Steps in the Hiring Process
All of our commissioned officers, both experienced and new officers, will go through the same hiring process steps. They include:
- Submit application and meet minimum qualifications
- Pass written exam
- Oral board interview
- Personal history questionnaire
- Background worksheet
- Employment checks
- Personal references checks
- Home visit
- Polygraph exam
- Phase I suitability
- Conditional offer
- Phase II psychological exam
- Medical exam
- Drug test
- Credit check
- Integrity interview
- Fingerprinting
- Chief's interview
Disqualification Guidelines
As a general rule, performance indicators and candidate information and records will be evaluated by considering the candidate as a whole, and taking into consideration the following:
- Age at the time the behavior occurred
- Passage of time
- Patterns of past behavior
- Severity of behavior
- Probable consequences if past behavior is repeated or made public
- Likelihood of recurrence
- Relevance of past behavior to public safety employment
- Aggravating and mitigating factors
- Other relevant considerations
A candidate’s qualifications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, using a totality-of-the-circumstances framework.
Prior drug use shall be included in this process, using the Federal Drug Classification Schedules for the following standards.
- Any conviction for the sale, manufacture or distribution of a controlled substance, or actions that support the sale, manufacture or distribution of a controlled substance will disqualify all applicants.
- Applicants must not have used any drug listed in Schedule I, excluding marijuana, or Schedule II, in the last ten years.
- Applicants must not have used any drug listed in Schedule III, Schedule IV or Schedule V, in the last five years.
- Applicants must not have abused prescription medication in the last three years.
- Per department policy, Commissioned Officer applicants who have used marijuana within two years of application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The Colorado Peace Officer Standards & Training (POST) Board
The Colorado POST board shall deny certification to any person who has been convicted of any felony or select misdemeanors. You can find the entire list here.
Experienced Officers
Would you like to be part of a new and engaging environment where you can grow and develop as an experienced officer? Our department usually begins recruitment once per month.
In accordance with the State of Colorado’s Classified position rules, applicants must meet the following requirements in order to be considered:
- Must have current Colorado P.O.S.T. certification and one year of law enforcement experience.
- Must be at least 21 years of age; possess a valid Colorado Driver License without:
- Felony or domestic violence convictions.
- Acquiring more than seven points in the last year and/or more than 12 points within the last two years on a driver’s license.
- Alcohol/drug-related traffic convictions in the last three years and repeat alcohol/drug convictions after the age of 18 within the last ten years.
New Officers
The University of Colorado Boulder Police Department encourages anyone interested in starting a career in law enforcement to apply. Our department typically begins recruitment every Fall and Spring for new candidates.
In accordance with the State of Colorado’s Classified position rules, applicants must meet the following requirements in order to be considered:
- One year of college coursework (30 semester hours).
- Must be at least 21 years of age; possess a valid Colorado Driver License without:
- Felony or domestic violence convictions
- Acquiring more than seven points in the last year and/or more than 12 points within the last two years on a driver’s license.
- Alcohol/drug-related traffic convictions in the last three years and repeat alcohol/drug convictions after the age of 18 within the last ten years.
- Must be eligible to apply for Colorado P.O.S.T. certification. Current Colorado P.O.S.T. certification eligibility requirements may be found here.
