The Phoenix Police Department is testing recruits with a $ 7,500 bonus

Matthew Casey / KJZZ

Applicant Randy Marquez climbs a wall in agility training.

Phoenix Police held a test for new recruits on Saturday morning. This is the first round of applicants to offer a $ 7,500 hiring incentive.

Applicants will undergo both written and physical tests, including agility classes and climbing vertical walls.

English Qualls is the recruiting officer for Phoenix PD. She says that every candidate also goes through a thorough background check.

The reviews can take up to 6 months and include searching through the applicants’ social media history.

“Because we want to make sure that we attract and attract the right type of applicant. That means we will look back in depth for many years to see what kind of applicant you are, “said Qualls.

Qualls says the department’s social media guidelines are strict and the background checks are designed to ensure that potential officials are of strong character.

Randy Marquez is one of the applicants who took a physical and written exam. He says he didn’t know about the hiring bonus and applied several times to be a police officer.

“No, I had wanted to become a cop for a while and only knew about the incentive afterwards, so I wanted to do it anyway. This is my second time here in Phoenix, ”said Marquez.

A Phoenix city representative said the money for the hiring incentives came from savings from budgeted vacancies.

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