SELECTION PROCESS

Interested persons shall submit application for the position of Citizen Volunteer - Search and Rescue Bureau. The forms (found on the Joining SAR homepage) provide for the initial application and preliminary background check for both positions. The application will be reviewed first for completeness to ensure that the applicant can meet basic requirements. The applicant will be scheduled for an orientation interview, written examination and individual interview conducted by the SAR Training Unit. Examinations are given on a frequent basis and are designed to evaluate the applicant's general aptitude in the areas of arithmetic, spelling, reading comprehension, fact
collection, judgement and ability to follow instructions. Examinations require passing score of 70% or higher.

The individual oral interview will evaluate the applicant's personal characteristics, good judgement, ability to make sound decisions and interest in the SAR program. The interview may include a writing exercise which will be used to evaluate writing skills. This process will also require a passing score of 70% or higher.

Upon completion of all preliminary entry/selection requirements, and being cleared as a citizen volunteer, citizen volunteers will be assigned to a bureau unit to begin service. Reserve and Rescue Volunteer candidates will be placed on the SAR academy selection list and temporarily assigned to the Training Unit while awaiting their academy training. These procedures will be explained a little later on in more detail.

It is important to understand that application information and the background investigation could produce reasons for an applicant to become disqualified as a Reserve candidate or even as a Citizen Volunteer candidate. This could occur at any time during the processing work-up phase, regardless of whether or not the candidate is already actively involved as an apprentice or enrolled in the academy. Reserve applicants found to be unsuitable for selection as a reserve could possibly cleared and accepted as a citizen volunteer. As an example, the applicant's background research may prevent he or she from being able to become a sworn peace officer. However, since Citizen Volunteers are not sworn as peace officers, the applicant might otherwise be acceptable to continue a career path to become trained as a Rescue Volunteer. Applicants will be advised by mail or telephone call of their testing dates, times and other pertinent selection process steps. It is very important for the applicant to keep the Personnel Division fully informed of any changes of address, telephone numbers and other status changes that would affect our being able to maintain contact during the processing/selection procedure. It is your responsibility, as the applicant, to comply
with all requests to keep appointments, return paperwork, etc., in a most timely manner.