Veteran Preference

[COASTIE01]

This question is mainly in reference to Boston PD but do veterans go on the eligibilty list before residents or after? Thanks for the help.

[Sgt Jack]

If memory serves I believe the order goes 1) Son or Daughter of a Police Officer or Firefighter killed in the line of duty or 100% disabled. 2) Disabled Vet resident/non resident. 3) Vet resident/nonresident 4) Resident 5) Non Resident. Keep in mind with Boston that residency is huge...good luck

[OfficerObie59]

Gonna do this once so there's a record here for this common question about MA hiring...

Any Massachusetts Civil Service Department, of which Boston is one hires by preference in the following order; preferences are absolute:

1. Any officers previously hired under civil service who are laid off (Current list here: http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=aftermin...list&csid=Eoaf )
2. Resident who is:
a. Son/Daughter of a LOD death
b. Disabled Vet
c. Veteran
d. Civilian
3. Non-Resident
a. Son/Daughter of a LOD death
b. Disabled Vet
c. Veteran
d. Civilian

Note that the MBTA transit police are also a civil service department, but have no residency preference simply because they are a statewide agency. Mass State Police have recently begun taking their scores from the local PD's test, but use their own grading system which is completely different from above where vets simply get two points tacked on to their score.

To qualify for residency, you must have lived w/ in the city or town of which you are claiming residency for one year before the test and one year after you are hired. Additionally, many municipalities--of which Boston is one--have ordinances and by-laws that mandate officers live and remain living within the community they serve.

To qualify as a Disabled Vet, you must have at least 10% service connected disability from the VA. D-Vets and Veterans are defined under Mass. Gen. Law ch. 31, § 1: http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/31-1.htm

Also, special skills such as knowledge of foreign language or EMT certification can be added as riders to your test score. If a department wishes they can pull candidates who only speak Spanish, Creole, Portugese, etc., or a department that mandates candidates be EMT certed, as some old school agencies such as Hamilton PD still run their towns' ambulance service.

Remember that in the end, the civil service list is simply the order in which a hiring dept. must grant you an interview. If they don't like you and they can find a reason to pass you over, they often will and will make you fight it.