The Terre Haute Police Department will be accepting pre-applications for the position of Probationary Patrolman. Pre-Applications will be accepted November 15, 2024 through January 10, 2025.

Applicants will be required to participate in a written examination. Those applicants successfully passing the written examination will be required to participate in physical testing, conducted in the afternoon on that same day.  Interested applicants should thoroughly familiarize themselves with the physical testing standards prior to submitting an application for employment.  Testing date for this hiring process is TO BE DETERMINED. Applicants must meet or exceed the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy's (ILEA) "EXIT" standards for physical testing (found here) on the day of testing to be considered eligible to move forward to the background investigation phase of the hiring process. Those candidates failing to meet or exceed any of the required physical testing standards will be immediately disqualified and withdrawn from the department's hiring process.  

*The Written and Physical Agility Testing date is TO BE DETERMINED. There will be NO makeup dates for the written or physical examinations. Please plan accordingly. Applicants are able to purchase, at their own expense, the Police Aptitude and Character Test (PACT) Candidate Orientation Guide here, to help prepare for the written exam.

Applicants successfully passing both written and physical testing will be subject to a thorough background investigation.  Applicants will be required to complete an online applicant profile via an invitation link sent by email to those applicants successfully completing written and physical testing. Applicants successfully passing the background investigation phase will be forwarded to the Terre Haute Police Department's Civilian Merit Commission for further review, and selection to be placed on the department's Hiring Eligibility List, from which future vacancies will be filled. The Hiring Eligibility List will be valid for a period of one (1) year, or until the next annual Hiring Eligibility List is published, whichever is greater.  Upon being hired, new officers will be required to attend the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy for the 16 week Basic Academy.  Before and after the Academy, new officers will take part in on the job, in the field training with a Field Training Officer for up to 10 months, before final evaluations are conducted.

Individuals with prior law enforcement experience and those with military service are encouraged to apply.  Applicants will be emailed testing date and additional information when progressing through the phases.  

Please visit the online application link here: THPD 2025 Pre-Application for Employment
 

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

The Terre Haute Police Department is an equal employment opportunity employer which encourages women and minorities to apply. 

1. The applicant shall complete information requested in the Application Blank to the best of his/her knowledge and belief.  Any misrepresentation made upon the Application Blank by the applicant may render such applicant ineligible for any position with the Terre Haute Police Department.
2. Any applicant who personally or through any other person solicits any member of the Commission to favor their appointment or reinstatement to such force, shall be thereby ineligible for all time to any such appointment to the Terre Haute Police Department.
3. Requirements for Eligibility:
   1. A Citizen of the United States of America;
   2. A high school graduate or equivalent;
   3. Of good moral character
4. At least 21 years of age, but under 40 years of age (However, the age requirements do not apply to a person who has previously been employed as a member of the department.  Additionally, a possible waiver is available for certain veterans);
5. Upon appointment, members of the Terre Haute Police Department must reside within Vigo County, within a county contiguous to Vigo County, or within a county that is noncontiguous to Vigo County but is not more than fifty (50) miles from the closet boundary of the City of Terre Haute.  
6. Without a felony conviction on his/her record;
7. Able to produce satisfactory proof of the date and place of his/her birth;
8. Must meet the standards established for a General Aptitude Test required under I.C. 36-8-3.5-12(d), 12(e), 12(g) and I.C. 36-8-3.2-6 and I.C. 36-8-8-19 or any comparable test which may hereinafter be adopted under Indiana Law;
9. Able to successfully complete any required agility test or other test of either physical condition, qualifications, emotional stability, physical or mental fitness, or other qualifying examination which may be from time to time required by the department of the Terre Haute Police Merit Commission.
10. A physician appointed by the Board of Trustees of the Pension Fund for the City of Terre Haute shall certify that the applicant is eligible for pension benefits. Any charge made by such physician for the examination of the applicant shall be paid by the applicant.
11. Applicants may be required to submit to a polygraph examination.
12. If there are any changes to this application, it is the responsibility of the applicant to notify the Terre Haute Police Department.

Written & Physical Testing

All applicants must successfully pass a written examination, followed by physical agility testing, in accordance with the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) exit standards.  Applicants should familiarize themselves with the protocols to successfully complete the physical agility testing, and prepare themselves well in advance of the testing date.  Applicants should review the ILEA's website for demonstration videos, ILEA Physical Testing Standards, and passing standards as well as review the Department's sample scoring sheet, THPD Physical Agility Testing Score Sheet.  Applicants who do not successfully complete any of the agility components will be immediately disqualified from the Department's hiring process.

Tattoos/Body Art:

Tattoos: The Terre Haute Police Department is a professional organization that has a responsibility to avoid offending or appearing unprofessional before the diverse public we serve. For this reason, the department prohibits the display of tattoos/body art that are profane, demeaning, patently offensive, give the appearance of a preference or bias to the public or other members of the department or that contain messages that may be disruptive in the workplace or impact productivity.  For the purpose of this policy, the term tattoo and body art shall have the same meaning and guidelines. 

Body Art Location: Visible tattoos, brands or other body art are prohibited in the following locations on the body:

• On the head, face, neck, or scalp to include inside the eyelids, mouth and ears, and
• On the hands, fingers, or wrists (below the wrist bone).
• Exceptions are listed in section 3 below.

Unauthorized Body Art

• Extremist - Body art with, depicting, or symbolizing extremist philosophies, organizations, or activities, including those advocating racial, gender, ethnic, sexual orientation hatred or intolerance, or illegal discrimination based on race, color, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin and/or tattoos advocating violence or other unlawful means of depriving individual rights under the U.S. Constitution and Federal or State law.
• Indecent - Body art grossly offensive to modesty, decency, propriety, or professionalism, including but not limited to vulgar images, nudity, or sexually implicit images, words, or phrases.
• Sexist - Body art advocating a philosophy that degrades or demeans a person based on gender.
• Racist - Body art advocating a philosophy that degrades or demeans a person based on race, ethnicity, or national origin.

Contrary to the purpose of law enforcement: Depictions symbolizing or indicative of alcohol or narcotics, illegal or gang related activity, or symbols suggestive of activities that undermines the purpose of law enforcement.

• Gauges, or large holes in the ears, body piercing of the face, head or mouth.
• Dental Ornamentation
• Intentional mutilation of the parts of the body including, but not limited to, tongue bifurcation (splitting), ear gauging (enlarged holes in the lobe of the ear), or foreign objects inserted under the skin to create a design, effect or pattern that would be visible when wearing a department uniform.

Exceptions

• Tattoos that substitute for the application of cosmetics are acceptable provided that it is applied in shades appropriate to natural skin tones, does not create an extreme appearance, and otherwise complies with this policy or any other applicable policy.
• A tattoo that substitutes for a wedding band may be visible on the left ring finger.  No more than one tattoo will be allowed