How to become a police officer in indiana
Table of Contents
The 4 Biggest Mistakes Made by First time
Police Applicants
Not being honest
Lying or concealing important information during any stage of hiring process will blow up in your face. Being honest about even some of your most embarrassing lapse in judgment is highly recommended
Incomplete application
failure to complete the employment application correctly, leaving important questions unanswered will likely delay or even worst case scenario eliminate you from the hiring process entirely.
Unprepared for fitness test
you had plenty of time to train for this test so any applicant showing up to the physical fitness test unprepared, or out of shape is inexcusable.
giving up too soon
Sometimes landing a law enforcement job takes persistence and some perseverance. Some applicants give up too quickly and never re-apply after not getting hired on their first attempt
The Pros and Cons of Being a Cop
Note some Indiana law enforcement agencies may have additional requirements to become a police officer
- Must be a citizen of the United States
- Must Be at least 21 years old
- Possession of a valid Indiana driver’s license
- Proof of a U.S. high school diploma or GED
- Honorable discharge
- Successfully pass the background check
- Successfully pass all stages of the selection process
- No Felony Convictions (even expunged)
- Arrest History that show a Pattern of Lawlessness
- Criminal Case where the disposition is still pending
- Making false or misleading statements on your application
- Dishonorable discharge from the armed forces
- Domestic Violence Convictions
- Suspended driver's license
- Pattern of illegal drug Usage; abuse of alcohol or prescription pills
- Body Art Work or Tattoos That is Discriminatory or Offensive
Police Academy Curriculum
- Taser
- First Aid
- DUI/OWI Enforcement
- Traffic Enforcement
- Criminal Law
- Traffic Law
- Search and seizure
- Ethical issues
- Use of force
- Firearms
- Defensive tactics
- First Responder
- securing crime scene
- Report Writing
- EVOC
- Officer Safety
- financial crimes
- sexual offenses
- child abuse and neglect
- laboratory services
- criminal investigation
According To U.S. Labor Of Bureau Statistics (2018) The Average Salary For A Police Officer In Indiana Is…
$
1
*
Salary
$
1
/HR*
* The Base Pay Above Does Not Include Holiday Pay, Longevity Pay, Education Level, Uniform Allowance, Shift Differential And Overtime. Cops Can Potentially Earn More Than The Figure Above Suggest.
Indiana Compensation Percentile
The percentile wage estimate below is the value of a wage below which certain percent of workers fall. Data collected from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2018)
10th Percentile
$36,930
25th Perentile
$44,950
50th percentile
$54,570
75th percentile
$66,390
90th percentile
$76,780
Related Articles
Find Law Enforcement Jobs in Indiana
Click below to search for police jobs near me in Indiana. Browse jobs by city/county or zip code
Candidates looking to become police officers in Indiana must complete 600 hours of basic and physical training at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA), but in order to enter the academy they must first be hired by a police agency. That agency will make the arrangements for enrollment in the academy.
Recruitment and Hiring Process
New hires must be able to legally carry a firearm, which means that even a misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence is a disqualifying factor because federal law prohibits such individuals from carrying guns.
Moreover, previous felony convictions or a dishonorable discharge from the military in all likelihood will disqualify a candidate. Candidates should hold an Indiana driver’s license.
Fitness Test
As part of this initial stage of consideration, candidates also must show they can meet entry-level physical testing standards: a vertical jump of 13.5 inches, 24 sit-ups in a minute, 21 push-ups, a 300-meter run in 82 seconds and a 1.5 mile run in 18 minutes and 56 seconds. Candidates will have to improve on these minimums in order to successfully complete the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy course.
Background Check/ Application Process
These are just the pre-qualifying factors. Once passed these, candidates can move to the second stage of the process. A written examination will be administered, an interview will be held, a medical examination conducted, along with a background check, polygraph test and drug test.
Pass all these and you are eligible to be hired by a police agency, although the particular jurisdiction my have some additional qualifications such as residency requirements. Within a year of being hired, candidates must successfully complete training at the ILEA
Indiana Police Academy Requirements
The ILEA 600 hour training course is comprehensive and demanding. Cadets will attend classes on criminal and traffic law, firearms, emergency vehicle operations, physical tactics, EMS awareness and human behavior. are some of the major areas of instruction during this course. Other areas include accident investigation and criminal investigation, domestic violence and sexual assault, water rescue training, how to conduct the Standardized Field Sobriety Test, crime prevention and drug and narcotics education.
Fitness Test Requirements
In order to successfully complete the course, candidates must again undergo physical fitness testing and meet standards higher than the entry level standards: a vertical jump of 16 inches, 28 sit-ups in one minute, 25 push-ups, a 300-meter run in 71 seconds, and a 1.5 mile run in 16 minutes, 28 seconds.
You can find additional details about the academy and the program at www.in.gov/ilea/2380.htm.
While ILEA is the state academy, the basic training course also is taught at six other locations around the state. However these locations are specific to certain jurisdictions. They are the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Academy, the Fort Wayne Police Department Academy, the Northwest Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, The Southwest Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, the Indiana University Police Academy and the Indiana State Police Academy.
Average Salary
According to the Bureau Of Labor Statistics (2010), a police officer in the state of Indiana makes between $39,450 – $43,220 per year. However the data collected by BLS is a little skewed because it does not include overtime pay or off duty details. These two factors, if included in the data, would have increased the average salary of a police officer in Indiana.
Police officer Jobs in Indiana
There are several law enforcement job openings in Indiana. Simply visit our law enforcement board to browse police job openings.
