Police Officer

This job posting is for Class 155 scheduled to begin in September 23, 2026!

Starting Salary for Police Recruits: $66,252.24

Starting Salary for Lateral Police Recruits:  $70,094.16

This job is located in the Oklahoma City Police Department and is the entry-level position for all sworn officers.

Prior to initial job assignment, the employee is required to complete college level work in the Police Department Recruit Academy and successfully pass the law enforcement proficiency examination mandated by the Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (C.L.E.E.T.) for entry level police officers. Applicants must also meet the minimum physical standards set forth by the State of Oklahoma in the Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement Board Administrative Code.

Upon completion of the Police Department Recruit Academy, the probationary officer is assigned to field duty which consists of both routine and complex law enforcement responsibilities and can include assignment(s) in specialized law enforcement units. This job requires the officer to enforce federal and state laws, city ordinances, case laws and to adhere to departmental policies and procedures and actions on the job can have a strong impact on the safety and welfare of the public. An officer can be involved in situations which result in the loss of life, or in the taking of another person's life. A police officer is the most visible representative of the local government in a range of public relations functions, including; talking to a variety of groups and individuals, communicating with other law enforcement agencies; and talking with professionals such as judges, lawyers, and doctors. The job is also physically demanding, requiring the stamina and strength to work assigned shifts under all environmental conditions, ride in or drive a motor vehicle safely for extended periods of time, defend himself/herself and others in actual physical combat, occasionally lift and move people or heavy objects, and climb, jump, or otherwise surmount physical obstacles, and run various distances.

Job Requirements:

• Be a citizen of the United States.
• 21-45 years of age. Applicants may complete an application and proceed in the hiring process at 20 years of age if they will turn 21 by the start date of the next academy class.
• Valid driver's license.
• Good moral character.
• Suitable emotional stability.
• Acceptance into the Oklahoma State Police Pension and Retirement System.
• High school diploma or GED certificate.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED

The examples provided below reflect the variety of tasks performed by police officers as part of their jobs.

A. Mechanical and Physical Activities:

1. Operates a motor vehicle safely for extended periods of time in all environmental conditions and on occasion operates the vehicle at high speeds and in congested traffic situations.
2. Assists stranded motorists by jumping dead batteries, changing flat tires, and pushing vehicles.
3. Defends self and others by engaging in actual physical combat.
4. Stands for long periods of time while directing and controlling traffic by use of hand signals and the blowing of a whistle.
5. Cleans and fires a variety of police weapons, including pistols, rifles, and shotguns both in the field and to meet department standards of proficiency.
6. Lifts people and heavy objects, as well as pushes very heavy objects such as a disabled vehicle.
7. Learns to type on mobile computer terminal in a police vehicle as a means of gathering and exchanging information.
8. Climbs, jumps, crawls, or otherwise surmounts physical obstacles, as well as runs for various distances.
9. Works assigned shifts, which may require adjusting eating and sleeping habits.
10. Withstands obnoxious odors and views heinous crime scenes, while identifying and preserving physical evidence of a crime.

B. Reporting and Documentation:

1. Completes Oklahoma State Uniform Vehicle Accident Report form.
2. Writes narrative reports in long-hand as required in the performance of duty.
3. Completes traffic/criminal citations to issue to violators of city and state laws.
4. Dictates narrative reports as required in the performance of duty which are to be transcribed by a clerk-typist.
5. Composes interdepartmental memorandums, requests for transfer, and other correspondence as required in the performance of duty.

C. Verbal Communication:

1. Testifies clearly and truthfully in front of a judge and jury in court.
2. Interviews and interrogates victims, suspects, and witnesses in crime incidents.
3. Communicates with other officers in groups and on an individual basis to exchange ideas and information on law enforcement matters.
4. Talks on the police radio to communicate with dispatchers and fellow officers.
5. Confers with City or District Attorney to answer questions and give advice on court cases.
6. Delivers speeches to groups of citizens on various law enforcement topics.
7. Communicates daily and in stressful situations with people of varied socioeconomic, education, religious, and cultural backgrounds.

D. Quantitative Procedures:

1. Prepares traffic accident reports using basic mathematical formulas to compute speed, skid marks, etc.
2. Counts large sums of money confiscated as evidence in criminal cases.

E. Interpersonal Contacts:

1. Responds to domestic disputes and resolves issues in a way that minimizes harm to the disputing parties.
2. Provides advice and information to citizens on criminal law and civil law.
3. Aids people in filing crime reports and in preventing or solving criminal activity.
4. Helps resolve citizen/people problems of mutual interest, utilizing terminology and phraseology consistent with the citizen's subculture.

F. Judgment and Decision-Making Activities:

1. Determines "probable cause" in making arrest of individuals.
2. Evaluates the mental stability of an individual to determine if he/she is responsible for his actions, and/or dangerous to self and others.
3. Determines when, and under what circumstances, to use non-lethal or deadly force.
4. Make decisions on the fastest means to arrive at a call for service based on knowledge or by consulting a map.
5. Makes decisions as to whether certain activities are criminal in nature and determines proper criminal charges to be placed against an individual.
6. Decides what is or is not to be collected and analyzed as evidence in a criminal matter.
7. Makes crucial decisions under stress, and is held accountable for the end result.

G. Job Context:

1. Performs a variety of jobs that are non-repetitive in nature.
2. May routinely encounter both health and safety hazards.
3. Occasionally is subjected to bodily harm with the possibility of loss of life.
4. Occasionally subjected to public criticism and social pressures that create stress.

STANDARDS

A. Physical Standards:

• All entry-level officers must meet physical standards to qualify for membership in the Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System as set forth in the State of Oklahoma Administrative Code. In addition, Oklahoma City Police Recruits must meet a fitness level as established by the Director of Training.

B. Mental Standards:

• An Applicant must have a high school diploma or equivalent GED. The applicant should demonstrate acceptable reading, writing, and computational skills to successfully complete the college curriculum in the training academy and perform the assigned duties. Each applicant must pass the proficiency test as mandated by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training.

C. Emotional Standards:

• Police Officers most often work without detailed instruction or close supervision. Their work is often performed under time pressures and emotional stress, and they must constantly be alert to the possibility of experiencing bodily harm and loss of life. A state mandated psychological evaluation is conducted to help identify behavioral characteristics that aide in determining an individual's ability to perform the duties of a police officer.

EVALUATION AND CRITERIA FOR HIRING AND RETENTION

A.  Rank Order Scores from Qualifications and Suitability Measures:

• Standardized scoring allows an objective uniform application process that assigns point scores at various stages in the hiring procedure. A total of these scores rank order each applicant.

B. Review of Rankings by Supervisory Board:

• A board of police supervisors reviews the application material, evaluating the material and the applicant in order, to make a final employment recommendation to the Chief of Police.

C. Performance Review through Training and Probation:

• The performance of applicants is a continual process from the Police Department Recruit Academy to the completion of the probationary period. A Field Training Officer and the immediate supervisor will monitor the probationary officer's job performance. The Field Training Program, therefore, is an extension of the Police Department Recruit Academy training process. The recruit will not be retained with the Department unless they have been evaluated as having the ability to apply all academy instruction to actual police service. In addition, the immediate supervisor on each officer completes an annual work performance evaluation.

Online application Process Note: 

Information and materials submitted during the application for employment and background investigation process is considered confidential and once submitted, becomes property of the Oklahoma City Police Department.  

You will have the ability to save your application as a work in progress prior to final submission to the Oklahoma City Police Department.  By submitting this application, you are acknowledging that you have read and understand the written job description for the position of an Oklahoma City Police Officer. I am capable of performing the functions and tasks so described. I understand that it is my responsibility to contact the recruiting unit, to update any changes to the above information, within 10 business days of the change. I understand the Oklahoma City Police Department will employ the best-qualified individuals for the positions available.

You will be also acknowledging by your application submission that you understand that deliberately providing false information or omitting relevant facts during the application process may result in my disqualification or dismissal.