Latrobe police department hopes to hire two patrol officers within the next few months.

With 13 initial applicants, the department is considering eight candidates for the job. Candidates are required to complete each phase of an extended hiring process. If they fail a phase, they are eliminated from the running.

“It’s such a process because we’re trying to find the best candidate in the city,” said Sgt. Robert Derk, who is the acting police chief.

According to Derk, 11 of the applicants passed the physical exam, nine of those still in the running showed up for the written exam and eight passed.

“That was good because typically, we lose a lot more before the written test, but this time we didn’t,” Derk said.

During the next round, candidates will be interviewed and ranked based on their answers and test scores. Derk said that the department is currently working on completing background checks of each potential hire.

“It’s a very in-depth background,” Derk said. “We go through social media, all of their employers, we have an officer that goes out and actually talks to neighbors and employers– people they know.”

The next step is a conditional offer of employment. The offer will remain conditional until the candidate passes a psychological evaluation and drug screening.

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