The El Dorado Civil Service Commission and city police and fire departments are gearing up for another round of civil service exams in July.
Both departments and the ECSC administered entry-level and promotional tests April 3 - 5.
With only one candidate passing the entry-level exam for the police department, commissioners immediately set about scheduling another testing cycle for both departments on July 24.
The tests are open to entry-level candidates only. Promotional exams will not be scheduled in July.
During a regular ECSC meeting Monday, El Dorado Police Chief Kenny Hickman said the lone candidate who passed the exam in April started work Monday.
"He's gotten everything squared away with his former job -- which is what we like for them to do, leave on good terms -- and he's in uniform and we've got him out with an experienced officer," Hickman told commissioners.
He said the department has also since hired a certified officer who came from a smaller police department and has six years of experience.
Because he is already certified as a law enforcement officer, the new hire will not have to complete the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy.
Hickman said the officer will undergo training to assess "where he's at."
"We feel good about our new hire and the other young man we just hired," said Hickman.
Going into the spring testing cycle, the El Dorado Police Department had six vacancies for uniformed personnel.
Now, the department is looking to fill four slots.
Both Hickman and El Dorado fire Chief Chad Mosby have said interest in law enforcement and fire service has been waning nationwide.
Only two candidates signed up for the civil service exam to work for the police department in April and of the two, only one successfully completed all three phases of testing -- physical, written and oral interviews -- and passed a background check and a psychological test.
Hickman said Monday that 19 candidates applied to work for the EPD during the fall testing cycle in 2019.
"And even that was down from previous years," he said.
Over the past few years, the police and fire departments have stepped up efforts to recruit and retain talent, including turning more toward digital marketing.
Immediately following the April testing period, the ECSC agreed that a change was in order for marketing and recruiting strategies.
"I've talked to both chiefs, but the police department is where we need to get our numbers up," ECSC chairman Toddy Pitard said.
One idea upon which the group and police and fire departments agreed was to target candidates with a military background.
The discussion resumed Monday, with Pitard saying that Commissioner Elizabeth Vaughn is working with the EPD on the matter.
"We've been down for a while and we have not been able to fill that gap. There are some things that we want to do, some proactive measures that we've wanted to take, but we've been hindered," Hickman said.
"There a lot of ways you can go in this department, a lot of opportunities with specialized training," he continued.
Pitard said Hickman's comments could be used as a part of recruiting efforts.
"The chief's speech would look good on a Facebook page," Pitard said. "Chief, we'll do everything we can to try to get you some people, some new officers with direct digital marketing."
The fire department fared better with results from the entry-level and promotional exams in April.
Mosby reported Monday that the department is fully staffed (the police and fire departments each have 51 slots for uniformed personnel) and that several firefighters were promoted last week.
The EFD had four openings for new hires and five candidates to pass the civil service tests in April.
Three of the four new hires started the Arkansas Fire Training Academy in East Camden on Monday and the fourth will join them next week.
Mosby noted that the fourth candidate is already a certified EMT and was exempted from the first week of professional educational training at the academy.
"They'll be gone until the middle of July. That's one of the reasons we have to stay competitive ... because it takes so long for training," said Mosby.
The certification for the fifth candidate is good for a year and the candidate will remain on the EFD's certification list during that time.
The retirement of Asst. Fire Chief Bruce Goff in January opened up a slot for several promotions. Goff had served as a firefighter for 30 years.
Several EFD promotional candidates were pinned during a ceremony that was held last week in the El Dorado Municipal Auditorium.
"We were able to fill promotions all the way through," Mosby said, adding that the fire department will also offer civil service exams in July.
The fire chief reported that Asst. Chief Seth Rainwater is settling into his new job as the EFD's training officer, a new position that was added to the department and its budget this year.
In other business, the ECSC voted for Pitard and Commissioner Rod Peevy to each serve another term.
Their terms expired April 1.
The recommendations will be forwarded to Mayor Paul Choate and presented to the El Dorado City Council Thursday for a vote.