All individuals interested in becoming an Overland Park police officer must meet specific minimum eligibility requirements. Eligible candidates:

• Are United States citizens,
• Are at least 20 years of age at time of application, and 21 years of age by date of hire,
• Have a high school diploma, GED, or evidence of equivalent achievement,
• Are able to respond from their residence to the Police Department within 90 minutes,
• Take and pass a physical agility test, a written examination, and an oral board interview,
• Successfully pass a Police Department-administered polygraph exam,
• Complete an in-depth background investigation,
• Complete and pass a physical and psychological examination from a licensed physician or practitioner after a conditional offer of employment,
• Complete and pass a drug screen,
• Achieve and demonstrate technological proficiency in the areas directly connected to daily assignments, and
• Achieve and maintain a level of physical fitness that allows officers to safely and competently perform the essential functions of the job.

Physical Agility Test

Applicants will complete a physical agility test which is currently in use at the Johnson County Regional Police Academy. This course was designed and validated by Stanard and Associates, and must be completed in 93 seconds or less.

The test course is approximately 200 yards in length and consists of the following items:

• Exit a patrol car and run on a paved surface that transitions to loose gravel and grass.
• Run down and back up a ditch.
• Go under a low-lying obstacle.
• Jump over a small bush.
• Climb over a fence.
• Run up and down stairs.
• Drop to his/her stomach.
• Stand back up.
• Move a 150-pound dummy a set distance.

Candidates may not have any immediate family members employed by the city in part-time or full-time capacities.

Overland Park does not have a city or state residency requirement. Officers must able to respond from their residence to the Police Department within 90 minutes.

Tattoos

Officers may have some tattoos or piercings displayed while working in an official capacity and while wearing a department uniform off-duty.

Tattoos that are not allowed include designs that include extremist affiliations or philosophies that advocate racial, gender, religious or ethnic hatred, intolerance or discrimination of any protected classes. Tattoos that promote or depict violence, lawlessness, criminal acts, nudity, sexual acts, vulgarity or profane language are not allowed.

Officers may not have tattoos displayed on their heads, faces, necks, scalps, hands or fingers. One exception to this rule is a tattoo simulating a wedding ring on the ring finger.

Tattoos must be covered when an officer attends judicial hearings, trials and any other event as directed by the police chief in an official capacity.

Past Criminal Activity

The activities outlined below will be reviewed on a candidate-by-candidate basis and may disqualify applicants:

• Must not have been convicted of, had a conviction expunged for or been placed on diversion or deferred judgment by any state or federal agency for a felony crime, or a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, or a misdemeanor offense that reflects on the honesty,  trustworthiness, integrity, or competence of the applicant. Commission of any other potential felonious act(s), detected or undetected, will be closely scrutinized on a case-by-case basis.
• Any sales, distribution, manufacturing or transporting of “any” illegal drug(s) will be closely scrutinized on a case-by-case basis.
• Must not have used any illegal drugs, with the exception of marijuana or synthetic marijuana, within the past 5 years.
• Must not have used, either illegally or legally, marijuana, synthetic marijuana, THC, or THC derivative (including edibles) within the past one year from the date of application.
• Preference will be given to applicants with no illegal prescription drug possession/usage within the last three years. The Chief of Police or designee will evaluate any deviation from this preference on a case-by-case basis.
• Right to legally own or use a firearm must not be revoked or curtailed under federal, state or local law, including but not limited to provisions of the Gun Control Act of 1968.
• Must not be currently charged with or under indictment for any criminal activity other than minor traffic violations.
• Must not be currently on criminal probation.
• Driving Record

Eligible candidates:

• Must possess a valid driver’s license prior to beginning employment with the City.
• May not have been convicted, plead guilty, plead no contest, or been diverted on four or more moving traffic violations within the past three years.
• May not have been convicted, plead guilty, plead no contest, or been diverted on a serious traffic violation within the past three years. Serious traffic violations include DUI, reckless driving, hit and run, vehicular homicide, transporting an open container of alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverage, eluding a police officer, and negligent homicide.