Hiring Process
Note: All hiring decisions are made by the Office of the Chief. Applicants may be discontinued at any stage due to failing to meet basic requirements or qualifications. To avoid elongating the process, please submit materials in a timely manner. Application processes take 2 to 4 months to complete. The hiring process is identical for professional staff members and prospective Police Officers except for the reading test and POPAT components.
Step 1: Reading Comprehension
The reading comprehension test can be scheduled through a Recruiter by calling (336) 602-4914 or by email at recruit@wspd.org. You can also schedule a reading test by clicking here.
Step 2: Job Application Completion
Fill out online City of Winston-Salem Application through Government Jobs and the WSPD specific handwritten application.
Step 3: Pre-Conditional Offer of Employment
If you pass the pre-screening process and are selected to move forward, then you will be called to go to an initial suitability test, a modified Police Officer Physical Abilities Test (POPAT), and an interview panel.
Step 4: Background Check
If you successfully pass the previous steps, then you will be assigned a background investigator who will do an in-depth background check into your history.
Step 5: Conditional Offer
If you pass everything during the background check, then you are given a conditional offer pending successfully passing a polygraph, drug, medical, and final psychological test.
Step 6: Welcome to the WSPD Family!
Welcome to the WSPD Family where we are dedicated to serving, protecting, and supporting our community. Upon being hired, you will be classified as a pre-hire with full benefits and trainee pay until the next academy begins.