THE ORLANDO POLICE DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR SWORN POLICE OFFICER POSITIONS.
HIRING PROCESS
Links to the Department’s online application are available on this page. Applicants must first complete the
pre-application. There is a $25.00 application fee. If you pass the
pre-application, you will be prompted to create a password in order to access the
full employment application. Once reviewed, you will be contacted
by the Recruiting Section for further processing. Please do not call for the
status of your application.
** Please be aware that both the pre-application and
the application will only work if you're using Internet Explorer. **
Once you access the application, you will have 30 days to complete it. The only way we know the application is
complete is when you click the box below
your name at the bottom of the application that indicates the application is complete.
The Recruiting Section does not have access to your username
or password, so be sure to write it down.
Only completed applications will be reviewed. Anyone submitting an incomplete application will not be invited to attend the civil service exam. Only the
most competitive applicants will be invited to take the exam.
Applicants selected to take the civil service exam are
required to submit a COPY of the following documents: (Please either send the
documents as an attachment with your on-line application, or bring the COPIES
with you on the day of your polygraph. DO NOT mail them to Headquarters.)
BIRTH CERTIFICATE (U.S. passport may be submitted in lieu of a Birth Certificate)
PROOF OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP: (U.S. naturalized citizens must furnish their Naturalization Number)
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FORM 214 (Military Discharge) stating “character of service” if applicable
HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR G.E.D.
SEALED COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS (A college transcript that verifies the number of earned college credit hours must be submitted.)
PROOF OF VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE
NAME CHANGE DOCUMENTS (If applicable)
If you experience any difficulties with the application, call
the Recruiting Unit so we can assist. Most problems can be easily handled over
the phone.
Potential Applicants
The Orlando Police Department is a highly respected professional law enforcement organization. We seek to hire only the finest and most qualified candidates
available. We invite thousands of candidates throughout the year to apply.
We recruit at many college campuses, military bases and law enforcement training centers, in search of candidates with a good positive attitude, and who meet
our high standards. The process for becoming an Orlando Police Officer is very competitive and only a small percentage of applicants are offered a job.
Candidates in possession of only the minimum requirements are generally not considered competitive in our hiring process and chances for hire are minimal.
The ideal candidate possesses prior police experience, some college education,
and military experience. A viable candidate should have favorable work experiences, driving history,
and a low incident rate of substance abuse. In order to increase the chances of becoming a police officer with our Department, it is helpful to possess at least
one of the following: some college education, military or police experience, or Florida Police Certification.
***To all officer applicants who are or have been employed
by other law enforcement agencies: our hiring section must be able to obtain
your discipline history and past 2 performance evaluations in order to process
your application.***
Please determine whether or not you meet the above prerequisites to qualify as a police applicant with the Orlando Police Department.
Thank you for your interest in the Orlando Police Department where
Courage, Pride and Commitment is more than a motto, it is our way of life.
Qualifications
U.S. Citizen
Minimum age: 21
High school graduate or posses a G.E.D. Certificate which meets state standards; college coursework preferred (2 or 4 year college degree or equivalent
credits preferred)
Posses a valid drivers license; one year minimum
Good physical condition
Vision requirements: correctable to 20/40, separately in
each eye
Good moral Character
No felony convictions
No misdemeanor convictions involving moral character, perjury of false statements as outlined in the Florida Statute
Meet OPD's very restrictive standard; successfully complete OPD's hiring process
Successfully pass Civil Service Hiring Standards
All employees hired after 10/01/2005 must reside within a
thirty-five (35) mile radius of the Orlando Police Headquarters building.
While on duty, employees are prohibited from wearing dental
jewelry or facial jewelry (except earrings worn by females). After the
effective date of 03/06/08, employees are prohibited from acquiring any new
tattoo(s), scarification(s), or brand(s) that would be visible above the
collar bone, below the elbow, or below the middle of the thigh, except
cosmetic tattoos (makeup on the eyes, lips or eyebrows with a natural
appearance). Any tattoo(s), scarification(s), or brand(s) must be covered by a
Department-approved uniform (including, but not limited to, a long sleeved
shirt, jacket, sweater, or pants) or Department-approved business or casual
attire during on-duty hours or while representing the Department in any
official capacity unless the tattoo pre-existed the date of this regulation.
SALARIES (10/2010)
Start: $41,978 (after graduation from the Academy)
Top Officer: $67,275
ADDITIONAL PAY AND BONUSES
SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL PAY Day Shift: $137 per month
Evening Shift: $165 per month
Midnight Shift: $197 per month
EDUCATION INCENTIVES 2 years college: $360
4 year college degree: $960
Salary Incentive Courses: up to $130 per month
LONGEVITY/BONUS PAY Based on years of service, paid
annually in October
Less than 5 years: $0
5 to less than 10 years: $625
10 to less than 15 years: $1,100
15 to less than 20
years: $1,600
20 to less than 22 years: $2,000
22 years or more: $2,300
COLLEGE TUITION PAYMENT PLAN Members attending college may be reimbursed the full cost of tuition, up to $1,800 annually.
OVERTIME PAY Members working overtime will be compensated at time and one half rate; may elect to take that in pay or compensatory time.
HOLIDAY PAY Members working approved holidays may elect to take double pay or choose to take another day off.
PAY PLAN EXAMPLES (10/2010): 1st YEAR Base Salary(10/2010): $41,978
Differential Pay (Mids) $2,364
Shoe Allowance $165 Minimum $44,507
4 year Degree
$960 Maximum $45,467
10 YEAR Base Salary(10/2010): $67,275
Differential Pay (Mids) $2,364
Shoe Allowance $165
Longevity $1,100 Minimum $70,904
Education
Incentives $1,560 Maximum $72,464
NOTE: These figures do not include overtime pay.
BENEFITS
Health Insurance Members may choose to elect
healthcare from the current healthcare provider.
Life Insurance Florida law provides $20,000 line-of-duty death and $50,000 unlawful death insurance.
Retirement Members may retire with 20 years of service and collect seventy percent of their average salary from the last three years, or eighty percent after
25 years of service.
A Back-Drop has been added and will be optional
at the member’s discretion. The Drop program accumulates up to three years of
retirement salary while the member still receives their regular pay. After first
attaining at least 21 years of service, you may Back-Drop up to a maximum of 3
years or any monthly portion thereof.
Vested rights after 10 years of service at three percent per year of service. There is no age requirement.
Pension Plan Bargaining unit members will contribute to the pension plan each pay period. A Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) will be reserved as approved by
the Florida State Legislature, effective July 1, 1995. COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT (COLA) IS AVAILABLE AT AGE 55.
* *For additional information on the pension plan, please click
here **
Equipment During an officer's career, he/she is fully provided with uniforms, weapons and other necessary equipment, including shoes.
VACATION AND HOLIDAYS
Holidays
New Years Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
Day After Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Eve Day
Christmas Day
Dr. Martin Luther King's Birthday
Floating Holiday (3)
Memorial Day
Vacation/Personal Leave
0-2 years: 151.5 hrs per year
2-7 years: 191.5 hrs per year
7-16 years: 231.5 hrs per year
16-20 years: 271.5 hrs per year
Over 20 years: 278.2 hrs per year
Military Benefits
Paid Military Leave For members serving their annual Military Reserve or National Guard obligation.
HIRING PROCESS
Each selected applicant must successfully complete the following:
Out of Town Applicants: During the hiring process, out of town applicants may potentially have to make four trips to Orlando. The first trip would be for the
civil service test and the physical agility test. If you pass both tests, you
would have to come back for the polygraph exam. After the background
investigation, if you were then selected by the Chief of Police for an
interview, you would have to visit a third time for an oral interview with the
Chief of Police and his staff. Lastly, if you were given a conditional offer by
the Chief of Police following the oral interview, you would have to visit
Orlando a fourth time to complete the medical exam, psychological exam, and
post-polygraph exam.
Out of State Certified Applicants: If you possess an out-of-state law enforcement certification, it may be accepted in Florida under certain conditions. To
learn how to obtain your Florida Equivalency of Training, contact the Brevard Police Testing and Certification Program.
For additional information on obtaining a Florida law enforcement certification, please visit the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s website at
www.fdle.state.fl.us
ACADEMY AND FIELD TRAINING PROGRAM:
Academy: If selected to attend the academy, you
would be classified as a temporary employee and paid a salary of $16.14 per hour for 40 hours of work per week.
The department would also cover the cost of uniforms and tuition. While in the academy, you would receive intensive training in the following areas:
Florida Law
Search and Seizure
Rules of Evidence
Sex Crimes
Patrol Techniques
Accident Investigations
Laws of Arrest
Defensive Tactics
First Aid
Firearms
and
more...
All Orlando Police recruits are sent to the Criminal Justice Institute at Valencia Community College East Campus. For more information on the academy, please
visit the academy’s website at
http://valenciacollege.edu/cji/.
Field Training Program: All academy graduates and all pre-certified officers will have to complete the
22-week Field Training Program. The Field Training
Program is divided into four phases. The first three phases are for training and evaluation. During each of the three phases, recruits will be assigned to a
different Field Training Officer, a different shift, and to a different area of the city. In the fourth phase, recruit officers will be evaluated on whether they
can function as a solo patrol officer. During each phase of the Field Training Program, recruit officers will be observed and evaluated.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Upon completion of your field training program and probationary period, you may wish to apply for a specialist position, such as:
