Recruitment, Training & Accreditation

The Sumter Police Department looks for the highest quality applicants when filling open positions. Sgt.Charles Drake can be contacted at 803-436-2701 concerning any questions.

REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility

1. Candidate must be at least 21 years of age
2. Be a citizen of the United States
3. No conviction of any felony crime or a misdemeanor which involves moral character, perjury, or making a false statement. Have no history of drug abuse; a lifestyle free of illegal drug use, and no DUI conviction within the past 10 years.
4. Must be able to pass the following: physical fitness test, written examination, polygraph, psychological, oral interview and thorough background investigation.
5. Professional in appearance, demeanor, grooming and promote good personal hygiene.
6. Possess an honorable discharge from the armed forces (if applicable)

Required Documents

The documents following must be reviewed at the Police Headquarters prior to the date scheduled for the oral review board interview:

1. High school diploma or GED certificate
2. Birth Certificate
3. Valid South Carolina driver's license
4. Out of state driving record if out of state license held within the past 5 years
5. Military discharge form (DD214 if applicable)
6. Proof of name change (if applicable)
7. Naturalization papers (if applicable)
8. Social Security Card

Upon being offered employment with the city of Sumter Police Department as a Law Enforcement Officer the candidate is required to sign a 2 year contract.

Once the officer is hired, he or she must successfully complete the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy to become a certified officer of the law. The academy training is for eight weeks and is located on Broad River Road, Columbia, South Carolina.

TRAINING PROCESS

• Successfully complete the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy
• Complete firearms training four times per year
• Every 6 months fitness testing is done
• Complete annual defensive driving course
• Attend classes for legal updates and test on materials

ACCREDITATION

The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) is a Virginia based agency which grants accredited status to law enforcement agencies throughout the world who meet strict criteria established by the Commission.

Law Enforcement Accreditation is a voluntary program, which has been established by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Police Executive Research Forum, National Sheriffs Association, and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, which has established 445 standards with which an agency must comply in order to be accredited, manages the program. CALEA was formed in 1979 for establishing a body of standards designed to 1) increase an agencies capability to prevent and control crime; 2) increase agency effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of law enforcement services; 3) increase coordination and cooperation with other law enforcement agencies and with other members of the criminal justice system; and 4) increase citizen and employee confidence in the goals, objectives, policies, and practices of the Department. In addition, the commission was formed to develop an accreditation process that provides law enforcement agencies an opportunity to demonstrate voluntarily that they meet an established set of professional standards.

The voluntary accreditation program for law enforcement agencies is a joint effort of the CALEA, and four major law enforcement executive membership associations:

• International Association of Chiefs of Police
• National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives
• National Sheriff's Association
• Police Executive Research Forum

The accreditation process consists of an on-site assessment of the Department every three years by law enforcement professionals from outside the state. The assessment last for four days and all facets of the Department are inspected from personnel issues, management, and the delivery of law enforcement services to the community. The Sumter police Department has been Nationally Accredited since July 1995 and was the eighth law enforcement agency within the State of South Carolina to become Nationally Accredited.