What are the responsibilities and job description for the Police Officer (Ages 20 1/2 and Older) position at Baltimore County?
You MUST be 20 1/2 years old or older to apply for this position.
Applicants that are under 20 1/2 years of age MUST apply for the Police Cadet position.
Recruit Employment Bonus
The Department will award a Recruit Employment Bonus of $10,000 for Entry Level Police Officers.
The bonus will be paid in a one time, lump sum at the end of the Police Academy.
In order to be eligible for the Recruit Employment Bonus, Entry Level Police Officers, are required to successfully complete the graded academic and practical portion of the County’s Entry Level Training Program, which occurs prior to being sworn in as a Police Officer.
(NOTE: The duties and responsibilities listed above are for the purpose of determining a common set of minimum qualifications for all positions in this class. They may not include all of the essential job functions of each position in the class. Each position may not be required to perform all of the essential job functions listed.)
The Police Academy
Upon successful completion of the background investigation and the medical examination, passers of both the written and physical agility tests will be considered for a future class of the Baltimore County Police Academy.
The Police Academy is a 27-week academic, physical and practical training program, which introduces recruits to a career in law enforcement. It is a non-residential program located in Dundalk, Maryland.
The academy is paramilitary in nature and challenges recruits to develop self-discipline, perform under stressful situations, and focus on teamwork. After graduation from the Baltimore County Police Academy, you will be among the most highly trained officers in the country and part of a family of motivated and proud law enforcement officers.Employees hired after July 1, 2022 are required to participate in the Baltimore County Employees’ Retirement System, with very limited exceptions.
Employees in this classification may be assigned to work on either a rotating or fixed shift basis, which will include nights, evenings, weekends, and/or holidays. Employees in this classification are subject to call to duty in emergencies, and may be required to work overtime with little or no notice. Upon completion of the academy training, officers will be assigned to a precinct or traffic post at the discretion of the Police Department.
Physical and Environmental Conditions
The work of this classification entails frequent walking, standing, and the operation of vehicles and firearms. Work requires exposure to potentially hazardous law enforcement and public safety activities, and conditions such as adverse weather and armed and dangerous persons.
Medical Examination and Employment Background Investigation
Applicants selected for employment with Baltimore County must successfully complete a physical examination, drug screening and employment investigation, including, but not limited to criminal background, education certification and fingerprinting checks.
Applicants that are under 20 1/2 years of age MUST apply for the Police Cadet position.
Recruit Employment Bonus
The Department will award a Recruit Employment Bonus of $10,000 for Entry Level Police Officers.
The bonus will be paid in a one time, lump sum at the end of the Police Academy.
In order to be eligible for the Recruit Employment Bonus, Entry Level Police Officers, are required to successfully complete the graded academic and practical portion of the County’s Entry Level Training Program, which occurs prior to being sworn in as a Police Officer.
IMPORTANT TESTING INFORMATION
Written Examination
Applicants who meet the required qualifications will be scheduled to take a written examination.
Qualified applicants will receive an email notification of their scheduled test date, time, and location. Be sure that your email address is correct when applying for this position. The Office of Human Resources will send all correspondence to the email address you provide on your application.
Physical Agility Test
Applicants who pass the written exam will be invited to participate in the physical agility testing, at a later date. You will be contacted about the physical agility test date, time, and location by the Police Department.
The physical agility test includes:
If you have questions about the Police Officer testing process, contact a police recruiter at 410-887-5542 or visit the Recruitment section of the Police Department's web page to learn more about the written examination and physical agility test requirements.
Under close supervision, trains to perform and performs specialized and general law enforcement work, including vehicular and foot patrol; crime prevention, detection, and investigation; the maintenance of public order; and the enforcement of criminal and traffic laws.Qualified applicants will receive an email notification of their scheduled test date, time, and location. Be sure that your email address is correct when applying for this position. The Office of Human Resources will send all correspondence to the email address you provide on your application.
Physical Agility Test
Applicants who pass the written exam will be invited to participate in the physical agility testing, at a later date. You will be contacted about the physical agility test date, time, and location by the Police Department.
The physical agility test includes:
- Sit-up Test - measures abdominal and hip flexor muscular endurance
- Push-up Test - measures muscular endurance of the upper body
- Trigger and Slide Pull Lock and Release Test - measures hand strength
- 1.5 mile run - measures cardiovascular capacity
If you have questions about the Police Officer testing process, contact a police recruiter at 410-887-5542 or visit the Recruitment section of the Police Department's web page to learn more about the written examination and physical agility test requirements.
- Participates in all required training, both at the Police Academy and, subsequently on-the-job, to learn the duties of and maintain the proficiency requirements for the classification of Police Officer.
- Performs general patrol duties in a vehicle and on foot. Detects violations of laws and ordinances, and identifies wanted vehicles and persons. Operates patrol vehicles.
- Uses physical extortion to perform duties. Intervenes in fights, disarms suspects, pursues fleeing suspects, and restrains hostile individuals. Assists in crowd control activities. Responds to emergency situations and other calls to service. Administers emergency medical aid. Extinguishes small fires.
- Conducts initial and follow up investigations of crimes and other incidents and events. Protects crime scenes, and collects evidence and information. Conducts searched and seizures. Locates and interviews witnesses. Searches, restrains, transports, and guards persons. Serves warrants and summonses. Conducts surveillance. Arrests and detains persons.
- Identifies and determines possible solutions to community crime problems. Attends and participates in community meetings. Performs security surveys. Establishes rapport with the public.
- Mediates disputes. Advises victims, suspects, and the general public of rights and processes. Performs crisis mediation with persons involved in domestic and civil disputes, suspects attempting suicide, and in hostage situations.
- Communicates through law enforcement radio channels and through computer networks to provide information to officers. Prepares investigative and administrative reports and forms, arrest warrants and statements of charges using appropriate grammar and math. Prepared detailed case documentation and presents testimony in court.
- Enforces traffic laws and ordinances, and investigates traffic accidents. Operates various types of radar and breathalyzer equipment. Administers roadside sobriety tests. Arranges for blood or other chemical tests. Directs traffic. Executes motor vehicle stops. Issues criminal and traffic citations.
- Inspects and maintains all assigned equipment, including vehicles, firearms, and clothing.
- Conducts investigations of a specialized nature, including homicide, vice, narcotics, arson, auto theft, robbery, family and sex crimes. Provides specialized operational support to field units such as the hostage negotiation, tactical, canine and marine units. Police Officers working in specialized units may testify as expert witnesses. Provides administrative and technical support throughout the Department. Performs other related duties as required.
(NOTE: The duties and responsibilities listed above are for the purpose of determining a common set of minimum qualifications for all positions in this class. They may not include all of the essential job functions of each position in the class. Each position may not be required to perform all of the essential job functions listed.)
Minimum Qualifications
- Possession of a high school diploma or an appropriate equivalent.
- Applicants must be at least 21 years of age at the time of their graduation from the Police Academy.
- All applicants must be citizens of the United States at the time of appointment.
- Possession of a valid driver's license equivalent to a noncommercial, class C Maryland driver's license is required at the time of appointment.
- Pass a written examination
- Pass a physical agility test
- Pass a physical examination
- Pass a comprehensive background investigation, psychological screening, polygraph examination, and drug test, and are subject to periodic drug testing
- Have less than four points on their driving record
- Have no felony convictions
The Police Academy
Upon successful completion of the background investigation and the medical examination, passers of both the written and physical agility tests will be considered for a future class of the Baltimore County Police Academy.
The Police Academy is a 27-week academic, physical and practical training program, which introduces recruits to a career in law enforcement. It is a non-residential program located in Dundalk, Maryland.
The academy is paramilitary in nature and challenges recruits to develop self-discipline, perform under stressful situations, and focus on teamwork. After graduation from the Baltimore County Police Academy, you will be among the most highly trained officers in the country and part of a family of motivated and proud law enforcement officers.
Employees in this classification may be assigned to work on either a rotating or fixed shift basis, which will include nights, evenings, weekends, and/or holidays. Employees in this classification are subject to call to duty in emergencies, and may be required to work overtime with little or no notice. Upon completion of the academy training, officers will be assigned to a precinct or traffic post at the discretion of the Police Department.
Physical and Environmental Conditions
The work of this classification entails frequent walking, standing, and the operation of vehicles and firearms. Work requires exposure to potentially hazardous law enforcement and public safety activities, and conditions such as adverse weather and armed and dangerous persons.
Medical Examination and Employment Background Investigation
Applicants selected for employment with Baltimore County must successfully complete a physical examination, drug screening and employment investigation, including, but not limited to criminal background, education certification and fingerprinting checks.
Salary : $65,545 - $87,677
