History of recorded changes to the Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ)
3.26b Have you ever engaged in, or are currently engaging in any type of membership in a hate group, participation in any hate group activity, or advocacy of any public expressions of hate.
Instructions updated for clarity.
1.1. Have you EVER been detained by law enforcement for investigation, arrested, indicted, charged, or convicted of any misdemeanor or felony offense in this state or any other legal jurisdiction (including offenses in the Uniform Code of Military Justice)?
Instructions updated.
“List ALL jobs you have had, including part-time, temporary, self-employment, or volunteer work.
NOTE: Military Experience, including reserve duty, assignments, or unit of assignment should be entered in Section 6.“
Instructions updated.
“Add all public safety agencies you have applied to, including any that you listed above for work experience. All agencies must be listed regardless of the outcome or current status..“
Question updated.
“List any individuals (aside from your spouse/registered partner) you have had an established dating relationship with. (i.e, boyfriends, girlfriends, partners, etc.)”
Display Order of Dated Entries
Entries that utilize a date will now display in chronological order upon return to the corresponding PHQ section/page. This applies to: Employment, Military, Education, and Neighborhood Checks.
Work Experience – Public Safety Agencies
The list of Public Safety Agencies that are presented when disclosing prior places of employment has been updated so all agencies appear in proper alphabetical order.
Tattoo Question
Question instructions updated to include the approximate date the tattoo was obtained, a description of its meaning, and where it is located on the body.
Gang Affiliation Question
Instructions have been updated to enter the city, state, and name of any gang association.
General Updates
PHQ Employment History / Residential History
Instructions updated so it does not specify entries should be entered in chronological order. The system will sort them automatically upon return to the page.
Section 1: New Tattoo / Markings Question Added
New question added “Do you have any body tattoos or markings?”. If answered “Yes”, an entry for each tattoo/marking with a description may be entered. The detailed questions for each tattoo/marking entry are as follows:
Marking Description
Provide a description of this tattoo/marking. (Examples: “A red rose with a black and white skull”; “A full color lion roaring.” )
Meaning
What is the meaning behind this tattoo/marking? (Why did you choose this tattoo?)
Visibility
Would this tattoo be visible if wearing a short sleeve uniform?
Section 1: Question 11 – License Information
Instructions have been updated to read: “Add your primary driver’s license and any other states, or foreign countries where you are or have ever been licensed to drive by using the ‘Add License’ button below.”
Section 1: Question 13
Added a checkbox that reads: “I do not have any Social Media profiles”. A user has to either check the checkbox or add at least one social media profile.
Section 3: Question 3: Significant Other
This question has been broadened to be more inclusive of any intimate / romantic relationships the applicant may have been involved in. The question and instructions have been updated to the following:
Section 5: Question 8.1 – Prior agencies applied to
Instructions have been updated to read as:
“Add all public safety agencies you have applied to, starting with the most recent. All agencies must be listed regardless of the outcome or current status. “
The applicant may select which agency they applied to from a list of public safety agencies. Agencies previously only listed by displaying the agency name. However, as some agencies maintain the same name but are in different states, agency names will now display with their corresponding state to avoid the applicant from selecting an agency they did not mean to.
When an applicant indicates what steps of the process they participated in at the selected agency, they are presented with an additional box that allows them to select from “Pass”, “Fail”, or “Unknown”. Options to select are as follows:
PHQ Update
Fixed a typo in Section 5 of the PHQ that warns the applicant that they have periods of unemployment (previously in incorrectly said “employment” instead of “unemployment”)
SECTION 2: Relatives and References
2.7 Minimum number of references required to be entered by the applicant is 6
SECTION 3: Education
GPA: Added entry for the applicant to provide their GPA for all education entries (Investigators can check a GPA as “verified” to compare what GPA the applicant provided vs official school transcripts)
3.4 Header updated from “Basic Course / Police Academy” to “Basic Course / Public Safety Academy” and instructions now read “Example: Police Academy, Fire Academy”
3.5.1 NEW question added “Have you ever had contact with Campus Police or College Public Safety?”. If the applicant answers “yes”, it will be noted in the Concerns Report
3.5.2 NEW QUESTION added under School Disciplinary Action: “Have you ever cheated on a school exam, assisted another person in cheating, or participated in cheating in a POST exam?” If they answer “yes”, it will be noted in the Concerns Report.
SECTION 4: Residence History
Residence History: Three options are now available for each residence entered. Type of residence? “Own; Rent; Rent-Free”
SECTION 5: Experience and Employment
5.1 Verbiage correction removed the extra “have” so the question now read “Co-workers. Add the names of any coworkers at this job, not including the owner or supervisor you may have listed above.”
SECTION 6: Military Experience
6.6 NEW QUESTION added “Have you ever been refused entrance for any reason, into the United States military?”. If the applicant answers “yes”, it will be noted in the Concerns Report.
SECTION 8: Legal
Primary instructions updated to read: “This section requires you to report detentions, arrests, convictions, and criminal acts, including diversion programs that were not successfully completed, and in some cases, offenses that may have been pardoned. As a peace officer applicant, you are required to disclose this information. Include ALL acts, whether you were caught or not.”
8.2 Header title updated to: “INVOLVEMENT IN CRIMINAL ACTS – PART 1”
8.2 Instructions updated to: “At any time in your life, have you ever committed any of the following acts? NOTE: You may not withhold any information regarding your involvement in any of the following acts, even if federal or state law relieved you from reporting the detention, arrest, or conviction that arose from it.”
8.2.22 Verbiage updated to better clarify to the applicant that they must list if they have been in possession of alcohol as a minor (under the age of 21), including underage drinking
8.3 Header title updated to: “INVOLVEMENT IN CRIMINAL ACTS – PART 2”
8.3.24 Question update to read: “Is there anything posted on the internet that depicts you in an unlawful act, or might discredit the city or agency to which you are applying if hired?”
8.4 Illegal drug use question: New drug added to the list of drugs “Synthetic Marijuana known as K2”
8.4 Button label changed from “Add Drug” to “Add”
SECTION 10: Miscellaneous
10.3 NEW question added: “Is there anything in your past that we have not asked, which if we uncovered may prove to be embarrassing or be grounds for disqualification from this Department?” If the applicant answers “yes”, it will be noted in the Concerns Report.
10.4 NEW question added: “Did anyone provide advice, guidance, or other assistance to you while completing this PHQ?”. If the applicant answers “yes”, it will be noted in the Concerns Report.
10.5 NEW question added: “Is there anything, which would prevent you from supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States of America, and the state Constitution?”.If the applicant answers “yes”, it will be noted in the Concerns Report.
10.6 NEW question added: “Is there anything that would prevent you from taking an oath of office?”. If the applicant answers “yes”, it will be noted in the Concerns Report.