2023 ALTERNATE ROUTE PROGRAM ANNOUNCMENT

THE BERGEN COUNTY POLICE ACADEMY WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE ALTERNATE ROUTE PROGRAM FOR OUR JULY 2023, AND JANUARY 2024 BASIC COURSE FOR POLICE OFFICERS.

THE SELECTION PROCESS WILL BEGIN IN FEBRUARY 2023. AFTER BOTH ORIENTATIONS ARE COMPLETED, NO MORE THAN 200 APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR THE EXAM.

APPLICATIONS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AT THE ORIENTATION WHICH, WILL BE CONDUCTED AT THE BERGEN COUNTY LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY INSTITUTE. PLEASE REVIEW THE BELOW INFORMATION.

DO NOT CALL THE POLICE ACADEMY! – YOUR QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED AT THE ORIENTATION

ALTERNATE ROUTE PROGRAM

Defined:

In accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 52:17B-69.1, an Alternate Route candidate is a person who does not hold a probationary or temporary appointment as a police officer, but who is seeking such an appointment. An Alternate Route candidate may enroll in the Basic Course for Police Officers provided that he or she:

(1) meets the general qualifications for a police officer set forth in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-122,and such other qualifications as the Commission may deem appropriate; and

(2) applies to and is accepted by a Commission approved school for admission to a police training course.

Entrance Requirements:

Alternate Route applicants must meet the standards required under N.J.S.A. 52:17B-69.1, including the general qualifications for a police officer as set forth pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-122:

(1) is a citizen of the United States;

(2) is sound in body and of good health sufficient to satisfy the board of trustees of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System of New Jersey as to his eligibility for membership in the retirement system;

(3) is able to read, write and speak the English language well and intelligently;

(4) is of good moral character, and has not been convicted of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude.

The Commission has established an education standard for Alternate Route applicants, requiring a minimum of 60 academic credits earned (prior to the application date) from a regionally accredited or Middle States accredited college or university, in order to be considered for admission to the Alternate Route Program. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (http://www.msche.org/ ) has an Institution Directory http://www.msche.org/institutions_directory.asp?txtRange=b

The Police Training Commission recognizes the contributions and sacrifices made by military veterans for the safety, security and freedom of our society. Qualified veterans must successfully complete every component of the selection process with a minimum qualifying score. An individual who has served in the military but is not a qualified veteran as defined by the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and who is otherwise qualified, but has not earned 60 college credits, may substitute two years of full time, active duty military service, or a combination of college credits and full time active duty military service to satisfy the education requirement.

The following selection criteria shall be implemented by schools that participate in the Alternate Route Program. Each element shall be graded on a pass-fail basis with the exception of the written test and the structured interview. Candidates shall be ranked after the interview phase of the selection process. Final ranking will be a combination of the written score (60% of overall grade) and the structured interview (40% of overall grade). The interview will take the physical fitness performance test score into account. A ranking list shall be maintained by each school, clearly designating where each candidate placed on the eligibility list.

Applicants must attend a mandatory orientation prior to applying to the Bergen County Police Academy’s Alternate Route Program. This orientation will explain all of the necessary steps in the process. The applicant shall attend either Wednesday February 1, 2023 at 7:00 pm, or Saturday February 4, 2023 at 9:00 am. These orientations will take place at the Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute. There is no registration necessary for the Orientation; just show up in proper attire.

The first 200 applications will be accepted on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 between the hours of 9 am and 1 pm. No applications will be accepted prior to Tuesday morning.

When dropping off the application you will need the following:

Completed Application
Certified Check or Money Order
Printed out Proof of your completion of a minimum of 60 College Credits, and/or DD214

All candidates will be required to take the written exam, and the top 40 will take the physical ability test:

Written Test - Monday March 6, 2023 at 7:00 pm – No one will be granted entrance after 6:45 pm

ONLY THE TOP 40 ON THE WRITTEN WILL TAKE THE PHYSICAL FITNESS ASSESSMENT

Physically Fitness Assessment - Wednesday March 15, 2023 at 9:00 am. Dress to exercise.

This test is based on the Police Training Commission’s standards and will be scored on a pass/fail basis. It consist of sit-ups, push-ups, vertical jump, 300 meter sprint and 1.5 mile run.

Interview - will be for the top 30 applicants on the written test that successfully passed the physical ability test. We anticipate the interview dates to be in late March to early April.

Only those candidates chosen for the Alternate Route Program will be required to take the following tests:

Psychological Exam

Medical Exam

Drug Test

Background Investigation

The testing process is competitive for the few seats available. We anticipate 5 Alternate Route Trainee slots available in each class, Summer 2023 and Spring 2024. The numbers of slots available are contingent on the number of recruits in the academy and the Bergen County Police Academy reserves the right to set their own limits, in accordance with the Police Training Commission’s Alternate Route Policy.

The above policy is a state wide policy as determined by the New Jersey Police Training Commission.