Police Recruit and Certified Officer

DeKalb County Georgia; Lithonia (GA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job summary

An established public service organization is seeking motivated individuals to join its police force as recruits. In this pivotal role, you will undergo rigorous training at the police academy, equipping you with the skills needed to protect life and property while enforcing laws. The position offers a competitive starting salary, generous benefits, and a $5,000 hiring incentive for certified officers. This is an exciting opportunity to serve the community, engage in meaningful work, and develop a rewarding career in law enforcement. If you are passionate about public safety and ready to make a difference, this is the role for you.

Benefits

Take-home police vehicle

Paid time off (3 weeks vacation, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid holidays)

Comprehensive health insurance options

Tuition reimbursement

Career progression opportunities

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen and at least 20 years old.
• Previous work experience preferred for candidates.

Responsibilities

• Attend police academy and enforce local, state, and federal laws.
• Patrol designated areas and respond to emergency calls.

Skills

Law enforcement knowledge

Communication skills

Critical thinking

Physical fitness

Teamwork

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Police vehicle

Firearms

Radio/communications equipment

Job description

Public Service with a Purpose

Join DeKalb County Police to Protect and Serve !

$5,000 Hiring Incentive for Current POST Certified Officers

You Are

A motivated U.S. citizen with a high school diploma or GED who is at least 20 years old (previous work experience preferred).

The New Job

As DeKalb County Police Recruit, you will attend the police academy and play a critical role in protecting life and property, deterring criminal activity, and enforcing all local, state, and federal laws, statutes, and regulations.

Pay and Benefits

Recruit:

• $57,200 starting pay rate plus $3k hiring incentive
• $60,060 starting pay rate with 4-year degree plus $3k hiring incentive
• Promotion to Police Officer after passing academy (typically 6 months)

Current POST Certified Officer:

• $61,561 starting pay rate plus $5k hiring incentive
• Start as Senior Police Officer
• Attend abbreviated training academy

Additionally, DeKalb County offers:

• take-home police vehicle
• competitive benefits package, including paid time off (3 weeks vacation, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid holidays), comprehensive health insurance options, hybrid defined benefit/defined contribution pension plan, and deferred compensation
• tuition reimbursement
• career progression when you’re ready

The Details:

Police Recruit Salary Range: $48,845 - $78,641

Purpose of Classification:

The purpose of this classification is to protect life and property, to deter criminal activity, and to enforce all local, state, and federal laws, statutes, and regulations. Incumbents in this classification are attending the police academy and are under the direct supervision of a field training officer.

This classification is safety-sensitive, subject to random drug testing in accordance with the County’s Drug & Alcohol Policy.

Essential Functions:

1. Attends training sessions as required to gain skills and knowledge regarding department operations, job performance, and policies, procedures, codes, and criminal/civil case law; reads professional literature and training materials; completes tests and skills assessments; and obtains and maintains professional affiliations.
2. Enforces all applicable codes, ordinances, laws, and regulations (both traffic and criminal) in order to protect life and property, prevent crime, and promote security.
3. Detects and deters criminal activity; patrols designated areas; responds to calls relayed by dispatchers; writes citations; apprehends, arrests and processes criminals, fugitives, and offenders as appropriate; and provides assistance and backup support to other officers and agencies as necessary.
4. Conducts preliminary investigations; interviews victims, complainants and witnesses and takes statements; gathers information and evidence; secures crime scenes; prepares investigative reports and sketches; participates in court activities; and testifies in judicial proceedings.
5. Performs rescue functions at accidents, emergencies, and disasters, which may include lifting, dragging, or carrying people away from dangerous situations, securing/evacuating people from particular areas, administering medical aid, or extinguishing small fires.
6. Performs other duties including monitoring and responding to calls for assistance, investigating accidents and reported crimes, interviewing citizens, conducting searches, pursuing fleeing and subduing resisting suspects, effecting arrests, and processing and transporting prisoners.
7. Follows safety procedures, utilizes safety equipment, and monitors work environment to ensure safety of employees and other individuals; performs driving functions in a safe and efficient manner under various conditions, including day/night hours, in congested traffic, in adverse weather conditions, and in emergency situations involving speeds in excess of posted limits; inspects and maintains assigned police vehicle, uniform, weapons, and equipment.
8. Creates/maintains positive public relations with the general public; and provides education and information to the public on laws, law enforcement, crime prevention, drug abuse, and related issues.
9. Communicates via telephone and/or two-way radio; and communicates effectively and coherently over law enforcement radio channels while initiating and responding to radio communications.
10. Attends shift meetings, training sessions and seminars as required to remain knowledgeable of departmental operations, to promote improved job performance, and to stay current with changing policies, procedures, codes, and criminal/civil case law; reads professional literature; and maintains professional affiliations.
11. Operates or uses various equipment associated with law enforcement in order to complete work assignments; operates and maintains police vehicle, firearms, electronic control device, emergency equipment, radio/communications equipment and other law enforcement tools and equipment.

Minimum Qualifications:

High school diploma or GED required; must be a U.S. citizen and be at least 20 years of age; previous work experience preferred.

Specific License or Certification Required: Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver’s license.

Background: The backgrounds of applicants for public safety positions are checked through the Georgia Crime Information Center and the National Crime Information Center. Previous tickets, misdemeanor arrests and/or convictions will be evaluated on an individual basis and do not necessarily eliminate you from further consideration of employment. An extensive background examination will include personal and employment reference checks, inquiries into your personal behavior including a review of any past drug or alcohol abuse, and military record (if applicable). A physical, drug screen, polygraph, and psychological exam are also required. For Police Officers, POST certification guidelines specify any convictions of theft, violation of controlled substance laws, sexual offenses, or three or more misdemeanors in the immediate past five years (to include reckless driving, DUI, homicide by vehicle, serious injury by vehicle, fleeing/attempting to elude a police officer, or impersonating a law enforcement officer) are grounds for disqualification.

Training: All persons hired as sworn Police, including those with previous experience, are placed in a training academy. Police also have an on-the-job field training program. These academies are both physically and mentally demanding. You will be required to take multiple written exams of which a predetermined number of test failures result in termination of employment. You will also be required to pass a pre-employment physical agility test to gain entrance into the academy and must pass a post academy physical agility test to graduate from the academy.

Shift Work: DeKalb Police Officers are required to work rotating shifts and have rotating days off. Police Officers are also subject to assignment at any precinct within DeKalb County.

Duties: Police Officers personnel perform a variety of tasks beyond law enforcement and/or responding to fires such as rendering first aid at emergency scenes and responding to automobile accidents or other emergencies where life and property are in jeopardy or where hazardous chemicals may be present.

Environment: If employed, you will be required to work outdoors in all kinds of weather. You will be required to work in hot and humid conditions, outside, inside, as well as other unpleasant environments/conditions. Police will spend shifts patrolling in a squad car by him/herself.