LEO APPLICATION PROCESS

The commissioned employment is a "Safety Sensitive Position" and in accordance with the Missouri Human Rights Act, the Howell County Sheriff's Office considers applicant(s) for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, disability, age, or any other legally protected status. Furthermore, the Howell County Sheriff's Office will review all applicant(s) in accordance with the Missouri Ethics Commission and pursuant to the Revised Statutes of Missouri §590.020 - Peace Officer License Requirement.  Applicant(s) will need to download the pre-application, individual goals and complete them in their entirety to include the authentic happiness survey and save results in pdf format for submission.  Once the forms has been completed, please mail or hand-carry the form to your assigned authorized recruiter of the Howell County Sheriff's Office.

• LESP 30A-Pre-Application for Employment Form

• Resume Template if Needed

• Individual Goals

• Authentic Happiness Survey

All applicant(s) meeting the pre-application criteria, will be notified by the HCSO either by phone, mail or email and invited to take the written examination.  This written examination will test the applicant(s) knowledge in the following areas; reading comprehension, math, grammar, and spelling.

All top applicant(s) meeting the written examination criteria, will be notified by the HCSO either by phone, mail or email and invited to take the physical fitness test.  The physical fitness test is to provide an assessment of the candidate’s over-all fitness and health that meets or exceeds mission-related physical performance demands.  Prior to the date of the physical fitness test, each applicant must download, sign and have a witness over 18 years old sign the physical fitness test release.  Once the form has been completed, please mail or hand-carry the form to your assigned authorized recruiter of the Howell County Sheriff's Office.

• Physical Fitness Test Standards

• Physical Fitness Test Release

All top applicant(s) meeting the physical fitness standards, will be notified by the HCSO either by phone, mail or email and invited to take the polygraph examination.  The examination is used to assist the background investigator in conducting a comprehensive investigation of an applicant. The main recording in the polygraph examination is blood pressure.  The polygraph examination can be stressful for some applicants. Conditions such as hypertension, pregnancy, respiratory or heart ailments, etc., may affect the results of the polygraph examination. 

While there is no medical evidence that a polygraph examination affects a person's health, applicant(s) are encouraged to discuss this step with their physician prior to the examination to determine if they are able to be tested.  If an accommodation is needed, the applicant must discuss that with the Human Resources Division at the time the examination is scheduled. Those applicants who are pregnant will not be tested until after the birth of the child.  All applicant(s) are required to sign a waiver form prior to taking the polygraph examination. The areas covered in the polygraph examination are as follows:

• Employment History

• Financial History

• Traffic Record

• Criminal Record

• Illegal Drug Usage

• General Honesty

In accordance with 18 USC 922(g), 18 USC 1001, RSMo §571.070, RSMo §575.060 and RSMo §610.120 applicant(s) will be asked to submit to a background investigation given the sensitive nature of law enforcement.  Applicant(s) are asked to download and type the following form in its entirety.  Once the form has been completed, please mail or hand-carry the form to your assigned authorized recruiter of the Howell County Sheriff's Office.

• LESP 30B-Background Application for Employment Form

All top applicant(s) negotiating the background investigation, will be notified by the HCSO either by phone, mail or email and invited to the interview board.  All supporting documents will be submitted to a board comprised of uniformed members.  These members will evaluate the information presented and assess the applicant's suitability for the available position. Independent of the background investigation assessment, the applicant will participate in a structured oral interview which will assess the applicant in the 4 core areas; Legal Studies, Interpersonal Perspectives, Technical Studies, Skill Development and 3 scenario based questions with a total of 15 questions.  

Evaluators will rate in 3 areas and provide remarks as necessary.  Applicant(s) will be assessed in the 3 areas; Demeanor, Communication and Answers as appropriate.  Upon completion, the President of the board will complete LESP 101 Form resulting in a unanimous final board score.  The form provided below, is a frame of reference for the applicant only. 

• LESP 99-Interview Board Evaluation Form

All top applicant(s) negotiated the interview board, will be notified by the HCSO either by phone, mail or email and invited to take a psychological test.  This will consist of a battery of psychological tests, that measure individual responses to law enforcement, behavioral, and societal psychodynamic factors, are administered. These tests will be administered by a contracted clinical psychologist who completes the evaluation during a one-on-one interview.

Based on all results and supporting documents, the top applicant(s) will be asked to review a memorandum of agreement stating the offer of employment criteria.  The applicant(s) will have up to 3 business days to review the agreement from the date of notice and respond appropriately.

All top applicant(s) who received a offer of employment, will be notified by the HCSO either by phone, mail or email and invited to take a drug test.  Applicant(s) must successfully pass an administered drug test. The drug screening consists of a urine sample, tested for specific drugs, using cutoff levels established by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.  Applicant(s) are also asked to have a physician complete the vision and hearing reports.  Once the forms have been completed, please mail or hand-carry the forms to your assigned authorized recruiter of the Howell County Sheriff's Office.

• LESP 30C-Vision Report Form

• LESP 30D-Hearing Report Form

Upon final review of the offer of employment, the applicant(s) agrees to the terms and conditions in writing and will be in-processed into the Howell County Sheriff’s Office.

All LEO’s regardless of experience or position, will go through a (90) day probationary period.  This period is under the supervision of an assigned Field Training Officer (FTO), who will provide initial counseling regarding the expectations and answer any specific questions the employee may have.  The probationary period will assess the attributes and competencies of the employee on a daily basis.  These assessments offer opportunities to learn, but the individual must embrace the opportunity and internalize the information.  The form provided below, is a frame of reference for the applicant only.

• LESP 23-FTO Assessment Report Form

At the end of the (90) day probationary period, all assessments, developmental counseling’s and any other supporting documents, will be included in a personnel action request.  This request will be forwarded to the Sheriff or Designee for review.  Upon review and if the employee is in good standing, the Sheriff or Designee will approve the personnel action and the Staff 1 Office will generate orders for the applicable employment position to further serve and protect the County of Howell, State of Missouri.