Minimum Requirements To Be A Police Officer In New York
- Age: not less than 20 at the time of appointment nor more than 35 as of date of written examination. It is recommended that candidates be not less than 19 on the date of the examination
- Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma
- Medical and physical fitness requirements are set by the New York -State Municipal Police Training Council and must be met prior to appointment
- Municipal civil service agencies may establish other additional or higher qualifications than those listed above, so you must closely review the announcement for the examination where you are interested in being employed.
Extension or a waiver to the age requirementCandidates who are veterans of the armed forces may have time spent on military duty, up to a maximum of six years, as defined in Section 243 of the Military Law, deducted from their age for purposes of determining whether they meet the age requirement. Beyond this exemption for Veterans there is no ability for a municipal civil service agency or the New York State Civil Service Commission to provide a waiver to the age requirements.
Pass The Licensing Exam
The next step to becoming a police officer is to earn a passing score on your states police licensing board exam. Your education and training will prepare you to take the Peace Officer Standards and Training exam.
Each state has its own licensing board, so the tests will also vary. But generally speaking, most POST exams cover topics like: practical application and techniques, civil and criminal law, community policing, victims rights and management and communication. By passing this capstone exam, you are licensed to become a police officer and enforce the law in your jurisdiction. You are now free to seek employment with a police department.
New York City Police Officer Requirements
Candidates looking to become NYC police officers must fulfill a number of requirements in order to be eligible for employment. Applicants must:
- Be a US citizen and at least 21 years of age on or before the day of hire
- Be a legal resident of one of the five boroughs of New York City or the surrounding counties
- Possess a valid unrestricted New York State drivers license
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Have completed at least 60 college credits with a 2.0 GPA from an accredited college or university OR 2 years of full-time active military service in the United States Armed Forces with an honorable discharge
- Have no prior felonies, or any repeated convictions including petit larceny, any domestic violence charges, or any crime that may represent a disposition towards violence and disorder
- Have uncorrected vision of at least 20/100 and corrected vision of 20/20
- Not be colorblind colorblindness is an immediate disqualifier
For more information, see 10 Steps to Becoming a Police Officer on our homepage. Once ready to apply for a position in the NYPD, application information can be found at the NYPD recruitment page.
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Continuing Education And Career Advancement
Once you have completed all of these steps to becoming a police officer, you will still have plenty to learn. Nothing beats on-the-job experience to show you all of the specialized areas police officers might want or need to learn more about. The best officers are never done learning.
Similar to other industries, officers must meet continuing education requirements in order to renew their license. For example, Minnesota police officer requirements mandate a minimum of 48 hours of continuing education within the three-year licensing period in order to maintain their license.
In addition, active officers are required to train annually in use of force and once every five years in emergency vehicle operations/pursuit driving. Specialized training may also be directed by your police department based on federal and local needs. Departments might also incentivize other education opportunities to encourage their officers forward. Additional training or credentials may be required for those looking to climb the police ranks.
Salary For Nypd Recruits
The salary for NYPD recruits depends on their position. The following information is true as of 2015 and has been taken from the New York Police Departments recruitment website.
At the Police Academy level, the annual salary is $44,744, which may go up to $46,288 after six months.
After 1.5 years, the salary may go up to $48,173 and in an additional one year to $53,819.
The next jump in salary may come after 3.5 years of service, taking it up to $58,786. Another year later, it may increase to $62,455 and after a total of five years of service, NYPD officers may become entitled to an annual pay of $69,005.
After 5.5 years, the salary figure may take the biggest jump to $90,829 annually.
Keep in mind that these total compensation figures include top base pay, longevity pay, uniform allowance, holiday pay and the average night shift differential. It does not take into account any overtime hours.
According to O*NET OnLine, police officers in the state of New York earned a median annual income of $69,150 in 2015, which is higher than the national median salary of $58,320. The job growth in this sector is expected to be at 6%, which is 1% more than the job growth expected in this field nationally.
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New York Police Department Information
The NYPD is divided into 20 bureaus, 77 patrol precincts, 12 transit police districts, and nine police service areas, which are dedicated to city public housing. NYPD officers typically begin their careers in patrol, after which they may apply to move to specialty units. Bureaus within the NYPD include Counterterrorism, Crime Control Strategies, and Intelligence. Across the various bureaus, the NYPD also operates approximately 300 specialty units including aviation, organized crime control, major cases, criminal investigations, drug enforcement, and more.
The NYPD follows a collaborative community policing model that aims to promote options for public safety in cooperation with local citizens. This model is open to considering creative and innovative solutions that enhance public safety and improve access to police services. This model also focuses on shared responsibility in neighborhood policing, encouraging citizens to take a proactive stance against crime. The evidence for this models success is in the numbers: in 2017, the NYPD reported record-low violent crime numbers and historic reductions in various types of crimes, including shootings, robberies, and burglaries.4
What Does A Police Officer Do
In the simplest sense, police officers enforce laws and protect life and property. But of course, there is much more to it than that. Heres how it breaks down:
Policeofficers are sworn to protect and serve the communities in which they live andwork. They enforce laws, obtain warrants, arrest and interview suspects, securecrime and accident scenes, write detailed reports and testify in court, amongother duties. Officers often respond to emergency calls, working shifts thatoperate around the clock.
The specific duties of a police officer will be numerous and diverse. Based on appointment, length of service and training, they may work with a K-9 unit responding to suspicions of drugs or dangerous weapons in vehicles and other property. Or, they might take a role on the SWAT team where they need to know tactics and procedures for working under dangerous conditions. Much of their daily routine will involve patrolling a certain area, such as a portion of a town or city. As they move up the ranks, they may investigate crimes ranging from petty theft to murder.
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Take The Written Exam
To qualify for the written exam, you must:
If you are randomly selected and verify that you still meet the requirements, you will receive instructions on how to provide the application fee. The fee is $40 and is non-refundable.
How Hard Is It To Become A Police Officer
Similar to the period of time needed, the level of difficulty will vary from person to person and department to department.
Essentially, an applicant who has trained to be in good shape, did not commit misdemeanors or felonies, is emotionally balanced and of good morals will have a high chance of getting admitted into the police academy and/or police department.
All candidates will need to undergo a scrupulous medical, physical, polygraph, psychological examinations, drug screening and personality profiling. However, each state will choose the admission criteria based on several factors relevant for that region.
Even though each state established its own eligibility criteria, there are some admission procedure similarities.
For instance, obtaining a minimum score of 70% at the physical fitness agility standards test is mandatory for being admitted in a police academy, regardless of the state.
In general, the common physical activities that the candidates must perform in a timely manner include push-ups, sit-ups, 1.5 mile run and swimming. However, some states or certain police departments might include other physical tests based on data gathered from criminal statistics in that region.
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‘it Wasn’t The Same After 9/11’: How Becoming A Cop Saved An Fdny Firefighter’s Life
After 9/11, Dan Rowan, a 21-year FDNY veteran, moved from New York to Arizona to become a fourth-generation police officer a change he says got him through some of his darkest days
Never forget.
Every year, millions of Americans vow just that to never forget those who lost their lives on .
But for retired FDNY firefighter Dan Rowan, every day is 9/11.
Rowan, who worked with Engine 33/Ladder 9, was off duty that day.
“Me and my partner, who were the two oldest guys on the team, switched days. He wanted one day, I wanted another. All of a sudden, I’m with two off-duty police officers that day helping them paint a house.”
They hadn’t gotten very far on their project when Rowan’s wife called him in a panic.
“She said, ‘Dan, you’ve got to go to New York.’ I said, ‘What happened?’ ‘Turn the TV on,’ she said. And I kept asking, ‘What happened?’ She just kept telling me to turn on the TV. Finally, she blurted out, ‘A plane just flew into the building.’ Without hesitation, I said, ‘I’m on my way.’ I was only 15 minutes from New York City. All three of us headed that way to help.”
Rowan arrived to a horrific sight: The north tower of the World Trade Center was collapsing. Rowan’s crew from Engine 33 and Ladder 9 were all in that tower.
Half of the crew from Ladder 9, he said, made it out, but they lost the entire Engine 33 crew.
“I lost 10 out of 15 of my guys,” Rowan said, choking back tears.
“I still have everybody with me. They never leave my side,” he said.
Environmental Conservation Police Officer
Job Description:
Environmental Conservation Police Officers are sworn police officers involved in the enforcement of the Environmental Conservation Law in order to protect the State’s natural resources and environment. They investigate complaints in order to detect and document both state and federal Environmental Conservation Law felonies, misdemeanors and violations. Environmental Conservation Police Officers meet with school groups, service groups, regulated community and hunter’s and angler’s clubs to promote compliance with environmental conservation law, which includes fish and wildlife law. At times, they are expected to work long and irregular hours on outdoor patrols. ECOs are required to carry a firearm.
Job Qualifications:
Salary & Traineeship:
Work Location:
Promotional Opportunities:
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New York Police Officer Salary
The average salary for officers in the state of New York is around 64,000 a year. Keep in mind though, that that reflects the higher paid officers in New York City and the lower paid officers in rural parts of the state. Where you work in the state of New York influences how much you make . Higher ranking officers and supervisors can make around or over 80-90 thousand a year.
Nys Trooper Computer Crimes Unit
If you have information that the Internet or a computer is being used in any way to victimize a child, please complete the Internet Crimes Against Children Online Report.
The New York State Police Computer Crimes Unit was established in February 1992 to assist agencies that lack the technical expertise or resources to manage cases involving evidence stored in computers seized in criminal investigations.
Since then, it has evolved into a unit that bridges the technological gaps that often exist between investigating police officers, district attorneys and experts in the field of computers and related technology.
Servicing the entire law enforcement community, as well as private enterprises and persons victimized by technology crimes, Unit personnel now devote much of their efforts to other emerging areas of technology-based crime and have become heavily involved in investigating:
Consumer and credit card fraud,Industrial espionage and computer tampering,Adult and child pornography involving personal computers and the Internet,Cases involving the use of computers in the furtherance of pedophilia,Theft of funds through electronic transfers,Money laundering andCellular telephone cloning and theft of services.This units invaluable, specialized investigative capability is available to assist local law enforcement agencies that lack the technical expertise or resources to manage these complicated cases.
Other areas of investigation
Training and presentations
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Police And Peace Officer Instructors
All instructors in Municipal Police Training Council courses must be approved by the Office of Public Safety before they may conduct any MPTC approved training courses. Certain subject areas such as firearms and mental health require advanced instructor training and/or credentials. For a list of topic areas requiring advanced instructor certification, please contact the Office of Public Safety at or by telephone at 457-2667.
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Pass Nypd Physical Test
Police work demands agility, stamina and physicality. NYPD requires candidates to pass a gender-neutral job standards test to demonstrate that they are able to carry out everyday law enforcement duties. Candidates have four minutes and 28 seconds to perform a series of exercises similar to the tasks that a police officer performs in the line of duty. Report for the NYPD physical test wearing a sweatshirt with sweatpants, athletic footwear and batting-style gloves.
Example:
- Walk up and down stairs multiple times
- Drag a 176-pound dummy to simulate a rescue
- Repeatedly pull the trigger of an unloaded firearm
- Complete background check and screenings
New York City police officers must be emotionally stable and mentally equipped to handle stressful situations. As part of the interview process, candidates will be asked to complete forms authorizing and releasing the results of a medical examination and a thorough background check with fingerprinting, along with alcohol and drug screening. Further, you must take extensive written psychological tests and meet with a psychologist for an oral interview.
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What Do Related Occupations Make
If youre interested in how to become a police officer, you might also be interested in related professions. Working as a correctional officer, EMT or paramedic, firefighter, probation officer, security guard, gaming surveillance officer, game warden or firefighter might be on your radar. If thats the case, you can peruse the list of related occupations below, which includes average salaries:
What you earn depends on where you live, including the region, state or city. To help determine what you can expect to make in your particular area, our handy salary comparison tool can help.
Becoming A Police Officer In Buffalo New York
The Buffalo Police Departments 750 uniformed officers are responsible for providing law enforcement services to the citizens and visitors of Buffalo, New York.
Step 1. Meet Minimum Employment Requirements
If you want to learn how to become a cop by meeting police officer requirements in Buffalo, you should first ensure you meet minimum employment eligibility. In particular, in order to achieve a career as a Buffalo police officer you must:
- Be between the ages of 19 and 35
- Be a United States citizen
- Possess a valid New York drivers license
- Be a resident of Niagara, Genesee, Erie, Cattaraugus, Wyoming, or Chautauqua County for at least 90 days prior to testing
- Possess at least 60 college credit hours
Step 2. Submit an Application for Employment
If you determine you meet all employment eligibility requirements for becoming a police officer in Buffalo, you can pick up a job application at:
City of Buffalo 65 Niagara Square, 1001 City Hall Buffalo, NY 14202
You may also send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the above address to have an application sent to you.
Step 3. Take the Recruitment Exam
You can prepare for the written recruitment exam by studying the Preparation Guide, which is available at:
City of Buffalo 65 Niagara Square, 1001 City Hall Buffalo, NY 14202
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