The 2019-2020 Catalog is Available!

Woohoo! The new Assessment Services catalog is available online for viewing ⁠— or download your very own copy! What’s new? SO MUCH! I can’t even tell you how cool it is. You really should see for yourself.

Well, okay, here’s a sneak peak: new tests (paging Public Works …), new services (I can take my test from where?!), new and updated publications (setting that passpoint like a pro now!) and new ways to communicate with you (your awesome sense of humor is now available on social media?!) ⁠— oh, my!

Check it out! Tell your friends! Tell your dog! Tell your friends and your dog. It’s that awesome.

By Jenny Donovan|2019-06-17T11:50:23-04:00June 17th, 2019|Announcements, Products & Services, Public Safety Testing, Public Safety Tests, Test Administration|Comments Off

Public Safety HR News Roundup – Week of August 27, 2018

Headlines from around the web regarding hiring, assessment and other human resource issues in public safety.

Kentucky looks at new reforms to cut jail, prison population

The Sentinel Echo | Some solutions are expected to come from 2017 Senate Bill 120, sponsored by Rep. Whitney Westerfield, R-Crofton. The legislation, now law, is expected to reduce the inmates in Kentucky jails and prisons through alternative sentencing–including reentry programs–and so-called prison industry enhancement programs.

In last four fatal fires, firefighters didn’t call the closest reinforcements

Journal Star | The calls instead went to other departments staffed by trained volunteers, either personally selected by a fire officer on scene or according to a predetermined order on file with the agencies and dispatchers, contradicting the most basic tenets of firefighting.

Calling 911 in rural California? Danger might be close, but the law can be hours away

The Sacramento Bee | A McClatchy investigation found that large stretches of rural California — where county sheriffs are the predominant law enforcement agencies and towns often run only a few blocks — do not have enough sworn deputies to provide adequate public safety for the communities they serve.

Podcast | Influence vs. control: Why COs need to know the difference

CorrectionsOne | In this episode of Tier Talk, Anthony Gangi discusses the difference between influence and control, particularly when it comes to prison gangs.

Montgomery County has a shortage of 911 dispatchers. They’re racing to find more — and fast

The Philadelphia Inquirer | … And as the calls pour in, the county — like so many other counties and states nationwide — has grappled with a dire shortage of 911 call-takers and dispatchers, jobs with long hours, high stress and a salary that nets less than $45,000 in Montgomery County.

New Day in the Firehouse

Governing Magazine | The workload of fire departments has grown substantially, even as their core mission — putting out fires — has dwindled. “Communities tend to lean on the fire service in times of crisis,” says Charlottesville Fire Chief Andrew Baxter. “People are looking to the fire service for leadership and partnership for all aspects of emergency response.”

How to train and equip SROs to be a school’s first line of defense

PoliceOne | Unfortunately, it’s not the program’s success as a component of an overall community policing model, but rather the alarming rise in the lethality and frequency of school shootings that has been a major driving factor for requests for SROs in our schools. These requests come not only from law enforcement agencies with established SRO programs, but from elected officials, school officials and the public who may not be aware of the many facets of an SRO program.

Why correctional facilities need a social media policy

CorrectionsOne | You represent your agency every time you don your uniform, and your social media presence does the same thing. If a citizen sees a derogatory image on a CO’s Facebook page, he or she wonders, “Is the whole agency like that?” COs who think there is privacy when posting content online are sadly mistaken.

HERO HIGHLIGHT

Not all Heroes Wear Capes … Or Walk on Two Legs

First Coast News | Therapy dogs help 911 dispatchers at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office process their emotions after dealing with a deadly mass shooting on Sunday.

By Jenny Donovan|2018-08-31T15:05:02-04:00August 31st, 2018|From Across the Web, News|Comments Off

Public Safety HR News Roundup – Week of August 20, 2018

Headlines from around the web regarding hiring, assessment and other human resource issues in public safety.

Join forces with other first responders for stronger opioid response

PoliceOne | Addressing the opioid epidemic requires a coordinated and collaborative effort by police and other first responders. New approaches must expand beyond simple street enforcement and detaining subjects for possession or transporting them to the hospital after an overdose. This will require detailed information sharing and cooperation between police, public safety agencies, hospital personnel, fire and EMS.

Stop-And-Frisk Settlement Requires Significant Milwaukee Police Department Reforms

WUWM | Last year, the ACLU sued the city of Milwaukee, based on the police department’s stop-and-frisk program. An analysis of police stops in Milwaukee found significant racial bias in who was being stopped and the areas where these stops were occurring. A settlement was reached in July.

$10M grant allocated to improve NY 911 response

FireRescue1 | According to a press release, the Public Safety Answering Points Operations Grant, administered by the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, will be allocated to 57 counties and New York City to allow them to improve dispatch operations and 911 response.

Canadian Police Association Urges Officers to Seek Help after 3 Officers Die by Suicide

Police Magazine | The president of the Ontario Provincial Police Association is urging members to seek help to deal with trauma they experience on the job after learning that three officers in the force took their lives over a three-week time period, according to CTV News Toronto.

5 concepts for effective contraband control training

CorrectionsOne | Approaches to a contraband control module will vary, with the institutional training officer and warden having the final say on specifics. The main goal for any corrections facility is a well-prepared body of staff willing and capable of identifying, removing and documenting contraband in order to maintain a safe facility. Here are the top five contraband control concepts.

A Plague of Deadly Hesitation, De-Motivation, and De-Policing in America

Police Magazine | Police in a variety of places have talked about trepidation to act when action is the only reasonable response. They have spoken about fearing the aftermath of a deadly force encounter more than the incident itself. The author of the article speaks of two serious ramifications of this hesitancy.

Update: Firefighters sue Verizon over slow data speeds

FireFighting News | From The Mercury News … Santa Clara County firefighters deployed to the two Mendocino Complex fires experienced internet speeds slashed to 1/200 that of previous speeds by Verizon. Despite multiple requests to Verizon to turn off the throttling — the slowing down of data speeds — in order to communicate with other firefighters, Verizon did not do so and even suggested the department should pay more for a better data plan during the fire, according to Bowden.

Tier Talk: Should we follow up on the charges we write? (Podcast)

CorrectionsOne | In this episode of Tier Talk, Anthony Gangi discusses whether corrections officers should or shouldn’t follow up on charges that they write.

HERO HIGHLIGHT

We have two for you this week, both from firefighters.

Firefighters rescue kids from quicksand-like mudflats

FireRescue1 | In Shaker Heights, Ohio, two children, aged 7 and 10, were rescued by a group of firefighters from quicksand-like mudflats at Horseshoe Lake. “We’ve practiced for it. We had everything we needed,” Chief Patrick Sweeney said. “These kids, they stayed calm, which really helped us out a lot.”

Video: Firefighter speaks out about first responder suicide risk

FireRescue1 | We’re including this story in our Hero Highlight because this man (Phil Hall) had the courage to speak up about his personal experience of seeking treatment for his suicidal thoughts — and did so in an effort to help others. “The stuff just starts piling up, right?” he said. “(You think) the only way to stop all the nightmares, the flashbacks, and all the other life stresses that pile up on you is to tap out.” Hall is now urging other firefighters to not feel ashamed and to seek help in dealing with the high stress that come with the job.

By Jenny Donovan|2018-08-24T18:07:25-04:00August 24th, 2018|From Across the Web, News, Police-Community Relations|Comments Off

Public Safety Voices | Fire Chief Erik Litzenberg

The city’s services and resources were overburdened by a relatively small number of people. We needed to come up with a better way to meet their needs.

“The most rewarding part of my career came very early on when I was a paramedic: Putting my hands on people we were called to assist, and making them better – or feel better – as a result of what I was doing. I believe that’s why we all get in it – to make a difference.

(Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)

“And now, as chief, I find it incredibly rewarding to be able to identify problems in the community and find solutions that work. For example, last year we launched the Mobile Integrated Health Office (MIHO) in response to a disconnect in care in our city.

“We have a number of people who are not necessarily getting the care they need, and were disproportionately using up the city’s resources (ambulance, ER, etc.) as a result. We’re nearing 20,000 calls this year [2017] – we need to be able to answer them all.

“Having spent the better part of a decade as a paramedic, I saw firsthand that we didn’t always have the tools to help them – at least we didn’t have the right tools in the right places. Now, with the MIHO, we’re able to track people with more complicated and complex needs; we’re able to design a more personal plan to address the needs of those who are higher users of the city’s resources.

“It’s so nice to be able to provide people with the care they actually need, and it frees up our services and resources to help the larger community through our 911 system. We’re starting to collect really great data on how it’s helping. In fact, the data is overwhelming. We’re changing lives.”

Our Mobile Integrated Health Office is changing lives.

“We were regularly being called to help a single mother with a child (early teens) who has a seizure disorder. The mother has some behavioral issues as well – issues with substance abuse. She had been caring for her child alone for many, many years – even carrying him up and down the stairs twice daily. This was far beyond her capabilities, so there were slip issues, and a number of falls. Furthermore, the child was not always receiving his medications because she didn’t understand how to administer them.

“MIHO did a home assessment; the team immersed themselves in their lives and connected the dots for this family. She needed some physical help – railings on the stairs and a lift assist. The child started getting the medications he needed, and the MIHO team educated people at his school about his conditions and needs as well, enabling them to help, too. It was life-changing for this family to receive help from someone who understood the system.

“Another person who stands out in my mind is a guy who had engaged the city and county systems – 911, ER, and jail – over 200 times in one year. In our integrated care approach, we were able to get his needs met and, as a result, reduced that number to one time in six months.

“Not long ago, a man came walking up to me in a suit and tie. He told me that our program has cleaned him up to the point that he had a job interview that day. It was the same guy. He’s now living a normal, functional life.”

We all share a genuine interest in the citizens we serve and their well-being.

“We take a great deal of pride in our work, and we really do care about all the things we take an oath over – to protect our communities, show compassion and care for the people we serve, and to serve honorably. We share a genuine interest in the citizens and their well-being, and yes, we’re as approachable as it seems.”

–Chief Erik Litzenberg, Santa Fe Fire Department

By Jenny Donovan|2018-04-23T19:22:29-04:00February 14th, 2018|Public Safety Voices|Comments Off

Office of Fire Prevention/Fire Marshal Employees – Your Insights are Requested!

IPMA-HR is currently seeking participants for a nationwide Office of Fire Marshal/Office of Fire Prevention study. This study is the first step in the development of a new series of tests for positions within the Fire Marshal’s Office/Office of Fire Prevention. In this phase, job incumbents are needed to complete a survey to identify the most important tasks and knowledge, skills, abilities, and personal characteristics (KSAPs) required to perform their job successfully. The questionnaire takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Examples of applicable positions include:

Fire Marshal
Deputy Fire Marshal
Assistant Fire Marshal
Fire Inspector
Fire/Arson Investigator
Fire Prevention Officer
Code Enforcement Officer.

If you or someone you know holds one of the above positions or a similar position, we would greatly value your input in developing our newest test series.

Please Note: If your position has a different title than the positions listed above, but is similar in nature, we would still like to hear from you!

Participants will be entered into a raffle with a $500 prize! Participating agencies will also receive a 15% discount toward a future IPMA-HR assessment product purchase. Interested parties can learn more about the project and complete an interest form using the following link:

https://www.ipma-hr.org/assessment-services/about-test-development/test-development-opportunities/office-of-fire-marshal-fire-prevention-project

If you would like to participate or have additional questions please email our Research Associate, Julia Hind-Smith, at jsmith@ipma-hr.org.

By Julia Hind-Smith|2018-02-12T15:00:47-04:00February 12th, 2018|Job Analysis, Public Safety Testing, Public Safety Tests, Survey, Uncategorized|Comments Off

Public Safety Voices: Fire Chief Tom Jenkins

The Millennial workforce presents new challenges.

“Our primary challenge is how to deal with the youngest generation we employ: the Millennials. We’re used to hiring people who want to be career firefighters, and for the first time ever, our new hires are often not interested in a long-term career. So, how do we keep them motivated and retain them?

“We start by acknowledging that it’s not business as usual. This is just not the same group working here today; they’re not going to conform to what we believe are the best parts of the job. For example, it’s hard to get Millennials to work overtime – they enjoy their time off. We used to work 24 on, 48 off; now we work 48 on, 96 off.

“This generation is also focused on wanting to make a difference, to have an impact – to see and do different things. If things get stagnant or they get bored, then they’re unhappy and want to go elsewhere. So, to combat that, we created diversity in our assignments, e.g., running airport fire stations, special rescue and hazardous materials teams.

“At some point it begins to inch toward a crisis. We can’t compete with the private sector on pay. We offer a great pension, but they live in the now. They’re not thinking about the future.”

At best, fighting fires is only five percent of our job.

“The one thing people don’t respect enough is the wide scope of our business. Over 3,000 people die every year in a fire; it’s still a very real and tangible threat. But a lot of people think all we do is fight fire. At best, that’s five percent of our job.

“We’re the only 24/7 health care industry that still makes house calls. Car wreck, train wreck, chemical spill, chest pains, or a house on fire – we’re the first on the scene. We work to balance all the new and emerging things we do. It’s tough to advocate for so many different things, and be master of all.”

–Fire Chief Tom Jenkins, Rogers, Arkansas, Fire Department

By Jenny Donovan|2018-04-23T19:25:41-04:00January 17th, 2018|Public Safety Voices, Recruitment|Comments Off

New Series! Public Safety Voices

Next week we will begin running a very special new series entitled “Public Safety Voices.” Our goal in creating this series is two-fold: (1) to bring together the public safety community – law enforcement, fire, emergency communications and corrections – through your shared challenges, experiences and goals; and (2) to illuminate the good work, heroism and humanity of our public safety workforce.

The entries will be relatively short – think of it in terms of Humans of New York for public safety professionals – and will come from interviews with public safety professionals all over the country and from coast to coast.

So please check back with us next Tuesday when we’ll bring you the first entry in this exciting new series!

By Jenny Donovan|2018-02-05T12:05:21-04:00January 10th, 2018|Public Safety Voices|Comments Off

Participants Needed for Entry-Level Firefighter Test Study (Discounts Available!)

IPMA-HR is in the final stretch of finishing up the validation study on our entry-level firefighter (FF-EL) test series, but we still need your help! We are seeking a few more agencies who have administered a test from the FF-EL series to provide us the scores received by firefighters who were selected for the job.

Once we’ve received these test scores from you, we ask that each firefighter’s supervisor complete a brief 9-question performance evaluation. This will allow us to see whether our tests from the FF-EL series continue to be successful in predicting on-the-job performance.

For your help, you will receive $100 off your agency’s next IPMA-HR assessment order. In addition, your participation in this project will provide direct evidence supporting the validity of these exams and their use in your agency.

If you would like to participate, please visit the following link to provide your test scores:

FF-EL Validation Study

Our Research Associate, Julia Hind-Smith, will then follow up with you to provide further instructions on completing the performance evaluations. If you have any questions about the study, please feel free to reach out to Julia at jsmith@ipma-hr.org.

(Please Note: All information gathered for this study will remain strictly confidential. The data gathered will be combined with data from other departments and only be reported in the form of group statistics.)

By Julia Hind-Smith|2018-01-29T17:03:12-04:00September 22nd, 2017|Assessment, Public Safety Testing, Public Safety Tests|Comments Off

Entry-Level Firefighter Test (Discounts Available!)

Has your agency previously administered any of the tests from IPMA-HR’s Entry-Level Firefighter (FF-EL) series?

If you answered ‘yes’ to this question, then we need your help!

IPMA-HR is gathering the test scores received by current firefighters who took the FF-EL test to better understand how the tests are currently performing.

What We’ll Need from You:

Firefighter’s FF-EL 100-, 200-, and/or 300-series test scores between 1994 and 2016.
Fire Academy score (if applicable)
Completion of a 9-question web-based performance evaluation

What You’ll Receive from Us:

$100 off your agency’s next test order
Direct evidence supporting the validity of the exam and its use in your agency
Hire better. High quality tests help you select high-quality candidates, saving your agency the costly expense of turnover.
And it’s free! A test development and validation project of this scale done internally could cost your agency in excess of $100,000. Participation in our test development projects is free.

Please contact Julia Hind-Smith at jsmith@ipma-hr.org if you would like to learn more and/or participate in this project.

(Please Note: All information gathered for this study will remain strictly confidential. The data gathered will be combined with data from other departments and only be reported in the form of group statistics.)

By Julia Hind-Smith|2017-04-07T14:33:52-04:00March 24th, 2017|Announcements, Assessment|Comments Off

Introducing the new FCO 400 Series

We are excited to introduce our new 400 Series Fire Company Officer Tests. These tests were designed to assess whether candidates have the competencies to perform successfully at the rank of fire company officer (i.e., lieutenant, captain) in a fire department. FCO 401-EM and FCO 402-EM were designed for those departments that perform emergency medical (EM) services. The series is comprised of four tests:

These tests are meant to fully replace the two Fire Company Officer A and A with EM tests we’ve been offering for the past year, and more fully reflect the FCO 300 Series that were offered in Spring 2014 and earlier.

Feel free to request the reading list for these 4 tests. The reading list is quite different from the Fire Company Officer A and A with EM tests because two books are now in new editions. (more…)

By Andrey Pankov|2015-04-13T14:27:04-04:00April 14th, 2015|Announcements, Housekeeping, New Product, Reading List Update|2 Comments