Police Officer

City of Decatur, GA

Now Hiring

Police Officers

Career Opportunities:

Our department has three major divisions: Patrol, Criminal Investigations, and Support Services. If you feel you are ready to enforce a higher standard, we encourage you to explore the positions we currently have available in the following areas:

Uniform Patrol:

• Housing Authority Patrol

• Business Patrol District

• School Resource Officer

• Accident Reconstruction 

Investigations:

• Narcotics Task Force (HIDTA)

• Major Crimes 

Training:

• Field Training Officer

• Instructor: firearms, defensive tactics

TRAINING & TECHNOLOGY

Training:
The Department invests heavily in order to provide officers with the professional, rigorous and up-to-date training opportunities. The 100 hours of annual training we offer far exceeds the average of 20 hours offered by other law enforcement departments. If the appropriate curriculum is not offered internally, we will provide access to outside educational resources. Professional development is more than important, it?s imperative. As such, progress is part of the criteria by which individual performance is evaluated.

Technology:
The Department is committed to acquiring and implementing the very latest tools of law enforcement technology. Each patrol vehicle is equipped with a computer that can access State of Georgia and national crime information databases. The computers allow officers to complete incident reports on site and download them to the department?s computer system. Each patrol vehicle is also equipped with a video camera and speed detection devices.

Salary & Benefits

Salary

• Starting salary: $36,275 - $39,998

• Lateral entry starting salary (See the lateral entry program section)

• Officers are eligible for a 5 percent merit increase after successfully completing six months of employment, and an additional 5 percent merit increase after completing a probationary period (one year).

• Officers are eligible for merit-based salary increases annually, until the maximum salary of their job classification is reached. (Maximum salary for a police officer is $62,275 annually).

• Officers are eligible for promotion after two years of service.

Benefits

• Paid leave: vacation days, sick leave, military leave, and short-term disability leave

• Tuition assistance

• Life insurance

• Employee assistance program

• Health insurance, dental insurance, vision reimbursement program

• Flexible spending accounts

• Retirement benefits (vested at 10 years) 

Advancement Opportunities

• Conscientious employees can advance in a number of ways.

• Every police executive in the Decatur department started as a police officer. Many acquired other advanced degrees along the way, taking advantage of the tuition assistance benefit.

• Police officers develop expertise in a variety of areas, from computer technology to community relations, making them eligible for positions with higher pay requiring those skills.

Job Requirements

• High School diploma or equivalent; Bachelor's degree preferred.

• Must be 21 years of age or older to apply.

• Must be a citizen of the United States.

• Must have no record of any felony conviction.

• Must be free of any physical, emotional, or mental condition that will adversely affect ability to perform the duties or exercise the powers of a police officer.

• Must possess a valid State of Georgia driver's license (Class C) and a satisfactory motor vehicle record (MVR).

• Must pass a pre-employment physical examination, including drug screening.

• Must pass a pre-employment voice stress analyzer examination, psychological examination, and a written practical

Hiring & Screening Process

Our goal is to recruit and maintain a diverse, highly trained and professional police force to serve and protect the citizens of Decatur, Georgia. In order to achieve this, we will enforce higher standards in every aspect of screening, interviewing and hiring officers.

Our Approach

• We take a versatile approach to community policing.

• While some police departments require their officers to work the same types of cases day after day, we believe that handling a variety of responsibilities sustains energy and alertness, and expands capabilities.

• Through a broader range of experiences, our officers gain problem-solving skills that increase their effectiveness on the job and also help them advance to the next professional level.

Screening Process

• Initial application with the City of Decatur Personnel Department

• Written examination

• Oral interview

• Applicants who successfully complete the above components will be offered a position, contingent upon the successful completion of the following:

  • Background investigation

  • Psychological examination

  • Voice stress analyzer

  • Physical/Stress Examination

  • Drug Screening

Lateral Entry Program

Often, those who appreciate the high standards enforced by The Decatur Police Department are officers looking to make lateral career moves from other departments. Our philosophy and approach offer a stark alternative to many over tasked, under appreciated positions on other metropolitan police forces.

Our lateral entry program provides pay and vacation leave incentives for applicants with the qualifying law enforcement experience listed below.

1. Experience/Qualifications Starting Salary
    

2. Officers hired under the lateral entry program who have at least 3-5 years' qualified experience will earn vacation leave at an accelerated rate:

To Learn More or Apply Now, please visit us at:

http://www.decaturpolicejobs.com