Best Police Departments in Ohio
Why Serve?
3 Reasons to Become a cop in Ohio
Cost of Living
the state of Ohio is a region where the cost of living is low, and as a result your income earned will go further than other states like California.
Benefits
police departments in ohio have offer excellent benefits such as health insurance, sick leave, retirement contribution, paid vacations & more
Career Advancement
Many agencies in the state of Ohio have opportunities to advance your career from joining the S.W.A.T Team, detectives, sergeant and more
WATCH: How to Become a Police Officer
Here are some of the basic requirements to become a police officer in Ohio. Note some agencies may have additional requirements
- Must be a citizen of the United States
- Must Be at least 21 years old
- Possession of a valid Ohio driver’s license
- Proof of a U.S. high school diploma or GED
- honorable discharge from any branch of the military
- Successfully pass the background check
- Must be able to read and write the English language
Automatic Disqualifiers
- Lying during any phase of the hiring process
- Any Adult Felony Convictions
- Dishonorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces
- Convictions involving Domestic battery
- Pending Criminal Case
- Failed Drug Test
- Driving status is suspended
- Unlawful sexual misconduct convictions
The Hiring Process
The police officer hiring process will likely take around 3-6 months depending on the agency, as well as the complexity of a candidate’s background
- Application
- Written Exam
- Physical Fitness Test
- Polygraph Test
- Drug Screening
- Oral Board Interview
- Background Investigation
- Medical Examination
- Pysch Test
- Employment history
Best PD by Average Salary
Top 10 Highest Paying Police Dept. in Ohio
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity Demographics
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Ohio is one of the best states to be a police officer. Official projections suggest that this Midwestern state has a high demand for new police officers in a period expected to span for up to 10 years.
Law enforcement officers in Ohio earn an excellent salary with great benefits. Furthermore, the cost of living in Ohio is way below the national average, making it a top choice for employment seekers.
The requirements to become an officer are similar for almost all police departments in Ohio. Firstly, you must be a citizen of the US and a resident of Ohio. You must also be a holder of a high school diploma or a GED with a valid driver’s license approved by the state. At the time of appointment, you must be at least 21 years old.
Below is a comprehensive list of some of the best departments you should consider serving in Ohio.
Hamilton Police Department
The Hamilton Police Department has a paltry 109 trained officers serving close to 62,000 residents. The unit is widely acclaimed for its high level of professionalism when serving residents, and this has not gone unrecognized as the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies recently accredited the department for their good work.
Salaries for officers top out at ,960, excluding longevity pay and overtime. They also have a medical plan and a $10,000 group life insurance policy for each officer. Moreover, after a year, officers may request for a two-week paid vacation.
Akron Police Department
The Akron Police Department hosts 444 full-time law enforcement officers serving over 199,000 residents. This translates to about 22.3 officers per capita. From these figures, it is clear that the law enforcement unit is in dire need of more officers to serve the expansive community.
The good news is that the Akron Police Department is accepting new applications for officer positions, and individuals may apply at anytime so long as they meet the requirements.
Starting salary is about $53,206 with the highest earner taking home $62,150 per annum. In addition, all officers are eligible to a comprehensive paid employee benefit program.
Toledo Police Department
Toledo is ranked as one of the best police departments in Ohio. Unlike other law enforcement agencies, the Toledo Police Department has its own academy that trains individuals to become top-rated law enforcers.
Furthermore, all trainees earn a starting salary of close to $50,000 while still in training. The highest salary for officers is as much as $77,741 in a year, depending on rank and level of experience.
Other benefits include health and dental plans, a pension plan, deferred compensation and sick pay benefits.
4. Columbus Division of Police
With a population of more than 780,000 residents, Columbus is undoubtedly the largest city in Ohio. For this reason, the Columbus Division of Police is in constant need for highly trained, quality officers.
Currently, the force in Columbus consists of 1,850 officers but this is not enough to handle the influx of business tourists and vacationers thronging the city.
The Columbus Division of Police offers competitive and attractive salaries with the lowest ranked officer earning $53,934 while the highest paid official taking home $82,576 annually.
5. Dayton Police Department
The city of Dayton is renowned as the home of aviation thanks to the Wright Brothers. It is also home to several inventions such as the hydraulic pump and the cash register. With this in mind, it is important to have a stable police force to protect the numerous sights of interest. Fortunately, the Dayton Police Department is up to the task as it consists of 329 full-time officers renowned for their dedication to the city.
The salary range for a law enforcement officer in Dayton starts from $57,143 to $73,262 depending on rank and experience. This range is extremely attractive as it beats the wages offered by most police departments, in Ohio and other states in the USA.
As a law enforcement officer, you are required to maintain law and order, resolve neighborhood concerns and restore peace in potentially volatile situations. The good news is that Ohio is relatively peaceful, with very few cases of violent crime.
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