Officer Hiring Process

The Great Falls Police Department runs three hiring cycles per year for Entry Level Applicants.  Unless a specific Lateral Officer hiring process is open, testing cycles will be planned out to conclude just prior to the start of the Montana Law Enforcement Academy Basic courses. This allows us to send Entry Level Officers to the Montana Law Enforcement Academy immediately upon being hired. 

Our hiring process is competitive and applicants receive scores on the written testing and formal interview.  The Montana Physical Abilities Test (MPAT) is a pass fail physical exam.  Applicants must meet minimum scores to move forward.  The Great Falls Police Department applies Veteran’s Preference points to qualifying Veterans, once minimum passing scores are achieved. 

Hiring Process

Here at the Great Falls Police Department we strive to hire candidates within 90-120 days from the date of initial application.  The Hiring Process consists of roughly seven different sections, but tends to go quickly.

Initial Application-Once applications are open for either Lateral or Entry Level Testing, applicants submit their applications through PoliceApp, which then registers them for the Testing.

Testing-On testing day, here at the police department, applicants take the Stanard and Associates Police Officer Selection Test, which is a four part exam covering Arithmetic, Reading Comprehension, Grammar, and basic Report Writing.  Those applicants that achieve passing scores are then invited to take the Montana Physical Abilities Test (MPAT) that same afternoon. 

Personal History Statement-Applicants who score high enough on the written exam and pass the MPAT are then invited to complete the Personal History Statement, which is a required item for the Background Investigation.  The applicant’s Personal History Statement is Administratively reviewed and invitations are sent to those moving forward to the Formal Interview based upon openings here at the Great Falls Police Department. 

Interview-Applicants are provided a date and time for an interview and meet before a four member interview panel to participate in interview with the panel.  This interview is scored by the panel.  Those that rise to the top of the applicant pool are moved to the Background Investigation.

 Background Investigation- Applicants are subject to an extremely in-depth background investigation conducted by officers of the Great Falls Police Department.  The investigation is reviewed GFPD Command Staff and decision are made on providing Conditional Offers of Employment. 

Medical Screening- Psychological, Medical, and Drug Screening- Applicants who have received a Conditional Offer of Employment are then scheduled for a Psychological Screening along with a Medical and Drug Screening. 

Police Commission Hearing- Applicants who have successfully completed all testing, screening, and review are brought before the four member Police Commission.  The Police Commission reviews each process the applicant has completed and verifies the applicant meets all the requirements of Montana Code Annotated, 7-32-101 and 7-32-303. With the Police Commission’s approval, applicants are hired by the Great Falls Police Department.