Lateral Requirements and Process
Are you qualified to become a Salt Lake City Police Officer?
Minimum requirements
for Lateral Hires:
To qualify for the Salt Lake City Police Department Lateral Entry Program, a candidate must meet the following:
In-State and Out-of-State Candidates:
- A candidate must have a current Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification as a Law Enforcement Officer. Out-of-state applicants must successfully pass Utah POST Waiver Process.
- Candidates must have at LEAST one year of experience as an officer working for a department whose primary focus is responding to calls for service
- Candidates would be required to meet all minimum requirements to become a Salt Lake City Police Department Officer.
- Candidates must fill out an employment application for the Salt Lake City Police Department and attach a copy of their Category I Certificate.
- Candidates must complete a Lateral Entry Application (provided prior to hire).
Upon successful completion of all stages in the testing process, the Lateral Entry Program would include the following:
- Compensation credit given for prior experience as a Category I Police Officer with any public law enforcement agency on a year-for-year basis (up to 12 years).
- Vacation and personal leave credit given for prior experience as a Category I Police Officer with any public law enforcement agency on a year-for-year basis (up to 12 years). Additional time awarded for prior Salt Lake City Corporation employment.
- No credit would be given for less than 1 year (12 months) of law enforcement experience as a Category I Police Officer.
- Candidates must successfully complete all stages of the examination process. The testing stages include the following: Background Investigation, Truth Verification Exam, Psychological Evaluation and Examination, Interview with the Chief, Physical Examination and Drug Screen.
The Lateral Hiring Process
Application
All interested candidates must complete and submit an online application and a copy of their resume to be eligible prior to the closing date.
If a candidate does not have computer access, they may schedule an appointment by emailing careers@slcgov.com. Candidates may also visit public libraries for computer access.
Background Investigation and Truth Verification Examination
The top candidates after the interview will be required to undergo an extensive background investigation. The Background Investigation may include, but is not limited to, the following: employment history, Internal Affairs history, driving history, drug history, arrest and conviction record, financial responsibility, and interviews with family members, neighbors, supervisors, co-workers, and friends.
Participation in a Truth Verification Examination is required as part of the Background Investigation. The Instruments are used to measure minor physiological changes in the subject and provide visual results which may be interpreted as deceptive or non-deceptive. The examinations may use microphones, sensors, cameras, and no wires are attached to the subject.
Psychological Examination
and Evaluation
The top candidates passing the Background Investigation and Truth Verification Examination will be required to complete and pass a thorough psychological examination and evaluation. It is important to note that the examination is not designated to measure mental health.
Chief’s Interview and Medical Exam
The top candidates who have successfully advanced after each of the above hurdles in the recruitment process will be contacted and invited to interview with the Police Chief.
The Police Chief will consider all conclusions of the above exam modules along with other information collected during the recruitment process prior to extending a conditional offer of employment.
Candidates who receive a conditional offer of employment must successfully complete and pass a thorough medical examination, including a drug screen. Physicians who perform the medical examination consider the severity of any problem in making the pass/fail decision.