Sergeant Of Police - Examination

CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION ANNOUNCEMENT #2026-016

AMENDMENT APPROVED C.S.C. MEETING MINUTES 10/09/2026

SERGEANT OF POLICE (PROMOTIONAL)

Public notice is hereby given by the Civil Service Commission of Cleveland, Ohio, of a competitive PROMOTIONAL examination for the above classification.

THE ELECTRONIC APPLICATION PERIOD WAS FROM 12:01 AM. ON AUGUST 31, 2026, UNTIL 11:59 PM ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2026. NOTE: The application window has closed; submissions were only accepted during the period noted above.

PLEASE NOTE: To complete an application, applicants will need to attach a scanned copy of their Driver License. Other attachments, such as high school diploma, resume or proof of residency, are not required to complete the application. In the application applicants will be asked to provide their appointment date, and, if already holding a supervisory rank, the date of their last promotion. Applicants are not required to complete the job history portion of the examination application form. Applicants will be asked to provide their City of Cleveland email address for notice purposes.

SALARY: The prevailing salary for this position as established by Ordinance of the Council of the City of Cleveland is $100,325.84 – 107,500.96 per year.

Under supervision of a Lieutenant or other superior officer, supervises the activities of Patrol Officers in an assigned district or unit in the preservation of law and order, protection of life and property, enforcement of laws and ordinances, and prevention and detection of crime. Performs general police patrol duties and frequently participates in the work of subordinates, as well as performs the duties of a superior officer in the event of an absence. Performs other job-related duties as required. Follows all operations and safety policies and safe work practices. Attends and participates in operations and safety training classes and demonstrates competence (demonstration of competence may be determined by exam.) Wears and properly utilizes safety equipment in accordance with Divisional policy at all times.

Applicant shall hold regular status as a Patrol Officer and have actively performed the duties of the position, in the classified service of the City of Cleveland for three years at the time of filing.

WRITTEN EXAMINATION INFORMATION

DATE: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2026

TIME: 10:00AM. DOORS WILL OPEN AT 9:00 A.M. FOR CHECK IN APPLICANTS WILL NOT BE ADMITTED AFTER 10:00 A.M

PLACE: HUNTINGTON CONVENTION CENTER – 503 Lakeside Ave Cleveland.

NOTE: A candidate orientation handout will be released prior to the Written Examination.

TYPE: The examination will consist of two components; a Written Technical Knowledge Test. Applicants must present a government-issued ID at each portion of testing; City issued IDs will not be acceptable. Each of these components is described below.

ASSESSMENT CENTER INFORMATION

DATE: TUESDAY DECEMBER 01, 2026 – FRIDAY DECEMBER 04, 2026

PLACE: HUNTINGTON CONVENTION CENTER – 503 Lakeside Ave Cleveland.

Applicants will be notified of the exact date/time of their Assessment Center via e-mail after the Written Test is completed. That notice will be sent to their City of Cleveland email address.

Written

Technical Knowledge Test: The Written Examination will be a Closed-Book test consisting of multiple-choice questions designed to assess candidates’ understanding of job-related technical knowledge determined to be important to the effective performance of the Cleveland Division of Police Sergeant of Police position based on the job analysis results. Questions will be developed based on the information contained in the knowledge source subsections outlined in the Reading List. The allocation of items among the knowledge source subsections will be based on the job analysis results.

The written test items will be designed to assess candidates' understanding of job-related technical knowledge that the job analysis indicates must be memorized, so no reference materials will be allowed for use in the Written Examination.

No electronic communication devices (e.g., pagers, telephones, tablet devices, laptops, smartwatches, smart glasses etc.) will be allowed at the Written Examination administration site.

When the Written Examination answer key is finalized following the resolution of submitted challenges, the Written Examinations will be scored, and a minimum passing cut-score will be applied to determine those applicants receiving a passing score. Only those deemed to have received a passing score on the Written Examination will progress to the Assessment Center.

Assessment Center

Interview - The Interview Exercise is designed to evaluate the candidate’s knowledge, skills, and abilities as they relate to job-related topics and situations. The questions are designed to elicit responses that reveal the candidate’s competencies in areas critical to successful job performance.

The candidate will be asked to respond to a series of questions relevant to the role of Sergeant in the Cleveland Division of Police. Candidates will be given a set amount of time to answer each question. All candidates will be asked the same questions and provided with the same amount of time to respond, ensuring a fair and standardized evaluation process.

Critical Incident - The Critical Incident Exercise is designed to evaluate the candidate’s ability to effectively manage complex and dynamic law enforcement incidents. It assesses areas such as tactical decision-making skills, command presence, knowledge of departmental policies and procedures, ability to prioritize actions under pressure, capacity to adapt to changing circumstances, etc. Candidates will be given a set amount of time to answer scenario of the evolving critical incident exercise. All candidates will be asked the same scenarios and the same amount of time to respond, ensuring a fair and standardized evaluation process.

Based on the job analysis of the Cleveland Division of Police Sergeant