The Orlando Police Department is firmly committed to equal employment opportunity and provides for equal opportunity before and during employment with the
Department for all applicants and employees regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, political affiliation, disability, marital status,
or other similar factors not job related. The Department’s policy of equality of opportunity applies to all levels of employment in the Department and to all
job classifications. In addition, it is the responsibility of each department manager and supervisor to give the Department’s non-discrimination policy full
support through leadership and by personal example. In addition, it is the duty of each employee to help maintain a work environment which is conducive to and
which reflects the Department’s commitment to equal employment opportunity. Every effort will be made to employ and retain qualified individuals with
disabilities. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of July 26, 1990, the Orlando Police Department exercises an affirmative duty to make
reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and employees so that qualified individuals can perform the essential functions of a job.
HIRING PROCESS
Links to the Department’s online application are available on this page. Applicants must first complete the
pre-application. If you pass the
pre-application, you will be prompted to create a password in order to access the
full employment application.
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.
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 test day. 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 20/20
Good moral Character
Employees hired on or after September 1, 2007 are
prohibited from displaying any tattoo(s) while wearing any Department
uniform.
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
Must reside within a 30-mile radius of Orlando Police
Headquarters
SALARIES (After October 1, 2007)
Start: $39,173 (after graduation from the Academy)
Top Officer: $62,780
ADDITIONAL PAY AND BONUSES
RELOCATION INCENTIVE
This cash incentive may be used to cover costs associated with relocation or
costs of living.
This one time cash incentive will be paid to the applicant upon his/her
commencement to the academy (V.C.C., CJI) or his/her appointment by the Chief of
Police as a full time certified member or trainee of the Orlando Police
Department. *
$2,500 for out-of state residents
$1,500 for in-state residents
*As consideration for the cash incentive payment, recruit agrees to perform OPD
certified duties for a period of no less than (2) years from the date of
commencement of full-time appointment to a certified sworn officer position with
OPD.
PATROL DIVISION Lineup Pay $831 - $1,333
SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL PAY Day Shift: $125 per month
Midnight Shift: $180 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: $600
10 to less than 15 years: $1,050
15 to less than 20
years: $1,500
20 to less than 22 years: $1,900
22 years or more: $2,200
COLLEGE TUITION PAYMENT PLAN Members attending college may be reimbursed the full cost of tuition, up to $1,700 annually (effective 10/2007).
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: 1st YEAR Base Salary(10/2007): $39,173
Lineup Time $831
Differential Pay (Mids) $2,160
Shoe Allowance $145 Minimum $42,309
4 year Degree
$960 Maximum $43,269
10 YEAR Base Salary(10/2007): $62,780
Lineup Time $1,333
Differential Pay (Mids) $2,160
Shoe Allowance $145
Longevity $1,050 Minimum $67,468
Education
Incentives $1,560 Maximum $69,028
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 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 $14.62 per hour for 40 hours of work per week
(effective Oct 1, 2007, rate increases to $15.07 per hour).
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 www.valenciacc.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:
Criminal Investigations
Community Relations
Intelligence
School Liaison Officer
Drug Investigations
Vice Investigations
K-9
SWAT
Mounted Patrol
Traffic
Enforcement
Emergency Response Team
Neighborhood Teams
Recruiting
Training
Bike Patrol
and many more...
POLICE CADET PROGRAM
Purpose: To provide college students who are interested in a law enforcement career the opportunity to gain first hand knowledge and limited training in
actual day-to-day police operations.
Requirements: Enrolled in college full-time
12 credit hours each fall and spring semesters
Maintain 2.0 GPA
18-23 years of age
Must meet police hiring requirements
Assignments: Cadets are rotated every three to four months to various sections of the
department.
Pay: $8.50 per hour with a maximum of 20 hours per week.
