Dressed in comfortable athletic wear, those interested in a career in law enforcement gathered at the San Benito High School football field on Saturday, March 4 for Hollister Police Department’s Law Enforcement Information/Practice Day.
The event was designed for those who wanted to gain an understanding of the mental and physical requirements of becoming a law enforcement officer.
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., participants were able to get questions answered by recruitment staff and complete an obstacle course based on the California P.O.S.T. (Police Officer Standards and Training) requirements.
Participants did wall jumps, completed a timed obstacle course and pulled weighted body drags, which are elements required for entry into the police academy.
The Hollister City Council in April 2016 approved officer recruitment and retention efforts after Police Chief David Westrick said the city had lost six officers in two years at a cost of $35,000 to recruit and train each through the probation period. He said he wanted to take steps to mitigate those costs and develop a more comprehensive retention process.
HPD is hiring continuously and more informational events are expected to be held in the future. For more information on employment opportunities with the department, click here.