After an extensive search that began with 152 applicants, the Bristol Police Department has hired two people to join the force. Stefanie Salisbury is a Cranston resident in her young twenties, with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in administration of justice from Salve Regina University. She played lacrosse in college and has coached the sport at the high school level.

Josemar Silva, also a Cranston resident, currently works for the Rhode Island Sheriffs Department, speaks multiple languages (Creole, Portuguese and Spanish), has a bachelor’s degree from Johnson and Wales University, and discovered Bristol while working at the Bristol Fourth of July parade.

Both Salisbury and Silva have signed commitment letters to accept the two open positions in the Bristol police force. They are scheduled to enter the state training academy in early January, and to graduate 25 weeks later. After that, they would begin as probationary officers in Bristol next summer.

That would complete a year-long process that began when Bristol first posted the positions back in July. After an initial six-week application period, the hiring process includes:

• An orientation meeting (about 90 people showed up);
• An agility test (more than 80 took it);
• Interviews (23 candidates);
• Written exams and ranking by the Bristol Personnel Board;
• Second interviews with top 6 candidates;
• Selection of two candidates;
• Extensive background checks conducted by Bristol detectives;
• Psychological testing;
• Psychological interview;
• Another agility test;
• Training academy for 25 weeks;
• Field training with Bristol officers;
• One year as a probationary officer.

Because many things could derail the process, the department typically selects one or two alternate candidates. But if all goes according to plan, the two new officers should be cruising through town next summer.