July 1, 2010: Thank you for your interest for the position of Police Officer with the Town of Amherst. While this packet contains details of the recruitment process and the information you need for both the written entrance examination and the physical abilities test, you must pass the written examination in order to continue on to the physical abilities test. All phases of the recruitment process are pass/fail and we do not release scores for any segment of the testing. There are no make-up or alternate dates for any of the testing; inability to attend any segment will result in disqualification. The following is listed in the order of the selection process: 1. Written Examination The examination will be held on Saturday September 2, 2010 at the Amherst Pelham Regional Middle School, 170 Chestnut Street, Amherst, MA. The examination is schedule to begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. and the doors to the Middle School will open at 8:00 a.m. Government issued picture identification will be required for entrance to the written examination. Related information that you should have received include an application for employment and a study guide. If you did not receive those, please go to http://publicsafetyllc.com to download these documents. We will notify you, in writing, if you passed the written examination and notify you of the date and time of your physical ability testing. 2. Physical Abilities Testing You must pass the written examination in order to be eligible to participate in this process. The information in this packet is being provided to you to enable you to better prepare for this testing; it is not intended to indicate that you qualify for this segment of the recruitment process. Should you be eligible to participate in this portion of the testing, you will be scheduled for testing at the Massachusetts State Police Academy site in New Braintree, Massachusetts (October 12 or 1, 2010) The enclosed forms are being provided to you now so that you are aware of the doctor s certification which will be required for participation in this process. The completed forms will be required to be presented at the time of your schedule appointment for the physical ability testing; DO NOT MAIL to the Amherst Police Department as you will not be allowed to participate in the testing if you are unable to present these two forms. Should you pass the written examination, we will notify you of the date and time of your physical ability testing. Related enclosures: Directions to New Braintree, MA site plus listing of what you must bring to physical testing: Doctor certification, must be completed and brought with you to the Physical Abilities Testing Completed Applicant release form Picture identification Should you have any questions regarding the enclosed information, please feel free to contact the Amherst Police Department Records Office at 13-29-3016 or email us at police@amherstma.gov. Sincerely, Scott P. Livingstone, Chief of Police Amherst Police Department
Amherst Police Department Records Office 111 Main Street Amherst, MA 01002 (13) 29-3016 Fax (13) 29-208 police@amherstma.gov Date: APPLICANT S RELEASE FORM In consideration for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of State Police permitting me to participate in the entrance fitness test required by the Town of Amherst, Massachusetts and conducted by the Department of State Police and the Town of Amherst, in order that I might further my own interest and ability to qualify as an applicant for the Town of Amherst Police Department, I agree to hold harmless the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of State Police and the Town of Amherst or any of their Agents or Employees because of any injury to my person or property which I may receive while performing the fitness test upon any premises owned, rented or utilized by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of State Police. I further state that I am not suffering from any injury, virus, or other type of illness which would hinder or preclude me from taking the fitness test on this date. PLEASE PRINT NAME WITNESS ADDRESS SIGNATURE ADDRESS SOCIAL SECURITY # / /
Amherst Police Department Records Office 111 Main Street Amherst, MA 01002 (13) 29-3016 Fax (13) 29-208 police@amherstma.gov Dear Doctor: The below-named individual has applied for the position of Police Officer for the Town of Amherst. Part of our prescreening process is a five part fitness assessment. As it is not this department s desire to conduct any type of testing that may cause any personal harm to the applicant or to assume any liability for any such harm, we are requesting your assistance in determining this applicant s ability to safely complete all phases of this fitness assessment. The minimum acceptable fitness requirements are on the reverse of this form. Please review these fitness requirements and offer your professional assessment of the individual s ability to safely complete all phases. Candidate s Name: ( please print name) Can this Candidate safely perform all phases of the above fitness assessment contained on the reverse side of this document? Yes (Print Doctor s Name) No (Doctor s Signature) Address: Telephone ( )
DIRECTIONS TO THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE ACADEMY NEW BRAINTREE FROM THE WEST-Take Exit 8 (Palmer Exit), turn left on Rte. 32 - take Rte. 32 North into the town of Ware. At the center of town take a right on Rte. 9 (Rte. 9 East) - highway becomes Rte. 9 East & Rte. 32 North at this point. Follow Rte. 9E/32N through the center of town, at the Ware/West Brookfield town line (Rte. 9 & 32 split here) turn left onto Rte. 32 North (toward Gilbertville). After passing Kardas Market on left and elementary school on right, take a right onto New Braintree Rd. (just before R/R tracks) - follow New Braintree Rd. for approximately. miles to the intersection of West Brookfield Road - take a left - Academy entrance is ½ mile on left. (Approximately 18 miles from Exit 8 on Turnpike) FROM THE EAST-Take Exit 9 (Sturbridge Exit), after going through toll booths take first exit - Rte. 20 West toward Sturbridge. Stay on Rte. 20 West for 1 to until you reach Rte. 18. Take Rte. 18 North (right off of Rte. 20 by Fire Station). Stay on Rte. 18 North for approximately 10 miles into the town of Brookfield. At the intersection of Rte. 9 and 18, take a left to go West on Rte. 9 (There should be a sign at this intersection for "State Police New Braintree"). Stay on Rte. 9 West for approximately into the center of West Brookfield. Take a right onto School Street just before the Town Common. The Town Common will be on the left of School Street and the bandstand is on the right. (Look for SP New Braintree Sign) follow School Street to intersection of Rte. 67 (at stop sign). After stopping go straight across and within approximately 100 feet take a right onto New Braintree Road. (Look for SP New Braintree sign) stay on New Braintree Road for approximately miles and the Academy entrance will be on the left. YOU MUST BRING THE FOLLOWING: Picture Identification Completed doctors certificate Completed Applicant release form Water bottle Gym clothes and running shoes
PHYSICAL FITNESS TEST BATTERY Minimum Scores for Amherst Police Candidates June 2006 Sex/Age Male 20-29 30-39 0-9 0-9 %Fat 20. 23. 2. 27.1 Sit-Up 38 3 29 2 Bench.99.88.80.71 Agility 1. Mile Run 12:1 13:36 1:29 1:26 Female 20-29 30-39 0-9 0-9 27.7 28.9 32.1 3.6 32 2 20 1.9.3.0. 1:26 1:7 16:8 17: Tests %Fat Sit-Up Bench Agility BODY COMPOSITION Percentage of body fat measured using anthropometric (skinfold caliper) protocol. The score is in a fat percentage (Note: Standard caliper protocol error rates (3% Male, % Female) are included in the scores. Preparation: 1. Reduce caloric intake by about 00 calories a day 2. Follow the exercise program. MUSCULAR ENDURANCE Score is the number of bent-leg sit-ups performed in one minute. Preparation: Three times a week, do three one minute sets of the maximum number of sit-ups you can do. Add sit-ups to reach the standard for your sex/age group by pre-screening day. ABSOLUTE STRENGTH One repetition maximum bench press using Dynamic Variable Resistance (DVR) protocol. Score is a ratio of weight pressed divided by body weight. Preparation: To calculate training weight: 1. Determine your 1 repetition maximum weight 2. Multiply that weight by 60% (.60) 3. For example, 10 lbs (1 rep. max. weight) x.60 = 90 lbs. (training weight). Do 3 sets of 8-10 repetitions of the training weight 3 times a week. AGILITY Illinois Agility Run (timed run). Score is in seconds. Preparation: Set up your own course and run it 3 times a week or participate in activities such as racquet ball or basketball that simulate the types of short sprint directional change required for this test. 1. Mile CARDIOVASCULAR CAPACITY 1. mile run. Score is in minutes and seconds. Run Preparation: Follow schedule below WEEK 1 2 3 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ACTIVITY DISTANCE 1 mile 1. miles TIME 17-20:00 2-29:00 32-3:00 28-30:00 27:00 26:00 2:00 2:00 23:00 22:00 21:00 20:00 TIMES/WEEK