Police Officer

CALEA; Columbus (IN); On-site; USD 75,000 - 96,000; Full time

Job summary

The Columbus Police Department in Columbus, IN is accepting applications for police officers until October 19, 2026. Applicant testing is scheduled for November 7.

Salary ranges from $74,984 to $95,979 per year. Lateral pay is available for up to 8 years of prior full-time experience, plus specialty pay and various incentives. Take-home vehicle availability and comprehensive benefits enhance officer compensation.

Qualifications

• Must be a United States Citizen.
• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Must have a valid Driver's License.
• Must be at least 21 years old and not older than 39 at sworn-in.
• Must not have a felony conviction and no disqualifying offenses in recent years.
• Must successfully complete all phases of the hiring process.

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

ILEA Tier 1 Basic Course Certification or eligible Waiver

Job description

The Columbus Police Department is currently accepting applications for police officers until October 19, 2026. Applicant testing will be held November 7th.
2026 Salary: $74,984 - $95,979
Lateral Pay Available: Up to 8 years of prior full-time experience honored for pay & PTO

• -Specialty pay up to $3,000/year (payable after probationary year)
• -Clothing allowance: $900/year
• -College incentive pay: up to $2,850/year
• -Military service incentive pay: up to $1,424/year
• -Shift differential: 2nd shift receives 5%, 3rd shift receives 10%

Paid Time Off & Shifts

• -Up to five (5) weeks of vacation time, and paid floating holidays
• -8.5-hour patrol shifts with every other weekend off
• -Take-home vehicle use in Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson, and Shelby counties

• -City health plan members (employees and dependents) have access to medical care with no co-pay through Employer Health Partners at Nexus Park
• -Employee Assistance Program
• -Wellness program and health programs (Officers are permitted one hour to work out/exercise during shift)
• -On-site police workout/fitness room

Retirement & Other Info

• -20-year retirement eligibility - 52% of First-Class Patrolman salary (maximum of 76% at 32 years of service)
• -City covers 50% of employee's pension contribution, in addition to employer costs
• -Officers may have beards and visible tattoos (excluding face, neck and hands)

Lateral Employment Program

Police officers hired on or after January 1, 2026, must meet all of the following requirements to be eligible for entry into the lateral employment program. Lateral hires may receive starting pay and personal time off equivalent to each year of full-time service, up to and including 8 years. This does not include partial or seasonal years of service. CPD does not allow for lateral transfer of rank or seniority within the department or the City. Lateral officer applicants should apply with the normal hiring process, but may be exempt from some testing requirements.

Requirements

Police Officer Requirements

• -Must be a United States Citizen
• -Must have a high school diploma or equivalent
• -Must have a valid Driver's License
• -Must be at least 21 years old and not older than 39 years old when sworn-in
• -Must not have a conviction in the past five years that has not been expunged for:
• -Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs
• -Operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated or with a blood alcohol content of .08 of higher
• -Domestic battery
• -Must not have a felony conviction that has not been expunged
• -Must successfully complete all phases of the hiring process

Lateral Eligibility Requirements

• -Must have/had been a full-time sworn law enforcement officer with powers of lawful arrest and authorized to carry a weapon.
• Must possess an Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) Certification for successfully completing the Tier 1 Basic Course or be in the process of obtaining, or be eligible to obtain, an ILEA Waiver that is equivalent to the Tier 1 Basic Course.
• -Must meet the requirements of the 1977 Indiana Police and Fire Pension Fund (\"PERF\"), and be accepted into the Pension Fund. Out-of-state applicants, and other applicants not currently a member of this fund, must not have reached their 40th birthday upon commencement of employment or be a veteran with 20 years of armed forces service with a maximum age of 40 years and 6 months.

Location

123 Washington Street
Columbus , IN 47201
United States