On March 22, Erie Mayor Joe Schember announced that the City of Erie will be partnering with Mercyhurst University to simplify the police testing process for the Erie Bureau of Police.

Erie City Council unanimously approved the testing change at its meeting on April 4.

“We’re proud to partner with Mercyhurst to administer testing for new police candidates. Ultimately, the city will save time and money that can be used to focus on minority recruitment,” Schember said in a Mercyhurst University news release.

Previously, police officers were required to complete a separate exam to work for the City of Erie.

However, with this change, prospective officers must only complete Civil Service Act 120 training, which will qualify them for 26 departments throughout the region for only $75.
The testing can be completed at the Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Police Testing Consortium — Mercyhurst’s Public Safety Institute and Municipal Police Training Academy.
Created in 2014, the consortium handles police testing for Millcreek Township, City of Corry and Meadville police department and the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, among others.
Applications for the next round of testing will be available this month with both written and physical testing being performed on Aug. 4.

Mayor Schember is hopeful that employing this version of testing will allow for more diverse candidates, while also saving time, money and resources. This testing will be offered each year instead of every two years like the old testing.

City officials believe the change will save the city an estimated $5,000 that can be used towards minority recruitment, a cause that both Schember and Erie Police Chief Dan Spizarny find important.