Woburn Police Chief Sole Assessment Center
Application Opens: June 6, 2025
Application Deadline: June 27, 2025
Examination Date: July 10, 2025
Examination Location: TBD
Eligible List: Individuals placed on the resulting eligible list shall be eligible for certification from such list for such period as the administrator shall determine, but in any event not to exceed two years, unless otherwise outlined in Massachusetts General Law (MGL) Chapter 31, § 25 or the Human Resources Division (HRD) revocation policy.
Eligibility: To be eligible for this examination you must: (1) be an employee in the police department for which the examination is given with permanent civil service status in the specified eligible title(s) by the date of the examination; and (2) have served in the force at least one year since you were appointed and performed the job duties of the eligible title(s)*. A combination of temporary and permanent service from a certification can be applied towards meeting this one year requirement. Time spent working in the title of Police Chief will not interrupt the service period in your permanent position.
*If the eligible title has been lowered to the entry level rank, you must have served in the force at least one year or three years depending on the participating municipality since you were appointed and performed the job duties. Police Officers filing for this examination must have one year of permanent experience after completion of their police academy course. Service as a Student Officer, before successful completion of an approved academy, does not count towards meeting the eligibility requirement.
Note: Pursuant to the provisions of Massachusetts General Law (MGL) 31 § 59, if less than two applications are received from eligible candidates, this examination will be postponed. If the examination’s eligible title has been lowered to the entry level rank, the examination will go forward with less than two eligible candidates submit applications.
Eligible Titles: Deputy Police Chief, Police CaptainExamination Weights: The Sole Assessment Center will be 100% of the final score.
Job Description
The Chief of Police is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, controlling and staffing all activities of the department. They are also responsible for ensuring the continued and efficient operation and enforcement of department rules and regulations.
General Duties and Responsibilities:**
- Plan and execute police programs designed to prevent and repress crime, to apprehend and prosecute offenders, and to recover property; modify these programs to meet current trends.
- Establish departmental goals, objectives, policies, regulations and procedures based upon the needs of the city and the department; continually evaluate the effectiveness and responsiveness of the department.
- Serve as primary representative of the department with civic organizations, public interest groups, elected representatives, schools, etc., by attending meetings related to public safety problems and enforcement.
- Submit an annual report to the appointing authority outlining the activities of the department.
- Be responsible for the preparation and justification of the annual departmental budget and for the control of all departmental expenditures.
**The duties and responsibilities listed above are intended only as an illustration of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment of the position. For a complete description, please contact the Woburn Police Department.
Application: All applications must be received by the application deadline or your application will not be accepted. Once your application is successfully submitted, you will receive a confirmation email. If you do not receive this confirmation, your application has not been received and you will need to submit the application again.
Credit for In-Title Experience: Pursuant to the provisions of MGL Ch. 31, Section 22, individuals may apply to receive credit for employment or experience in the position title of Police Chief. Credit will only be accepted if time worked is in a permanent, provisional or temporary after certification status. If you believe you are eligible for this credit, you must claim this credit in the application. All claims must be verified by supporting documentation, which must provide specific details of any experience you have in the position title of Police Chief, including dates of service and, if part time, total number of hours worked. The supporting documentation must be on original letterhead with a signature from the appointing authority where the experience occurred or on the Employment Verification Form for Sole Assessment Center. Please note, credit for employment or experience is applicable only to individuals who achieve a passing score on the Assessment Center, and cannot be added to a failing examination score. Supporting documentation needs to be submitted within seven days after the Assessment Center date by email to civilservice@mass.govor attached to the application.
Statutory Preference Points: Upon submission of written proof, two points will be added to the passing score of qualified Veterans and Disabled Veterans or individuals who have 25 years of service as a member of a regular police or fire force and have passed an examination for promotional appointment in such force. If you are qualified for both the Veteran's Preference and the Promotional Preference for 25 years of service, please be advised that two points are the maximum allowable number of points to be added to your passing, overall (general average) examination score. To claim the Promotional Preference for 25 years of service, candidates must claim this preference in the application and either attach the Employment Verification Form for Sole Assessment Centerform to the application or email it to civilservice@mass.gov. To claim veterans preference, claim veteran status in the application and attach your DD214 to the application or email it tocivilservice@mass.gov. For more information on veteran status refer to theMilitary Informationsection on our website.
During the HRD review process or during the life of the applicable eligible list(s), candidates must make original supporting documentation available should the issue of authenticity arise with any submitted document copies.
Current Military Personnel: All military personnel who, in connection with current service, have military orders that indicate their unavailability due to military service on the examination date, must file an application and request a makeup examination in writing, with a copy of your military orders attached by the application deadline. Please include in your request your email address, daytime base phone number and/or name and phone number of a friend or family member with whom you have regular contact and entrust with your personal communication. Attach your request to the application or email it tocivilservice@mass.gov. Requests filed after the application deadline must be accompanied by a DD214 showing discharge within six months of the request and dates of active service that include the entire application period. Fore more information, refer to the Military Information section on our website.
Makeup Examination: With the exception of current military personnel, no candidate has a right to a makeup examination due to personal or professional conflicts on the testing date. Candidates are advised to consider this before applying for the examination. If you file an examination application by the application deadline but are unable to appear for the examination on the scheduled examination date due to an emergency or unanticipated hardship, you may request a makeup examination by filing a written request with verifiable documentation to HRD no later than 7 days after the examination date. HRD reserves the right to approve or deny your request. HRD may require an additional examination processing fee upon approval of your request.
Reasonable Accommodations: If you need testing accommodations due to a documented impairment, or medical condition, you must submit a written request with verifiable documentation detailing what type of accommodation you require at the examination site. This request with verifiable documentation, must be attached to the application or emailed tocivilservice@mass.govby the application deadline. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to grant your accommodation without this information. This information is requested only to provide reasonable accommodation for examinations and will not be used for any other purpose.
Updating Information: Candidates are responsible for maintaining accurate contact information. Failure to keep your records current may jeopardize opportunities for promotion. For information on how to update your information, click on Update Account.
Identification at the Examination Site: At the examination site, candidates must present a current and valid government issued photo identification with signature (e.g., driver's license, passport, military ID). Candidates will not be allowed to take the examination without valid identification.
Private School or Service: HRD does not recommend or endorse any private school, service, or publisher offering preparation and/or publications for examinations and is not responsible for their advertising claims.
Supplemental Information
Women, minorities, veterans, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
For more information or inquiries about this and other civil service examinations, visitwww.mass.gov/civilservice or email the Civil Service Unit at civilservice@mass.gov
The Civil Service Unit's hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:45am – 5:00pm, except holidays. Inquiries may also be made to the Civil Service Unit during these hours at the following numbers:
Boston area: (617) 878-9895 or (617) 878-9700
Toll-Free Within Massachusetts: 1-800-392-6178
TTY Number: (617) 878-9762