Sergeant Park Police

Due to current testing space limitations, candidates may need to travel to a test site to take this examination. Candidates will be notified of their test site location on their admission notice.

Promotion examination open to all qualified employees of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before June 1, 2024, you must be a qualified employee of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and have had six months of permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service as a Park Police Officer, Park Police Officer (Spanish Language), Park Police Officer Trainee, or Park Police Officer Trainee (Spanish Language).

Only the title or titles listed are qualifying.

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before December 1, 2023, and have served continuously in this title since that date, you are eligible to file for this examination.

Qualifying Experience For Appointment From The Eligible List: After two years of service as a Park Police Officer or Park Police Officer (Spanish Language), successful candidates will be qualified for appointment from the eligible list.

Additional Requirements for Appointment:

1. United States Citizenship and New York State Residency: Although not required for taking the test, you must be a citizen of the United States at the time of appointment. If appointed, you must also possess and maintain New York State residency pursuant to the Public Officers Law.
2. You must possess a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State at the time of appointment and continuously thereafter. Conditional licenses are not acceptable.

The Positions: These positions exist in the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and are located throughout the State.

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Duties

As a Sergeant Park Police, you would supervise Park Police Officers and other staff assigned to the Park Police such as communications staff, and clerical staff in police activities for an assigned shift; schedule and assign staff; reassign staff to cover emergencies or events within a zone; observe and evaluate staff performance; assist in developing training programs; conduct on-the-job training and classroom instruction; conduct police investigations; act as liaison between Park Police Officers and local police; respond to emergencies and incidents as required; inspect, evaluate, and maintain Division property and equipment and ensure the availability of supplies; perform administrative functions, such as preparing reports, budget requests, duty rosters, and performance evaluations; monitor recruitment duties performed by subordinate staff; may be assigned to conduct background investigations as necessary; and may supervise police activities in a zone in the absence of a higher ranking officer within the District. You may also be assigned the following duties: serve as a staff member or instructor at the Park Police Academy or other training sites; perform personnel complaint investigations throughout the State; perform specialized duties with the Communications Unit, Internal Affairs Bureau, District Sergeant, or MRV Sergeant; represent the Division of Law Enforcement at an emergency operations center or at a temporary headquarters during a time of emergency; represent the Director of Law Enforcement at meetings, and tabulate statistical data, prepare reports, and collaborate with other agencies to accomplish law enforcement goals.

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Subject of Examination

To be considered for appointment to this title, you must pass the multiple-choice test. The multiple-choice test evaluates your knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in the following areas:

1. Preparing written material in a police setting - These questions test for the ability to prepare the types of reports that police personnel write. Some questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately. They consist of restatements of information given in note form. You must choose the best version from each set of four choices. Other questions test for the ability to organize paragraphs. They consist of paragraphs with their sentences out of order. For each of the paragraphs you must choose, from four suggestions, the best order of the sentences.
2. Understanding and interpreting written material - These questions test how well you comprehend written material. You will be provided with brief reading selections and will be asked questions about the selections. All the information required to answer the questions will be presented in the selections; you will not be required to have any special knowledge relating to the subject areas of the selections.
3. Supervision - These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in planning, organizing, and controlling the activities of a work unit toward predetermined objectives. The concepts covered, usually in a situational question format, include such topics as assigning and reviewing work; evaluating performance; maintaining work standards; motivating and developing subordinates; implementing procedural change; increasing efficiency; and dealing with problems of absenteeism, morale, and discipline.
4. New York State Laws - These questions test for knowledge of the laws in effect on January 1, 2024 that law enforcement personnel may encounter in the course of their day-to-day work-related activities. The questions are a sampling of job-related sections of the Penal Law, Criminal Procedure Law, Vehicle and Traffic Law, Family Court Act and other laws relevant to law enforcement in New York State.
5. Law enforcement methods and practices - These questions test for knowledge of accepted police methods and practices and/or their application to situations in the police field. The questions are a sampling of the various knowledge that police personnel may be required to possess in the course of their day-to-day work-related activities.
6. NYS Parks and Recreation Law including the Snowmobile and Navigation laws, Environmental Conservation Law, and Park's rules, regulations, policies, & procedures - These questions test for knowledge of appropriate laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures including those found in the NYS Park Police Manual, in effect on January 1, 2024. You will be required to recall specific provisions of the laws, rules and regulations and to demonstrate an understanding of these provisions. You may be required to apply the provisions to described situations.

Test Guide: A Guide to the Multiple-Choice Test for the Police Supervisors/Investigators Series is available on the Department website at http://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm.

If you pass, your seniority credit(s), if any, will be included in the computation of your final score. Your final score on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime Veterans' credits.

Credit For Seniority: Seniority is credited at the rate of one credit for each five-year period (or fraction thereof), excluding the first year of service.

Admission To The Test: If approved for a multiple-choice test, you will receive an admission notice which will indicate your assigned test date and the way your test will be administered. Your test may be administered with paper and pencil or online at a state test site using a state-provided Chromebook. You cannot request to change your scheduled day or request a specific type of test administration.

Applicants are required to have a Personal NY.gov account and keep their email address up to date. The Department of Civil Service and other state agencies will communicate with you through email correspondence. This may include the notification of your test arrangements, examination results, and canvassing you for interest in appointment. It will be important for you to keep your email address, phone number, and mailing address current by logging into https://www.cs.ny.gov/home/myaccount.

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How To Apply

Additional Information

New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, arrest and/or criminal conviction record, or any other category protected by law, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Religious Accommodation

Most multiple-choice tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on the announced test date, due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the box under “Religious Accommodation.” We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date (usually the following day).

Reasonable Accommodations in Testing

It is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to provide equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their application. Further information is available from the Test Accommodation Unit of the Department of Civil Service at Testaccommodation@cs.ny.gov.

Admission to Examination

Notice to appear for the test may be conditional as review of applications may not be made until after the test. If you have not received your notice to appear for the multiple-choice test three days before the date of the test, email us at AdmissionNotices@cs.ny.gov. Please provide your first and last name, address, and the last four digits of your social security number, and we will provide you with the information you need to attend your multiple-choice test. If you have an issue other than not receiving your admission notice, please contact our office at (518) 474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627. Please leave a clear concise message and provide your first and last name, last four digits of your social security number and a daytime phone number.

Taking State and Local Examinations Scheduled for the Same Day

If you have applied to take a multiple-choice test announced by either one or several local jurisdictions (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this multiple-choice test, you must notify each of the local jurisdictions no later than two weeks before the test date to make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All tests will be held at the state examination center. For your convenience, contact information for all local civil service agencies is available on our website at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/local.cfm.

Eligibility for Examination

To be considered a qualified employee eligible to compete in this examination, you must be employed in, or on leave from, the specified department or agency on a permanent or contingent permanent basis in the competitive class, or in the non-competitive class or labor class if specifically noted on this announcement (or be on an appropriate preferred list), and have the specified time in the specified title or salary grade. You may not compete in a test for a title if you are permanently employed in that title (unless you are still on probation) or in a higher direct line of promotion.

Cell Phones or Electronic/Communication Devices at the Test Site

The use of cell phones, beepers, headphones, or any electronic or other communication devices at your personal testing site or in the test room, hallways, restrooms, building, grounds, or other areas, except as expressly authorized by the Department of Civil Service, could result in your disqualification.

S2/TC1 KXM-ctc
Issued: 3/15/24

This announcement is subject to amendment or cancellation without notice. Do not copy it, or post it to any other site, but link to it instead.

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