LIHUE — The Kauai Police Department is offering a free course to help potential candidates prepare for police officer exams.
“Becoming a police officer is not an easy feat, as it involves being physically and mentally prepared to respond to events under exceedingly difficult circumstances,” acting Police Chief Michael Contrades said. “The Kauai Police Department honors and appreciates those who are willing to answer this important call to service, and we are conducting this prep course to support all interested individuals through this process.”
The starting salary for KPD officers is $63,108. The KPD has 144 officers on the force but is authorized to employ 161, leaving 17 vacancies.
The KPD is accepting registrations for its first prep course of the year on Feb. 16 and 17. The two-day course will consist of five blocks of instruction, offering practical tips for taking the entrance exam.
The schedule is as follows:
Saturday, Feb. 16, from 8 a.m. to noon, at the Kaua‘i Police Department: Introduction to KPD; hiring process; test taking tips and practice written test; personal history packet; and Physical Readiness Standards Test review.
Sunday, Feb. 17, from 8 to 10 a.m., at the Vidinha Stadium Track: Physical Readiness Standards Test practice.
Interested applicants, age 18 or older, can register for the free prep course until Feb. 8 on KPD’s recruitment website at www.kauai.gov/police. Space may be limited, and applicants are accepted on a first come, first serve basis.
For more information on the prep course, or to request an ASL interpreter, materials in an alternate format, or other auxiliary aid support, or an interpreter for a language other than English, please contact Capt. Mark Ozaki at 241-1646 at least seven calendar days before the event.
Police officer exams are being offered on Feb. 9, March 16, April 20, May 18, June 22, July 20, Aug. 17, Sept. 21, Oct. 19, Nov. 16 and Dec. 21.
A KPD police officer performs a variety of law enforcement, crime prevention, investigative and other specialized duties. Those selected to be a part of a recruit class will participate in an intense training period, which is designed to teach each recruit the techniques and procedures of police work. Candidates for employment must be at least 20 years of age at the time of filing the application, and at least 21 at the time of appointment.
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Caleb Loehrer, staff writer, can be reached at 245-0441 or cloehrer@thegardenisland.com.
