Police Cadet / Police Officer
The St. Petersburg Police Department is accepting applications from Florida Certified Law Enforcement Officers and Out-of-State Certified Law Enforcement Officers, and applications for the position of Police Cadet (law enforcement academy sponsorship). No experience is necessary.
St. Petersburg is the fifth largest city in Florida with a population of about 263,255. Our beautiful and modern city is surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay. Our residents and visitors enjoy beautiful weather for many activities. These activities range from higher education and culture, to sporting events. We are home to the Tampa Bay Rays and the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
The St. Petersburg Police Department is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA). In July, 2022 we were re-accredited for the 11th time and presented with CALEA’s Certificate of Meritorious Accreditation and have kept our accreditation for over 35 years. Our department is also accredited by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc. (CFA). These achievements show our department’s commitment to excellence and high standards in policing.
The St. Petersburg Police Department is responsible for the safety of over 272,000 citizens. The department covers 60 square miles and is surrounded by 244 miles of shoreline. We have an authorized sworn strength of 602 and employ approximately 300 civilians. The annual budget is over $124 million.
In 2019, the department moved into a new 160,000 sq. ft. police headquarters. We have our own state-of-the-art fitness center with padded mat room and a modern training center which includes a simulation training room, computer classroom, and two additional multi-purpose classrooms. Adjacent to the training center is the department's own 12,700 sq. ft. indoor firing range suitable for handgun and rifle training.
Minimum Requirements
19 years of age at time of application.
Must be a U.S. Citizen (born or naturalized).
Must possess a valid driver’s license.
Be of good moral character in accordance with Florida Statute 943.13 (7).
No felony convictions.
No misdemeanor convictions involving perjury, false statement, moral character offenses or domestic violence offenses.
Meet the department drug standards:
No illegal use of controlled substances in the past 3 years
No marijuana use in the past 12 months
No inhaling/ingesting harmful chemical substances in the past 12 months
Number of uses must be deemed experimental and acceptable by the department.
Never sold, offered for sale, induced or caused another to induce another person to use illegal drugs
Have not received a dishonorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces
H.S. diploma AND 30 College Credits from an accredited institution (Cadet Position) OR H.S. diploma AND 60 College Credits from an accredited institution (Certified Position).
OR
3 years of military experience with the U.S. Armed Forces.
OR
2 years of sworn law enforcement experience.
Tattoos on the hands, face, neck, and scalp are prohibited.
20/100 uncorrected, in each eye, corrected to 20/40 by glasses. Visual acuity may exceed uncorrected limits if visual acuity of 20/20 can be achieved through the use of soft contact lenses.
Successfully complete all phases of the hiring process. The process is comprehensive, and all information obtained will be verified.
Out of State Certified Applicants (Lateral Transfers)
EOT eligible applicants are eligible for an $8000 Incentive Payment. Once hired, the officer will receive $4000 upon completion of the Field Training Program. The remaining $4000 will be paid after 4 years of continuous service (as a police officer) upon completion of the Field Training Program.
EOT eligible applicants can receive up to 5 years lateral pay credit for every full year of sworn law enforcement experience. The lateral pay will begin once the officer completes the Field Training Program.
Out of State Certified Officers with training that is comparable to FDLE requirements are eligible to attend the seven (7) day course covering high liability areas. The department pays all costs to attend the EOT program. Benefits and salary are included while attending the EOT program. EOT eligible applicants will attend the St Petersburg College Equivalency of Training Academy.
1301 1st Avenue North
St. Petersburg, FL 33705
United States
Thank you for your interest in becoming a part of the St. Petersburg Police Department. Please visit our website at https://police.stpete.org/employment-officer/ to review our selection process and submit an application. Contact our recruiter with any questions regarding the hiring process at (727) 892-5555 or Police.recruiter@stpete.org