New Haven Independent

So far, their approach seems to be working.

Some 60 potential recruits crowded into the auditorium at Career High School Monday to pick up applications and listen to police officers describe their jobs. Most lingered long after the information session was over, asking questions and chatting with current recruits about life on the force.

Police cited the need to “pre-train” potential recruits about what to expect from the recruitment process, as previous efforts have foundered as a result of high dropout rates during the preliminary stages of training. Last year, the Police Department filled only 27 out of 45 potential spots at the Police Academy.

Assistant Police Chief Stephanie Redding (pictured) said that the NHPD hopes to reverse that trend this year by offering preparatory training sessions to potential recruits. With many officers retiring and others becoming eligible for promotion, she added, the police department is now aiming to train two classes of 45 recruits and stagger their training over the next two years.

“We’re very proud of our police department,” she said. “But we need your help to fill two Academy classes of 45….We have about 90-100 vacancies.”

Applying to become a police officer is a multi-stage process. First, recruits fill out an application form detailing their professional and medical histories. (Forms will be accepted starting next Monday). Then they must pass a physical test before undergoing a background check for psychological stability and prior convictions. (Felonies and class A and B misdemeanors are deal-breakers). Finally, they must score in the 40th percentile range on a written test to be accepted to the Police Academy. Those who are accepted spend six months training with a starting salary of about $39,000.

Police officers insisted on the importance of being prepared for the first Agility Test, which will be held in April.

The training was “very, very intense,” said Sgt. Thaddeus Reddish. “We lost a lot of people to the Agility Test… If you’re not currently working out, you need to start.”

“We’re putting forth the effort to pre-train people” for this year’s test,” he added, noting that the passing grade for the first Agility Test is now 35 percent, dropping 5 percent from last year.

Potential recruits were mainly concerned with the physical requirements of the police training.

“Will I have to run more than 1.5 miles during training?” asked one young woman from the crowd.

“It’s like a fraternity,” answered Sgt. Reddish. “Once you get there, you’ll know.”

After the information session, potential recruits crowded onto the stage (pictured at the top of the story) to watch Officer Rob Strickland explain how to complete standard physical exercises for entry into the police force. He ordered six current recruits from the Police Academy to execute form-perfect sit-ups and push-ups — two exercises that have eliminated many suitable candidates in the past, he said.

After the demonstration, Strickland said that the goal of the recruitment drive is to encourage as many people as possible to fill out applications. Ideally, he said, the department hopes to choose 45 of the best candidates out of a pool of 500.

Outside the auditorium, specialized police units had set up tables with their gear to encourage recruits to take an interest in one area of police work. A pair of twin brothers standing near the SWAT table said they were confident that the NHPD would prove easier to break into than other police departments in Connecticut.

“It’s tough to get hired,” said Vincenzo Colombo, 21, who has passed police recruitment tests in other Connecticut towns. “But the turnout in New Haven [for the Police Academy] is low in comparison to other places.”

Vincenzo’s brother, Dominick, said he “always wanted to become a New Haven cop.”

He added: “I would love to work here. It’s one of the biggest municipalities.”

Other potential recruits said they were drawn to the job because of the promise of benefits, a decent salary and stable employment.

“The main reasons why I’m doing it is because of the pensions and benefits,” said Brian, 26, a former Air Force officer from who asked not to be fully identified. “Government jobs are stable.”