Riverside Police Department

Background Inquiry Process

The Background Inquiry Process begins upon successful passing of the Oral Interview.  You will be required to complete and return your Personal History Statement (PHS) when you attend a job presentation event scheduled by Human Resources. The PHS can be located at http://lib.post.ca.gov/Publications/2-255-phsDispatchers.doc. The PHS is known as your background packet.  The Riverside Police Department Background Investigators are committed to providing our community with the highest quality of police department employees.  All police employees are held to the highest standards of professional conduct, which is essential to maintaining the trust of the community they serve.  It is imperative that all information an applicant provides is truthful and accurate.  Omission of facts is considered to be untruthful and may be grounds for disqualification. 

A background inquiry can include but is not limited to the following:

• Driving history
• Education transcripts
• Friends and family references
• Current and past employers
• Credit
• Past relationships
• Criminal history both adult and juvenile
• Landlords
• Roommates
• Other acquaintances
• Immigration / Nationalization
• Military

During the course of your background inquiry it will be necessary to complete a polygraph exam to confirm your truthfulness.  The Riverside Police Department is dedicated to hiring only those individuals who meet the highest of professional standards with a commitment to serving all members of their community with sensitivity, empathy, and impartiality.