OVER 75 APPLY FOR SINGLE POLICE OPENING

One opening for a patrolman at the Cape Girardeau Police Department has drawn more than 75 applicants.

Forty-seven of the applicants underwent physical testing Saturday morning at the Student Recreation Center at Southeast Missouri State University. Those applicants who failed to show up are out of the running, said department Sgt. Carl Kinnison.

The applicants, he said, also must take two written tests and go through an oral interview and medical and psychological evaluations. Kinnison said the starting date for the position is tentatively set for Jan. 27.

In all there were 76 applicants. But Kinnison said he didn't think the large applicant response is a sign of the nation's recession.

"That's pretty typical of how many we have apply," he said. Last time the department hired officers, about two years ago, a little over 80 candidates applied for three openings, he said.

Most of the candidates saw the position advertised, said Kinnison. Other applicants are on a list the city keeps of people who have expressed interest in working for the department, he said.