How to Become a Police Officer in New Jersey

Steps to Become a Police Officer in New Jersey

The first step to becoming a certified police officer in New Jersey is to be hired by an agency. Certification as a police officer requires attending a police academy but only officers already hired are eligible to attend one of the state’s approved academies.

A law enforcement officer cannot receive a permanent appointment without successfully completing the Basic Course for Police Officers and receiving certification by the New Jersey Police Training Commission (www.state.nj.us/lps/dcj/njptc/home.htm).

THE HIRING PROCESS
There are two ways to be hired by a police agency in New Jersey, through the New Jersey Civil Service Commission, or through another route called the Chief’s Agency Track. This method is for police agencies that do not use the state’s civil service agency to screen candidates.

For Chief’s Agency Track, you will have to contact individual agencies to find out which method of hiring they use. A good source to find police agencies in the state are the links on the website of NJLawman.com (www.njlawman.com/Links%20Page.htm).
Candidates using the civil service track must pass the Law Enforcement Examination. Those who pass remain in a hiring pool for two years. The pool of candidates is used by agencies in Civil Service jurisdictions looking for officers to fill positions.

Candidates using the Chief’s Agency  Track will have to pass entry level tests administered by these departments. Usually testing happens only when an opening exists. To find these openings a candidate will have to contact individual agencies.

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS
Candidates who successfully complete the examinations may be hired if they meet minimum requirements. Requirements may differ in the case of Chief’s Agency Track candidates, but for Civil Service jurisdictions they include a minimum age of 18 and a high school diploma or GED equivalent. They requirements also mandate successfully completing the basic training program within 18 months of being appointed a police officer.
All appointees must be U.S. citizens and have a driver’s license. They also will have to pass medical and psychiatric examinations.

 POLICE TRAINING ACADEMY
The basic training course is comprehensive and academy students will have to achieve a minimum score of 70 percent in all written examinations in 13 functional areas. These are:

Professional Development (including morals and ethics)
the Criminal Justice System
Police Community Relations; Law
Legal Requirements of Arrest
Search, Seizure, Evidence and Use of Force
Vehicle Operations; Emergency Medical Care
Weaponry and Unarmed Defense
Patrol Concepts; Traffic; Criminal Investigation; and Physical Fitness.
Students must participate in at least 90 percent of total instructional time scheduled and 80 percent of all physical conditional sessions in order to be given a passing grade no matter how well the student has scored on tests.
Only after successfully completing the basic training can an officer apply for certification with the New Jersey Police Training Commission.

POLICE OFFICER SALARY – AVERAGE COP PAY IN NEW JERSEY
According to the Bureau Of Labor Statistics (2010), a police officer in the state of New Jersey makes between $60,660 – $79,300 per year. However the data collected by BLS aren’t very accurate because it does not record overtime pay or off duty work. These two factors, if included in the data, would increase the average salary of a police officer in NJ.

LAW ENFORCEMENT JOBS IN NJ
There are several law enforcement job openings in New Jersey. Simply visit our Career Job Opening or go to the official website of the agency you are interested in to complete an application of employment. Below is a list of all the law enforcement agencies in the state of New Jersey.

The New Jersey State Police Selection Process

IMPORTANT: The information may have change, please visit the official website of the police agency that you are interested in working for

I. Initial Application

Interested parties will receive a standard application from the Division of State Police (“the Division”). This form will be available from any State Police Recruiter and at all State Police Stations or local county clerks’ office. Attached to the application is a pre-employment inquiry sheet. Completion of this page is voluntary and will be used for affirmative action and tracking data. The application will also describe minimum qualifications and disqualifiers that would preclude a potential applicant from continuing in the selection process, as well as a detailed description of all phases of the selection process and pre-service training program

II. Initial Screening

All applications will be screened to determine if preliminary application criteria have been met. Candidates’ submissions will also be reviewed against criteria determined by the Division to be desirable for an effective member of the Division. The Recruiting Staff will select those candidates whose applications are most consistent with these criteria and those selected candidates will be invited to continue in the selection process. At this time, all candidates will be advised of the status of their application. Preliminary criminal history and motor vehicle record checks will be conducted on all applicants invited to take the written examination. Findings inconsistent with the candidate’s application will result in the removal of the candidate from further consideration.

III. Written Examination

All selected applicants will take the same standardized test. The test manufacturer will score all the tests and will report the results to the Division, together with the biographical data recorded by the applicant on the test. Applicants who receive passing scores will be invited to continue in the next phase of the selection process, the Physical Qualification Test. Applicants who do not achieve passing scores will be advised of their elimination from the selection process.

IV. Physical Qualification Test

All applicants passing the written examination will be invited to complete a Physical Qualification Test based on the current Division Standard, which is included in this application package. All applicants meeting the Standard will be deemed to have passed the Physical Qualification Test. Applicants who do not meet the Standard will be notified of their elimination from further current consideration in the selection process.

V. Initial Oral Interview

Remaining applicants will be invited to continue in the selection process by meeting with oral screening committees. Each committee will consist of a Lieutenant, a Trooper and a civilian. Civilian committee members will consist of loaned public and private sector executives and volunteer representatives of civic groups and organizations. Applicants will be asked a standard set of questions and their answers will be graded based upon established criteria which are necessary to be an effective member of the Division. A percentage of the highest-scoring applicants will be invited to continue to the next phase of the selection process, the background investigation.

VI. Background Investigation

The background investigation portion of the selection process often results in the discovery of information which might influence an applicant’s performance as a State Trooper. The typical investigation covers the historical aspects of an applicant’s educational, personal, employment and behavioral background from elementary school to the present, and will also include the investigation and validation of biographical data recorded by the applicant on the written test. Findings inconsistent with the application or the biographical data recorded by the applicant on the written test will result in the removal of the applicant from further consideration. After the background investigation is completed, the applicant will be invited to appear before the Oral Interview Board.

VII. Oral Board Review

Remaining applicants will be notified and instructed to appear for an Oral Board interview. Each Oral Board will consist of two members of the Division and one member designated by the Attorney General from within the Department of Law and Public Safety. A standard set of questions will be asked each applicant. Each applicant may also be asked additional questions as they pertain to the applicant’s background investigation. Oral Board members will grade all applicants based upon established criteria. A percentage of the highest-scoring applicants will be invited to continue in the selection process.

VIII. Medical Exam/Psychological Evaluation

A detailed medical and psychological examination will be performed on the remaining applicants following the Oral Board review. Applicants who do not meet the necessary criteria will be notified of their elimination.

IX. Acceptance to Academy

All applicants who pass the medical and psychological exam will be instructed to appear at the State Police Academy to begin the training process.