Police Officer (Currently Virginia DCJS Certified, Lateral)

City of Charlottesville; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 38,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid vacation and sick leave

Employer‑paid life insurance

City retirement options

Gym reimbursement program

Continuing education/training

Job summary

The City of Charlottesville is seeking Virginia DCJS certified police officers to patrol designated districts, enforce laws, and engage with the community to prevent crime. Responsibilities include responding to calls, conducting investigations, and providing public safety information, with opportunities for education stipends and comprehensive benefits.

Qualified applicants must be 21+, hold Virginia police certifications (VCIN, firearms), and have a high school diploma or GED.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Must be at least 21 years old.
• Virginia DCJS Certification as a Police Officer; VCIN; firearms proficiency.
• Possession of valid Virginia driver's permit by start date.
• U.S. citizen or eligible permanent resident.

Responsibilities

• Patrol designated districts to preserve law and order and enforce motor vehicle laws.
• Partner with community residents and businesses to reduce crime and improve safety.
• Respond to calls for service and secure crime scenes; conduct preliminary investigations.
• Perform traffic enforcement, investigations, and report writing; testify in court.
• Provide information to the public about laws and safety and participate in community policing.

Skills

Patrol and traffic enforcement

Report writing

Community policing

Interpersonal communication

Knowledge of laws and ordinances

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

General Summary

Pay will be between $27.25 to $49.22 hourly ($56,680.00 - $102,377.60 annually), depending on sworn law enforcement experience. Officers are also eligible to receive an education stipend for completed Associate Degree ($1,000 per year) or Bachelor's Degree ($2,000 per year). This is a full-time, non-exempt, position and provides excellent benefits including but not limited to: health insurance options with employer contribution, paid vacation and sick leave, employer‑paid life insurance, City’s retirement options, gym reimbursement program, and continuing education/training opportunities.

• The City of Charlottesville manages its own retirement system and does not participate in VRS, however the City has a Portability Agreement with VRS and there are certain provisions that must be met. For questions pertaining to the Portability Agreement, please contact the City’s Benefits Administrator at 434-970-3462.

Job Description

The Charlottesville Police Department is seeking VIRGINIA DCJS CERTIFIED POLICE OFFICERS to protect and serve all citizens through fair and impartial enforcement of laws and ordinances. Partners with community members to prevent and fight crime, safeguards the Constitutional rights of citizens, and protects property. General work consists of routine patrol, preliminary investigation, and traffic enforcement in one of the designated patrol districts. Patrols may be performed on foot, bicycle, Segway, motorcycle, or in a motor vehicle. Officers respond to citizen complaints, prepare reports, serve warrants and makes arrests, provide information to the public and departmental units; and performs related work as required. Police officer duties involve a degree of personal risk and exposure to uncontrolled and/or unpredictable conditions that require officers to exercise independent judgement during emergency situations. Work is performed under the general supervision of a Police Sergeant.

Note

This job opportunity is advertised with a closing date of "Continuous." If interested in being considered, an application should be submitted as soon as possible. Applications may no longer be considered once a reasonable number of applications has been received or once a candidate to fill the position is identified. Applications may be evaluated on a continuous basis and interviews may be conducted as soon as possible during the recruitment with candidates who are best qualified. This job announcement may close at any time after 7 calendar days.

Essential Responsibilities And Duties

• Patrols in designated geographic patrol districts to preserve law and order, identifies and solves problems, prevents crimes, and improves traffic safety through the enforcement of motor vehicle laws.
• Partners with community residents, business owners and other City employees to solve problems of crime, safety, and disorder.
• Responds to calls for service from the community and from radio dispatchers.
• Secures crime scenes, administers first aid, locates witnesses, conducts preliminary investigations, searches & gathers evidence, makes arrests, and serves warrants.
• Responds to burglar and robbery alarms.
• Conducts follow‑up investigations.
• Issues summonses for parking and traffic violations.
• Investigates traffic accidents and writes detailed accidents reports.
• Interviews victims, witnesses, and suspects involved in incidents.
• Documents incidents in detail and maintains concise police reports and records.
• Reports unsafe conditions existing in streets or other public facilities.
• Maintains evidence and other property.
• Drives and safely operates police vehicles.
• Operates vehicle in the transportation of prisoners or large recovered or confiscated properties.
• May provide police escorts when necessary.
• Directs traffic when necessary.
• Appears in court to present evidence and testify.
• Provides information and advice to the public related to laws, ordinances, and crime prevention.
• Familiarity with Virginia Laws and City ordinances.
• Familiarity with Charlottesville Police Department rules and regulations.
• Participates in Community Policing Activities.
• Participates in mandatory and elective training.
• Uses computer systems to obtain, track, and report information in the performance of duties.
• Maintains proficiency with firearms and self-defense.
• May be required to report to work on scheduled days off, or report back to work, should a disaster or emergency arise.
• Performs all duties with the highest degree of confidentiality and personal and professional integrity.
• Performs related duties as required.

Education Requirement

Education, Experience and Skills

• High School Diploma or GED equivalency required.

Special Requirements

• Must be at least 21 years old.
• Successful completion of field training and one (1) year of probationary period after field training; in‑state lateral hires will be 6‑month probationary period after field training.
• Must hold and maintain: Certification as a Law Enforcement Officer by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services; Certification in the Virginia Crime Information Network (VCIN); Certification in firearms proficiency.
• By employment start date, possession of a valid appropriate driver’s permit issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• Must be a US citizen or be a permanent resident alien who, in accordance with the requirements of the USCIS, is eligible and has applied for citizenship (proof is required). Note: an application for waiver of minimum qualifications (citizenship) must obtained and approved by the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).
• Must be able to successfully and satisfactorily pass phases of the screening process, which may include a physical agility test, oral interviews, completion of a comprehensive background investigation, a polygraph exam, psychological and medical exams, and pre‑employment drug screening.
• Must have also signed a Condition of Employment Agreement acknowledging the prohibition of the use of tobacco products on and off duty.

Automatic Disqualifiers

• Any felony convictions or serious misdemeanor convictions of domestic violence, sex offenses, or crimes involving moral turpitude, including but not limited to perjury, larceny, embezzlement, check fraud, or income tax evasion.
• Convicted of DUI or Hit & Run in the past 3 years.
• Use of marijuana after date of application, regardless of location of use (includes states/countries where usage may be legal).
• No non‑prescription/unauthorized drug use after date of application, including but not limited to Adderall, Xanax, etc.
• Pattern of illegal use or misuse of prescription drugs in the last 3 years.
• Illegal experimental use of club drugs, such as Ketamine, GHB, Rohypnol, MDMA (Ecstasy), steroids, mushrooms, peyote, or aerosols within the last 3 years.
• Experimental use of any schedule I, II, III, or IV drug within the last five (5) years not covered above.
• Dealing (as an adult): manufacturing, cultivation, supplying, transporting, distributing, or selling any controlled, illegal or dangerous substance other than marijuana.
• Military dishonorable discharge or bad conduct discharge.
• Under criminal investigation or have criminal charges pending.
• Any previous revocation or denial of certification as Police Officer or a suspension of current certified status.
• Any body art, tattoo, or other modification (such as branding or gauges) that violates departmental policy.
• Failure to provide a fully completed, honestly reported, Personal History Statement.

Preferred Qualification

• Associate degree or higher in law enforcement, public administration or related field from an accredited university or college; prior law enforcement, military, or corrections experience; current law enforcement certification in the Commonwealth of Virginia; professional working proficiency, or higher, in a foreign language or American Sign Language; law enforcement related internships.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

General knowledge of police methods, practices, and procedures necessary to effectively interact with the public, victims, suspects, and officers of other agencies and the ability to apply it to specific situations; general knowledge of state laws and city ordinances, or the ability to acquire it; general knowledge of the geography of Charlottesville and location of important buildings and landmarks, or the ability to acquire this knowledge rapidly; familiar with departmental rules and regulations; ability to understand and carry out oral and written instruction; and to prepare clear, concise reports; ability to deal courteously with the public; ability to effectively communicate with all persons; ability to exercise good judgement in stressful situations; ability to analyze situations quickly and objectively and determine a proper course of action; ability to safely use motor vehicles in normal and emergency conditions; proficient in the use of firearms and other equipment used in the performance of essential duties; ability to maintain high levels of ethical standards; ability to demonstrate a high level of integrity and be truthful at all times.

Physical Conditions & Additional Information

Must be in satisfactory health, that would not restrict the ability to perform and safely complete academy training, field training, and performance of essential job functions of a Police Officer. (Reasonable accommodations may be made and will be considered on a case‑by‑case basis)

This is a safety sensitive position subject to drug and alcohol testing for pre‑employment, reasonable suspicion, post‑accident and random testing.

Work Schedule: requires flexible shift hours (to include holidays, nights and weekends); sometimes remaining on assignments for prolonged periods. Position is subject to emergency call.

Work Environment: A majority of time spent in this position involves outside work. Work is performed in varied environments utilizing department assigned clothing and equipment (personal protective equipment, body armor, and other specialty equipment). Work may be performed in challenging terrain, tight or confined spaces, remote settings, and unprotected heights. Work may be performed in extreme temperatures, extreme brightness or darkness, and in traffic/roadways. Work may involve exposure to chemicals, explosives, electrical hazards, fumes, gases, allergens, blood‑borne pathogens, and animals. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

Physical Demands: Police recruits/officers may be involved in numerous physically demanding activities in the police academy, during on‑job training (field training), and throughout the work shift. These may include: extensive walking, standing, and running; sitting for extended periods of time; working in stressful and sometimes life threatening conditions; pursuing and arresting aggressive/hotile suspects; physically searching suspects; performing rescues from potentially hazardous environments; performing CPR and first aid procedures; controlling crowds; operating a motor vehicle under normal and emergency conditions; carrying and demonstrating proficiency with firearms; qualifying annually with firearm and other less‑lethal weapons.

Requires Identifying Hazards, Persons, and Evidence

Vision: Distance‑corrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better binocularly with at least 20/40 in each eye. If glasses or hard contacts are worn, uncorrected distance vision must be 20/100 or better binocularly. Near‑corrected visual acuity in the better eye of no less than 20/40. In addition, candidates must be able to accurately and quickly name colors, and must be free from other visual impairments that would restrict the ability to perform law enforcement duties (e.g., identify house numbers, license plates, vehicle descriptions, suspect/victim descriptions, evidence, status of brake and traffic lights, body language, potential weapons, and weapons qualifications).

Hearing: Must be able to understand speech in noisy areas, understand whispered speech, and localize sounds (e.g. conversations, radio communications, alarms, requests for assistance).

Smell: Must be able to smell hazardous materials, and contraband (e.g., alcohol on the breath).

Touch: Must be able to touch (feel) concealed weapons, heat, moisture.

The City of Charlottesville is an Equal Opportunity Employer and supports workforce diversity at all levels of the organization. The City prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and pregnancy‑related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. The City is dedicated to this with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, access to facilities and programs, and general treatment during employment.

Requests for reasonable accommodation by individuals with disabilities may be requested by contacting Human Resources at (434) 970‑3490 or [e-mail].

The City of Charlottesville conducts job‑related background checks, reference checks, and pre‑employment drug tests, in accordance with federal, state, and local law, of applicants who reach the final stages of the employment selection process. The City’s policy has not changed because of the decriminalization of marijuana in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Marijuana remains an illegal drug under federal law, and it continues to be a violation of the US Department of Transportation regulations and the City’s policy prohibiting employees from testing positive for marijuana.

Summary Of Employee Benefits

Updated February 9, 2026

Benefits cited represent those for regular 40‑hour employees and may differ for Management Level, Part‑Time, and/or Library positions. Long‑term temporary employees are eligible for all benefits except retirement. Interns, temporary, seasonal, substitute, and relief employees are not eligible for benefits.

Vacation

Need some time off? Use it, you earned it:

• 0 – 3.09 hours biweekly
• 3 – 3.85 hours biweekly
• 5 – 4.62 hours biweekly
• 10 – 5.40 hours biweekly
• 15 – 6.16 hours biweekly
• 20 – 6.93 hours biweekly
• 25+ – 7.70 hours biweekly

Sick: Under the weather? Earn 4.62 hours biweekly, approximately 120 hours a year, with no limit on accumulation to be used to care for yourself and qualifying family members.

Holidays

Enjoy 13 paid holidays per year. Including 1 Floating Holiday, which must be taken during the Fiscal Year (July 1 - June 30):

Observed City Holidays

• New Years Day
• Dr. Martin Luther King Day
• Presidents’ Day
• Liberation & Freedom Day
• Memorial Day
• Juneteenth Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Veterans Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Friday after Thanksgiving
• Christmas Eve
• Christmas Day
• 1 Floating Holiday

Volunteer Leave

Paid leave for participating in an authorized event as a volunteer, subject to Section 9‑3, Code of Ethics & Conflicts of Interest. Regular full-time employees receive up to 8 hours and all regular part‑time employees are eligible to receive pro‑rated leave each available each calendar year.

Delta Dental Plan

• INSURANCE: Aetna Medical Plans: Coverage is effective on the first of the month following date of hire.
• Choose from two options:
• Select HMO with City‑funded HRA ($0 premium for employee‑only coverage)
• Choice POS ($13.02 biweekly premium for employee‑only coverage)
• Prescription Card: ($10 generic, $30 lower cost name brand,$55 higher cost name brand, 20% up to $150 for specialty drugs)
• Mail Order Maintenance Prescription Drug Program ($20 generic, $60 lower cost name brand, $110 higher cost brand) not available for specialty drugs)
• Diagnostic and Preventative–100% of allowable charge; Basic Dental Care-80%; Major Dental Care- 50%
• Primary - $50 deductible, 80/20; Prosthetic and Complex Restorative -$50, 50/50
• $1,500 Annual benefit maximum
• $1,000 Orthodontic benefit (children to age 19)

MetLife Vision Plan (Optional)

• $2.50 premium paid bi‑weekly for employee‑only coverage. Dependent care coverage also available.
• Eye health exam, dilatation, prescription and refraction of glasses covered after $10 co‑pay
• $130 allowance for frames, after co‑pay, plus additional discounts where accepted.

Life Insurance

In the event of your death, your beneficiary will receive twice your annual salary. Supplementary policies for you and your dependents are available.

Long‑Term Disability

Upon approval for along‑term illness or injury, you can receive up to 60% of your earnings after a 90‑day wait period.

Voluntary Benefits

• Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity insurance; Short‑Term Disability; Identity Theft Protection

RETIREMENT

Pension

• Choose from two (2) options:
• A Defined Benefit Pension plan pays a monthly benefit in retirement using a defined formula based on the employee’s earnings history, tenure of service, and age. Our plan has a 5‑year vesting period and an employee contribution of 5% of salary.
• A Defined Contribution 401a plan in which fixed contributions are paid into an individual’s account by the employer, the contributions are invested, returns (positive or negative) are credited to the account, and the account balance is used to provide retirement benefits. The vesting schedule for our 401a plan is 33% after one year of service, 67% after two years of service, and 100% vesting after three years of service. There is no required contribution from salary. (Note: the Defined Contribution retirement plan is the only plan available for Library employees).

Supplement

Deferred Compensation 457 available for you to invest your own money for additional retirement savings.

VOLUNTARY

Wellness

• Gym Membership Reimbursement Program (up to $34.00 per month)
• Bicycle Commuter Program: Reimbursement up to $20 per month for reasonable bicycle commuting expenses
• Online wellness resources and Lunch‑and‑Learn Sessions

Employee Assistance Program

• A variety of confidential, personal professional services for you and your family available 24 hours a day.

Tuition Reimbursement

• Up to $1,500 for job‑related certificates, trade programs, undergraduate coursework or up to $3,000 for graduate level courses per fiscal year for career‑related courses.

Flexible Spending Accounts

• Expense accounts available for healthcare, dependent care and parking/mass transit.