Hiring Standards

The Henderson Police Department adheres to strict hiring standards when evaluating potential candidates for employment. Please carefully review the information listed below.

Please note that this list does not include all hiring standards of the Henderson Police Department, as some remain confidential and are not available to review by applicants or employees. To promote transparency, we are sharing the following standards to give candidates a boarder understanding of the criteria considered during a background investigation.


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Tattoos and Piercings

Henderson Police Officers and Corrections Officers are not permitted to have visible tattoos, brands, or piercings which cannot be covered by wearing a long-sleeved uniform shirt.

Piercings must be removed and cannot be covered with bandages or tape.

Exceptions to this include earlobe earrings – small studs and one set only; tattooed wedding band on the ring finger, cosmetic tattoos such as eyeliner, eyebrows.

Marijuana Use

While the state of Nevada has legalized marijuana and other consumable THC products, they continue to be prohibited under federal law. For this reason, the Henderson Police Department requires applicants to have not consumed marijuana or THC products after the time of application.

Illicit Drug History

Specific illegal drug use standards and disqualification periods are confidential.

The candidate’s complete drug history will be taken into consideration and such usage may be disqualifying. Occurrences of drug history/involvement will be evaluated for recency, frequency, amount, and type of drug to determine a pattern of past or present demonstrated behavior which is inconsistent with the duties and functions of the position and will be thoroughly reviewed.

Arrests/Convictions

Arrests, by themselves, are not disqualifying unless the underlying circumstances exhibit a pattern of past or present criminal behavior. All arrests will be investigated and evaluated for frequency, type, job relatedness, and severity to determine past or present criminal behavior that is inconsistent with the duties and functions of the position.

Applicants with a convicted disposition for the following types of crimes will be disqualified.

  • Conviction of any crime currently considered a felony in the State of Nevada.
  • Conviction of any crime currently considered a gross misdemeanor in the State of Nevada.
  • Convictions for two (2) Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
  • Conviction of Misdemeanor Crimes of Domestic Violence (MCDV) applies to all commissioned positions and any other position that may require the use or care of firearms.

Driving History

  • At-fault accidents in the past three (3) years will be evaluated for frequency, type, and severity to determine a pattern of past or present behavior that is inconsistent with the duties and functions of the position.
  • Applicants with more than two (2) at fault accidents in the past three (3) years will be disqualified

Polygraph Test

Verified and documented attempts to cheat/alter findings of a polygraph will result in disqualification.

Omitting/Falsifying

Omitting of material facts or information at any time during the background investigation, which includes; minimizing of drug use, employment terminations, arrests and/or convictions, etc.; gaps in employment and/or omissions of employers, missing required documents, etc.; incomplete information provided leading to significant changes of information on the Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ) background process may result in disqualification.

Falsifying any information or required documentation at any time during the background investigation process will result in an indefinite disqualification. (i.e., transcripts, birth certificate, etc.)