Police Officer, 2nd Class

Sarasota Police Department; Sarasota (FL); On-site; USD 61,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Sarasota is hiring for a probationary police officer role. The position involves performing a variety of police duties in a probationary status, including patrols, investigations, traffic control, and public safety tasks.

Applicants must meet strict qualifications, including U.S. citizenship, a high school diploma or GED, valid driver’s license, and the ability to pass testing and background checks. Vision standards and physical demands are specified, with WBST requirements noted.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED.
• 21+ years old; U.S. citizen.
• Valid driver’s license; Florida license upon employment.
• Physically and mentally healthy.
• Vision: 20/100 uncorrected, 20/30 corrected.
• No felony or disqualifying misdemeanors.
• Military: honorable discharge + DD-214/DD-256/NGB22 if applicable.
• Must complete application, testing, and background process.
• Good moral character.
• WBST minimum 10.0; waived with associate degree or higher.
• WBST scheduling assistance available through Suncoast Technical College.
• Florida Equivalency of Training.

Responsibilities

• Patrols assigned area in radio car and checks doors/windows of buildings or residences.
• Conducts or assists in investigations of suspicious conditions or criminal activity.
• Directs traffic and may issue tickets or warnings.
• Maintains order at crowds, parades, funerals and public gatherings.
• Prepares reports and maintains police records.
• Gives directions to locations and manages traffic at intersections or emergency scenes.
• Conducts tests to determine intoxication.

Skills

WBST (Verbal & Quantitative)

Driver's license

Vision standards

Background check readiness

Moral character

Swim

Ability to follow instructions

Education

High School or GED

Associate Degree or higher

Job description

All current City of Sarasota employees must apply to job postings on the internal career site.

Come work at a place where employees of the City serve with Excellence and Pride!

Employee Type: Probationary

Time Type: Full time

Salary Range: $32.74 Hourly / $68,111.06 Annually

Job Posting Period: January 08, 2026 - December 31, 2026 12:00 A.M.

Job Description

Overview

To provide a variety of police activities as an officer in probationary status.

Essential Functions

• May perform assigned duties alone or in the presence of a superior officer.
• Patrols assigned area in radio car; checks doors, windows and premises of unoccupied buildings or residences in order to detect suspicious conditions.
• Conducts or assists in investigations of suspicious condition, complaints or criminal activity.
• May direct traffic, make arrests, issue violation tickets, warnings, etc. in regard to traffic enforcement.
• Maintains order of crowds and attends parades, funerals and other public gatherings.
• Prepares and compiles reports and maintains police records.
• Gives information concerning the location of streets, routes and buildings; directs traffic at intersections or at emergency scenes.
• Conducts tests to determine intoxication.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School or GED
• Minimum age of 21 and must be a citizen of the United States.
• Possession of a valid Driver's License and upon employment the ability to possess and maintain a valid State of Florida Driver's License is required.
• In good physical and mental health as determined by licensed physicians designated by the City.
• Vision requirements of 20/100 uncorrected in each eye, correctable to 20/30 in each eye must be met.
• Must have no felony convictions and have no misdemeanor convictions involving perjury, a false statement or moral turpitude.
• Military personnel must have an honorable discharge and supply form DD-214, DD-256 or NGB22 where applicable.
• Must successfully complete the application, testing, and background process.
• Of good moral character as determined by a thorough background investigation.
• Must have minimum score of 10.0 on the Wonderlic Basic Skills Test (WBST) for each area of Verbal and Quantitative Skills. WBST is waived with submission of certified transcript for those applicants with an Associate Degree or higher.
• To schedule the WBST or to locate a testing center in your area, call Suncoast Technical College at 941.924.1365 X62322
• To learn about Florida Equivalency of Training, please click here.

Job Based Competencies

• Ability to acquire thorough knowledge of City laws and ordinance, State statutes, geography, departmental policies, regulations and procedures, first-aid methods, and the use and care of firearms, intermediate weapons, empty hand control tactics and motor vehicles.
• Ability to react quickly and calmly in emergencies.
• Ability to swim.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees, supervisors, and general public.
• Ability to learn a wide variety of police duties and methods within a reasonable training period.

Responsibility

Chain of command assigned by the Police Chief. Usually there is no supervision over other officers; may supervise activities or movement of crowds, traffic or other general groups.

Physical Requirements

This is medium work requiring the exertion of 50 pounds of force occasionally and up to 20 pounds of force frequently. Enters and exits vehicles quickly while wearing approximately 15 to 20 pounds of equipment. Night vision and peripheral vision are important. Runs, climbs over fences and walls to subdue suspects. Sits, while driving, for extended periods of time. Manual dexterity to use handcuffs, light flares, fire weapon, perform CPR, etc. May lift objects and/or persons in excess of 50 pounds. May stand for extended periods of time when directing traffic and controlling crowds. Exposed to extreme weather conditions such as heat, cold, rain and potentially dangerous environments. Exposed to putrid odors, diseases, chemicals, and excessive noise.

Public Contact

Extensive public contact.

Retirement Benefit

Sworn personnel are enrolled in a city-sponsored pension program and may retire or enter a 5-year DROP program after 25 years of service.

NOTE: The City of Sarasota is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Veteran, E-Verify and Drug Free Workplace employer. Click to view a copy of the City's Veterans Recruitment Plan.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to Jake Brown our ADA Coordinator. Jake can be reached via email at [e-mail] or via phone at 941-263-6299.

For questions pertaining to general employment or job application status, please call 941-263-6476, or email [e-mail]