US Capitol Police

[snaponbilly]

ok like most of us out there waiting to get picked up by a Fed agency, i'm sitting around waiting as well haha! took my POST test with the USCP in February, passed, and filled out my background info packet. my referances have since all been called.
in May, did my medical, poly, and psych. haven't heard anything since then. i've called down there a few times and have been told "i'm still in there. and just have to keep waiting". i know the august class got cancelled due to budget issues. they told me the next class will be in january and they will be calling people in november and december.
problem is, my current job wants me to make a long term commitment to them which of course i don't want to do if i end up getting a phone call a week later LOL.
i was thinking of going down there and talking to someone in person to see if i can get some insight to my possible future with them. anyone work for them that can shed some light on this for me? thanks in advacne...

[davejoyce2000]

You said you passed the test. What was your score? Do they select candidates with the highest scores first? Do you need to score in the high 90's in order to get selected and are you ranked on a list based on your score? So is it true if you passed with a score in the 70's you basically will have no chance of getting selected although you passed? I'm from Massachusetts and wondering if it's worth traveling to DC to take the test. I mean if they only hire the test scores in the high 90's and not anything lower than I don't think its worth the time.

[Joeyd6]

If you think you are heading to the Capital Police offices to discuss your statsu you are nuts. That is not how it works and you will definatly get a name for yourslef quickly. There is a phrase in law enforcement: "Hurry up and wait." Self explanatory.

You are in the process and when your number comes due, you will get called. There is no set time frame. Hell, there is no federal budget yet the fiscal year started 10/1/09/ Every agency is on a continuing resolution, meaning they can't spend more money in the a month this year than last year, until a budget is passed. Nobody hires or spends much money until at least December and mor elikely January/Feb.

What kind of long term commitment are they lookingf gor? Sign a contract? Financial costs? Unless you are some specilly employed person, there is a way to tactifully get out of anything.

[snaponbilly]

You said you passed the test. What was your score? Do they select candidates with the highest scores first? Do you need to score in the high 90's in order to get selected and are you ranked on a list based on your score? So is it true if you passed with a score in the 70's you basically will have no chance of getting selected although you passed? I'm from Massachusetts and wondering if it's worth traveling to DC to take the test. I mean if they only hire the test scores in the high 90's and not anything lower than I don't think its worth the time.

to be honest, i took the test back in February so i don't remember my test score. since then, i've taken 5 or 6 other tests with other agencies. i typically score in the 80's. i'm not sure if they rank you by test score but it wouldn't surprise me. i've been told by numerous other agencies that getting into the USCP is kinda easy and a lot of people get thier start there and move on to bigger and better things.

[snaponbilly]

If you think you are heading to the Capital Police offices to discuss your statsu you are nuts. That is not how it works and you will definatly get a name for yourslef quickly. There is a phrase in law enforcement: "Hurry up and wait." Self explanatory.

You are in the process and when your number comes due, you will get called. There is no set time frame. Hell, there is no federal budget yet the fiscal year started 10/1/09/ Every agency is on a continuing resolution, meaning they can't spend more money in the a month this year than last year, until a budget is passed. Nobody hires or spends much money until at least December and mor elikely January/Feb.

What kind of long term commitment are they lookingf gor? Sign a contract? Financial costs? Unless you are some specilly employed person, there is a way to tactifully get out of anything.

i actually know someone who works for them and have spoken to him a few times- super nice guy. anyway, he has explained a lot to me about the agency and how it works. he told me based on where i am in the process (everything passed) that i probably would've gotten called by now but the August class got cancelled due to budget overages.
he told me the new budget just got passed and they got more money for the new FY and would probably start making calls again soon. the BI's told me the next class starts in January and they would be making calls in November and December for it. i don't know if i'm in that group or not, all they tell me after they look up my name is "man i've been in your shoes before and it sucks, but just be patient". going down there was just a thought. the people in the office of BI are usually very nice.
i currently operate a franchised business on a "trial" basis. they want me to commit to them by the end of the year, which basically means a very large business loan. i'd be pretty upset if i go through with it and get the call a week later.

[fogliad1]

I took the POST in June 2009 scored in the 90's, I have a bachelors in CJ, and 3 years military in NG Infantry unit (not a vet tho). I also have not heard **** since I certified my application in early July other than a couple days ago a recruiter emailed asking me to clarify a few things on my app, but that was it. He considered my app "a new application", even tho its 4 months old. He said he was doing a pre-screen on it. Does anybody know how after the pre-screen do you get called for the rest of the process? I.E (Interview, medical, poly, physical) I know this takes time, but I find it ridiculous that I still haven’t even gone through the process to even be considered or put on a list! Which even then takes more time. Any info would be great, thanks.

BTW I heard there was a class that just went down this OCT and as you all heard there will be one in JAN, and then after that I heard March/April.

[snaponbilly]

I took the POST in June 2009 scored in the 90's, I have a bachelors in CJ, and 3 years military in NG Infantry unit (not a vet tho). I also have not heard **** since I certified my application in early July other than a couple days ago a recruiter emailed asking me to clarify a few things on my app, but that was it. He considered my app "a new application", even tho its 4 months old. He said he was doing a pre-screen on it. Does anybody know how after the pre-screen do you get called for the rest of the process? I.E (Interview, medical, poly, physical) I know this takes time, but I find it ridiculous that I still haven’t even gone through the process to even be considered or put on a list! Which even then takes more time. Any info would be great, thanks.

BTW I heard there was a class that just went down this OCT and as you all heard there will be one in JAN, and then after that I heard March/April.

i'll put it to you this way- i took my test in February and passed. i didn't hear anything until May when they had me do medical, psych and poly all in a 2 week time frame! while i was doing that my referances were calling me saying "hey the Capitol Police called me today about you". since then i've called down there a few times asking what my status was and they just keep telling me i'm still in there. thier favorite phrase is "no news is good news".
as far as the classes go, yes i heard about the Oct class, which i thought i was gonna be in. however when the August class got cancelled, they bumped everyone to the Oct class, pushing everyone else back to the Jan class i assume. so i'm [I]hoping[I] to hear something in Nov or Dec. i keep hearing this is the worst possible time to try and get a gov't job right now due to the economy and all. all the agencies have more than the usual amount of applications, so i guess we all have to keep waiting i suppose...

[Joeyd6]

i actually know someone who works for them and have spoken to him a few times- super nice guy. anyway, he has explained a lot to me about the agency and how it works. he told me based on where i am in the process (everything passed) that i probably would've gotten called by now but the August class got cancelled due to budget overages.

Good to hear, so you are literally just waiting. If I were you, start PT'ing hard, and I don't mean weights. Run and stop and do sit-ups and push-up and pull-ups and squats and mountain climbers and runs some more. Get ready for FLETC.

he told me the new budget just got passed and they got more

money for the new FY and would probably start making calls again soon. [/quote]
He is incorrect. The budget has not been passed. The entire federal government is running on a continuing resoltion at this time. Nobody has any money and spending has been halted government wide like it is every year. They have done this for the past 33 years. And while agencies have requested $, they don't know how much of that they will get till it is passed. According to a dozen or so Senators, they are saying the CR will be in place until mid-December when they will pass the budgte before the holiday recess. There are some fights about giving certain agencies money they asked for vs. what they think they need.

i currently operate a franchised business on a "trial" basis. they want me to commit to them by the end of the year, which basically means a very large business loan. i'd be pretty upset if i go through with it and get the call a week later.

I can tell you right now, you will not get you report date by then. You are going to have to make a big decision (loan and then sell or figure out something else). Come up with a new plan.

[snaponbilly]

ugh! thats terrific... the waiting has been killing me. i guess i don't understand why the BI's would tell me they would start making calls in Nov and Dec if there isn't any budget passed? and if thats the case, why even have a Jan class?
as far as training goes, i think i'll be ok. i run 3 times a week and weight train/ bodyweight train 3 times a week- i've been doing it since i was in grade school. i'm sure i'll get things get thrown at me i haven't done before, but i think i have a pretty good base started. i've alwasy been a fit kind of person...
BTW what agency do you work for? (if you don't mind me asking) you seem to have a ton of info...

[Joeyd6]

Thanks but I don't know much. I have just been with the gov on many levels (Fed, State and Local) since 97 and through 4 academies now. I am a 1811 with an OIG.

[snaponbilly]

well, i appriciate the info anyway .
i've applied to so MANY agencies this year and no luck thus far. one local agency, really upset me. they put me through thier process, and at the last minute they said "sorry you're structured interview didn't go well at all, and we have applicants with language skills and experiance." i was like hello??!! you knew that when you approved my initial application- why did you waste my time?
oh well, i'll keep trying i suppose...

[fogliad1]

I def feel your pain snap. something similar happened to me with a local PD, they were testing at $50 per applicant. I went throughnthe process last october and then never heard from them again. I found out that they actually werent hiring at all, and all they were doing is testing to make money off the $50 fee to re-hire laid off officers. This is very common in NJ where im from. I even took the test for NYPD, who has a turnover rate of thousands a year. They said I wont be going to the academy until 2012!! and this NYPD, the biggest PD on the east and the worst working conditions with low pay. 20effing 12. The economy has been kicking my a$$ all over the place. If you like your job, I would stay. Im trying to do the same at my job. If you here from capitol let me know

[snaponbilly]

I def feel your pain snap. something similar happened to me with a local PD, they were testing at $50 per applicant. I went throughnthe process last october and then never heard from them again. I found out that they actually werent hiring at all, and all they were doing is testing to make money off the $50 fee to re-hire laid off officers. This is very common in NJ where im from. I even took the test for NYPD, who has a turnover rate of thousands a year. They said I wont be going to the academy until 2012!! and this NYPD, the biggest PD on the east and the worst working conditions with low pay. 20effing 12. The economy has been kicking my a$$ all over the place. If you like your job, I would stay. Im trying to do the same at my job. If you here from capitol let me know

that is unbelievable!!! i would NEVER pay to start a hiring process!!! wow- sorry to hear. i've passed everything with the USCP they tell me, so i can't think of a reason why they wouldn't call me at some point...

[snaponbilly]

ok so i have an update. i called down to the BI's and asked what the latest info was on hiring. they informed me the new list of people will be out next week, and they will be making calls to those people starting then for the January class! of course i asked if i was on the list, and they said they didn't know since it hasn't been delivered yet. so..... keeping my fingers crossed

[snaponbilly]

so i have another update... stumbled onto another police forum, and found a thread about the USCP. there are a couple of guys that actually work there now and have been giving a lot of info on the agency. anyway- as of last week, they have been calling people for the Jan class! a few guys in the thread are waiting like us and thier timeframe is similar to mine.
so without a list being established they are calling people already and no one can figure out why. oh well... the waiting contimes...