Accurate Selection of Police Officials within Small Municipalities: “Et Tu Assessment Center?”

Abstract

Two unique issues raised in using an assessment center to select a municipal official were successfully addressed. Community input, involvement and acceptance of an innovative selection process (i.e., the assessment center method) was gained through the use of interviews, a mail-out survey and by training selected community residents to serve as assessors. Expenditure for the selection process was minimized by using unpaid professionals as assessors and by utilizing city offices as the setting for the assessment center. A mail-out survey approximately one year later indicated the community residents perceived the project and candidate selection as successful.