Best Police Departments in Florida in 2022

The job of a police officer is very demanding. If you live in Florida, or are considering relocating to the state to work as an officer, there is some good news. The state of Florida is projected to have an increase in the demands for new law enforcement officers in the next 5-8 years.

Florida is a good state to be a police officer. Florida police officers are paid well, have excellent benefits, and Florida is a great state to live. With excellent weather, plenty of attractions, and a projected need, there are plenty of opportunities to work for some of the best police departments in Florida.

Most of the departments have similar requirements and many of the departments in Florida require an Associate Degree or two years of college. It is the philosophy of the Florida law enforcement community that an educated officer is better able to handle the rigors of the job.

Below is a list of police departments that any applicant living in Florida should consider applying to. Some are known for their superior training, diversity and others for the salary. Regardless of the reasons, it is a great time to start looking for a career in law enforcement in the state of Florida.

Miami-Dade Police Department

The Miami-Dade department is the largest of its kind in the state. Starting pay is around $52,000 a year and there are about 2,700 total police officers in the Miami-Dade department. The department has an excellent reputation as one of the best trained police departments in Florida.

The department has built up their reputation by offering continuing training for their officers in both tactics and technology. They understand that a well-trained police force is best for the citizens in the community they patrol.

Tampa Police Department

The Tampa Police Department is home to close to 1,000 officers. The department is one of the departments in Florida that likes to recruit candidates with college degrees. While a degree is not mandatory, they do require at least 2 years of college. Preference is given to candidates with 4 year degrees.

The department has been around since 1887 and has regular evaluations from national organizations. Many officers feel that Tampa is the best city to be a cop in Florida because of the professionalism that the department displays. This translates to a good working relationship within the community and many people who have worked for TPD report a good satisfactory experience with Glassdoor.com (current review rating is 4.3).

Orlando Police Department

Orlando is home to some of the biggest tourist attractions in the state of Florida. As a result, they have a need for quality police officers to help with the steady influx of tourists to the area. They want to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for the citizens and guests of the city, so that they want to come back again.

The Orlando Police Department is home to some of the most loyal and dedicated officers in the country. They have a strong working relationship with the citizens they help protect and are known for their professionalism and dedication to the city.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is located in Tampa, Florida. They are one of the largest Sheriff’s departments in the United States. They are a very well-respected agency and have a history of being one of the most stable and dedicated departments in the state of Florida.

They are always looking for new deputies and they work to attract the most professional candidates in the state. They work as a family to help each individual work to his or her true potential. They are committed to employing veterans and are a positive influence on the community where they serve.

Broward Sheriff’s Office

The Broward Sheriff’s office is located in Fort Lauderdale and employs 5,400 sworn and support personnel. The department serves 16 different areas in the county and even patrols the waterways surrounding the area.

They have a very well-trained and professional department that also has a Special Units and Divisions section that has a variety of different employment opportunities. They offer much more than just a traditional patrol, they also have a mounted patrol, dive team, and a highly competitive motorcycle unit.

Boca Raton Police Department

The police department in Boca Raton is on the smaller side and it can be somewhat competitive to become and officer there. They are looking for new officers and they have a history of recruiting only the most qualified candidates for their department.

As a result of their competitive hiring process, they get the best of the best in the area to work as law enforcement officers. They are one of Florida’s best paid police departments with a starting salary of $68,000.

They do want candidates who have at least 60 college credits or two years active duty military. They also accept individuals who have prior law enforcement experience as well.

Coral Springs Police Department

The Coral Springs department is another smaller department, employing about 210 full time police officers. They are known for their dedication to their community and the officers who are employed at the department.

Coral Springs boasts one of the lowest crime rates in the state for populations over 100,000. They are very proactive with their presence in the community, and even have a variety of substations throughout the community. Not to mention that Coral Springs is one of the best places in the state of Florida to live and raise a family.

Fort Lauderdale Police Department

The Fort Lauderdale police department is one of the highest paying departments in the state of Florida. One of the perks of working for Fort Lauderdale is that they have over 30 different specialty units, so potential officers have a variety of options once they are eventually hired on.

The population of Fort Lauderdale is a growing community, which means that there is an increasing need for more officers to help with that growing population.

Delray Beach Police Department

The Delray Beach department is a small but rewarding department for potential officers to work. They have 160 sworn officers and almost all of them possess a degree of some sort. Their philosophy on having an educated police force is what sets them apart.

In fact, education is part of their mission statement. They feel that lifelong learning, whether through training or higher education, is a key factor in their department’s success.

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is one of the best places to work in law enforcement in Florida. The community is extremely supportive of law enforcement and the office has an excellent working relationship with the residents they serve.

Palm Beach County is one of the biggest counties in Florida. As a result, the Sheriff’s Office is always in need of new personnel. They offer a competitive salary and even have a tuition reimbursement program for employees looking to further their education.

Florida is a great place for anyone looking for a career in law enforcement. There are plenty of opportunities to work and live in the Sunshine State. With competitive pay, benefits, and retirement there are plenty of departments throughout the state looking for qualified applicants.