Behind the Badge
Even a global pandemic and social distancing can’t stop the Tustin Police Department from finding the best new crop of men and women for the job.
As all industries, law enforcement included, continue to adjust in a new coronavirus reality, the Tustin Police Department has been no exception.
Recruit applicants jump a six-foot wall during Tustin Police Department’s physical agility test.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Recently, to keep up with its recruiting demands, the department conducted its physical ability testing (PAT) for lateral officer transfers and academy graduates. Participants maintained their distance from one another, wore masks, and the equipment they worked on was sprayed with disinfectant after each applicant moved through.
“This is not typical of prior testing,” said Officer Mark Sauerwein, personnel officer with Tustin’s Professional Services Division. “Also, the groups were considerably smaller in order to assist with facilitating safety and social distancing.”
Recruit applicants drag a regulation 165-pound dummy (modified with an additional 15 pounds) across a baseball diamond during a timed test as part of the Tustin Police Department’s physical agility test.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Sauerwein said they used two small groups, with under eight participants. He noted that on the running portion, usually the batch moves together. This time, though, they ran alone separated by 10-second increments.
For non-academy graduates and lateral applicants, there is still a written test to take after PAT. Sauerwein said they’re still planning that process, which will be difficult to accommodate the more than 400 applicants.
“Human Resources is working out the details in order to comply with county and state guidelines,” he said of the testing. It will be the first one they’ve done since the start of the pandemic.
Officer Mark Sauerwein talks to recruit applicants as the sun rises over Tustin Sports Park during the Tustin Police Department’s physical agility test.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
The department is also interviewing candidates via Zoom, rather than in person.
Still, Tustin is fortunate. Many people want to work there, and they don’t have to actively recruit. The department has received more than 1,000 applications since the start of the year.
“We have tremendous support from our community and a positive reputation in the law enforcement community,” Sauerwein said.
The department is actively hiring for most police positions. Updated information can be found on the City of Tustin website, www.tustinca.org.
A recruit applicant runs through the obstacle course during Tustin Police Department’s physical agility test at Tustin Sports Park as Tustin Police Cadet Faith Woodward stands by to sanitize the hurdle after each runner.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Cadet Faith Woodward cleans the obstacle course hurdle after each recruit applicant runs through during the department’s physical agility test.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Officer Michelle Jankowski walks recruit applicants through an obstacle course as part of the department’s physical agility test.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
The drag dummy is sanitized after each recruit applicant drags it across the dirt during Tustin Police Department’s physical agility test.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Recruit applicants keep their distance from each other as they wait their turn to climb over a six-foot wall during Tustin Police Department’s physical agility test at Tustin Sports Park.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Officers Chuck Mitchell, left, Andrew Dao, Mark Sauerwein, and Michelle Jankowski organize the next test for recruit applicants during the department’s physical agility test.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Recruit applicants start a timed 500-yard run approximately five seconds apart to help keep their safe distance from each other during Tustin Police Department’s physical agility test. In past years, the run normally had group starts.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Recruit applicants jump a six-foot wall during Tustin Police Department’s physical agility test.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Officer Michelle Jankowski, left, and Officer Andrew Dao conduct an oral interview of Michael Becerra, on screen, after the physical agility test at the Tustin Sports Park. Do to the pandemic, applicants were asked to go home after the agility and get ready for oral interviews via an internet Zoom call.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
