possible in requesting information - we will attempt to reply as promptly as possible.

It is the policy of the Fall River Police Department to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard for race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.

This policy of Equal Employment Opportunity applies to all policies and procedures relating to recruitment and hiring, compensation, benefits, termination and all other terms and conditions of employment.