A Guide to Joining The NYPD

New York City Police Department is one the most reputable state departments in United States of America. As per the departmental website, there are approximately 36,000 appointed officers and 19,000 civilians employed in NYPD. NYPD has been there since 1845 and currently it’s responsible for looking after at least 8.5-million population of the New York City.

Besides enforcing laws and getting rid of criminals, NYPD is also responsible for traffic management, counter terrorism, and much more. The department also assumes several emergency response roles when something unfortunate happens.Administratively, the department has different sub-divisions- enforcement, investigations, and administration spread over 77 patrol precincts. Besides, 12 transit districts also come under their authority.

It’s a really tough decision to join NYPD and it takes great strength and courage to do so. Every year, thousands of people apply to be a part of NYPD, but only a few succeed. Their strict criteria and tough training program ensure that only the most deserving candidates are hired in the department and that also explain why the New York City is among the cities with lowest crime rates.

Eligibility Criteria

It’s not easy to be a part of the NYPD because of their strict criteria and testing. However, if you’re skilled and hardworking, there’s no reason why you can’t also be a part of this prestigious state department. Here’s a brief overview of the eligibility criteria to apply for any position in NYPD.

Age

With regard to age, any candidate interested in being a part of the NYPD must be at least 21 years of age at the time of appointment. However, it’s possible for those who are 17.5 years old to apply for the jobs. Candidates are eligible to appear for the entrance exam till their 35^th birthday, after which they will not be considered eligible for any position.

Education

For entry level positions in NYPD, a candidate must have earned 60 college credits with a minimum 2.0 GPA from any accredited institution. Active military service for two years in the U.S. Armed Forces is also considered equivalent to that.

Residency

Only those with U.S citizenship are eligible to apply for the jobs in NYPD. It’s also mandatory to have a New York driver’s license and reside in any one of the following areas: Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, Westchester, Putnam or Orange counties.

Disqualification Policy

Despite meeting the eligibility criteria, some candidates may be disqualified if they are found guilty of a felony, inappropriate behavior, domestic violence misdemeanor, or have being dishonorably removed from military service. Any history of disrespecting the laws or showing tendencies for violence can also result in disqualification.

The Hiring Process

There’s a very streamlined and well organized hiring process at the NYPD. All candidates who meet the eligibility criteria are required to follow each and every step of the application. Once the application is successfully submitted and accepted, the candidates appear for the written examination offered by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services. Those who perform well in the written exam will go through a medical exam,oral,psychological exams and a background character investigation.

As per the guidelines of the Job Standards Test (JST), all candidates are required to complete the continuous physical test in 4 minutes and 28 seconds. The JST includes 50 feet sprints, surmounting a barrier; stairs climbing, running in pursuit; dragging a 175-pound mannequin, 35 feet to simulate a rescue; showing capability to physically restrain a person and demonstrating how to pull a firearm’s trigger. Moreover, all candidates also have to go through a drug and alcohol screening test as well.

All the candidates who are hardworking and fortunate enough to qualify will be scheduled at the Candidate Assessment Center for the completion of all these assessments mentioned. Candidates who have any concerns or queries prior to their assessment can reach out to the officials of NYPD Candidate Assessment Center at (718) 312-4226. The working hours for the department are between 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM from Monday to Friday. Candidates can also email their concerns at CAD@NYPD.org.

Salary and Benefits

All those who succeed in the application and assessment process can expect many career benefits that include but aren’t limited to paid vacation, paid sick leave, and retirement funds. Employees of NYPD are also paid compensations such as longevity pay, uniform allowance, overtime and much more. With regard to salary, the starting salaries at NYPD are $42,500. Within 5.5 years of service, the candidates can expect their salaries to rise to $85,292 on average. If you consider benefits, a police officers can easily earn over $100,000 per annum.

There are many additional benefits as well such as getting 27 Paid vacation days upon the completion of 5 years’ service, unlimited paid sick leaves, medical benefits, dental and vision coverage, prescription pay, Annuity fund, Deferred Compensation Plan, 401K and I.R.A and much more.

Throughout their service, employees also get many promotional opportunities depending on their position and performance. There are some special benefits as well for those who have a history of serving in military before joining NYPD. For instance, veterans can avail GI Bill benefits as well apart from their salary during the first two years of service.

NYPD also offers its employees many opportunities for education as well. For instance, candidates are eligible to receive full salary and benefits upon the completion of their first day of academy training. Those who wish to obtain a degree can earn 29 college credits as well from the academy. There are many institutes that also offer special full or partial scholarships to those who have been associated with NYPD.

If you find these benefits appealing, and you also wish to join NYPD, it is better that you start preparing today. As we have explained. NYPD has a very strict application and hiring process and their assessments aren’t easy to pass without knowledge and practice. If you meet their eligibility criteria and wish to appear for their exams, then reach out to us today to start your preparation. At Civil Services Success, we offer preparation material and classes for NYPD, NYFD and many other government jobs.