Recruitment Program

The primary goal of the Middletown Township Police Department recruitment activities will be to attract qualified candidates for employment that will enable the department to work toward its long-range goal of employing a sworn workforce that reflects the diversity of the population of the community the agency is charged with protecting and serving, thereby making the police force more effective at promoting public safety. The standard for determining minority representation is based upon the most recent 2020 census data.

The Middletown Township Police Department will continue to hire from the current NJ Civil Service Commission Entry Exam list. We will continue to utilize available options, such as the Exam Waiver program and Intergovernmental Transfer programs, to bring qualified applicants and officers, respectively, into the ranks of the department.

OBJECTIVES

Recruitment activities will be a department-wide responsibility and will occur year-round. All members of the agency play a crucial role in this especially important function and will have knowledge of the application process as well as the then-current Recruitment Plan. 

The Office of Professional Standards is tasked with planning, coordinating, and documenting all of the agency’s recruitment activities for the upcoming hiring process. On an annual basis, the Chief of Police or designee will conduct an analysis and review of the Recruitment Plan to determine if the goals and objectives are being met and if not, what adjustments will be made. In the event that revisions to the Recruitment Plan are necessary, the Office of Professional Standards will complete a written analysis for review by the Chief of Police. 

According to the most recent census data for Middletown Township, the demographics indicate that the community is approximately: 

• 90.6% White Only
• 6.2% Hispanic or Latino
• 2.9% Asian
• 1.5% African American or Black
• 0.2% American Indian or Alaska Native
• 0.0% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

An analysis of current police personnel for 2023 indicates that overall the police department closely reflects the current demographics of the community, with the exception of one category being Asian, which is underrepresented. The community is approximately 2.9% Asian and the police department is only 2% Asian. It should be noted that this has been an increase in representation of both Hispanic and Asian populations over the previous year. The percentage of Hispanic officers has increased from 6% to 7% and Asian officers have increased from 1% to 2%.

2023 Police Diversity Statistics:

• 92% White
• 7% Hispanic or Latino
• 2% Asian
• 1% African American or Latino
• 0% American Indian or Alaska Native
• 0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

2023 Racial Demographics

Middletown Township is governed by Civil Service, however utilizing the “Waiver” option we were able to improve our diversity and recruit and select a Hispanic and two (2) female candidates as new hires, which most likely would not have been possible had we relied upon the traditional civil service candidate list.