Join TPD

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BE THE DIFFERENCE

Become a Member of the Tallahassee Police Department

 

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Join the Tallahassee Police Department

  • Career Criminal Unit
  • Community Oriented Policing
  • Criminal Investigations Bureau
  • K-9 Unit
  • Patrol
  • Special Investigations Unit
  • Special Response Team
  • Tactical Apprehension and Control Team
  • Tactical Flight Officer
  • Traffic Unit
  • Training Unit
  • See our website for a full list of TPD units
contact a recruiter

MEET YOUR RECRUITERS

an image of TPD recruiter Elizabeth Glover

Recruiter Elizabeth Glover
850-688-0811
elizabeth.glover@talgov.com

an image of TPD recruiter Steve Damm

Sergeant Steve Damm
850-688-7352
steve.damm@talgov.com

Benefits & Salary

Our Benefits

View our benefits brochure.

Take Home Car

Take-home vehicle program within a 50-mile radius.

 

Competitive Salary

Salary range is $64,000 - $100,000; with increases as outlined in the PBA contract. Lateral Hire Program for all applicants with law enforcement experience; with up to year for year credit for years of service for qualifying applicants.

Salary Enhancements

Educational & physical fitness incentives, lateral pay plan for prior experience, and GI bill for military veterans, reservists, and National Guard members.

Equipment

Weapons, equipment, uniforms, soft body armor, and shoes furnished; uniform cleaning provided.

Tuition

Tuition assistance for college courses (50% of total tuition costs, not more than $750 per year for undergrad studies; $1,500 per year graduate studies.)

Retirement, Pension, and Medical

Pension plan, with additional retirement plans available. Group medical, dental, and life insurance plans available.

Learn more at Talgov.com.

 

Hometown Heroes

 

A message from Chief Revell

"Cultivating the future of law enforcement means not only building a stronger community but also nurturing the careers of our officers. At the Tallahassee Police Department, we believe in providing our officers with the best opportunities for career advancement, equipping them with state-of-the-art tools, and offering exemplar training. We're not just shaping the future; we're empowering those who will lead it."

portrait of chief revell

Join TPD

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be certified in law enforcement to be hired as a Police Officer Trainee?

No. As long as a candidate successfully completes the hiring process they will be hired as a police officer trainee and begin full-time employment status (salary + benefits). Each new POT will receive a $1,000 signing bonus, have all of their academy costs paid for, and receive a salary of $50,000 until the completion of the academy where their salary will upgraded.

How often are Law Enforcement Academy classes held?

The Florida Public Safety Institute (FPSI) holds (4) full-time (day time) classes throughout the year. FPSI information can be obtained by calling 850-201-7003

If I have received a speeding ticket recently, will that disqualify me for a Police Officer position?

No, a speeding ticket is not an automatic disqualifier. Your entire driving history will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications.

As a police officer in another state, will the Tallahassee Police Department pay for me to attend the Florida Equivalency of Training (EOT) course?

Yes. As an out of state law enforcement officer you can apply for the Police Officer position. Once your background investigation is completed you will be given a job offer and hired on as a full time employee. After you have been hired at the Tallahassee Police Department you will be sent to an EOT program which our agency will pay 100% of the costs. The salary you will be hired on at will depend on how many years of service you have in a law enforcement capacity. TPD has a lateral one for one program. The maximum step a pre-certified officer can come in at is step 10 ($82,209.70).

Is it possible to become a part-time Reserve Police Officer while finishing college or working elsewhere?

No. Reserve Police Officers must meet all the qualifications for hire that are required of a Patrol Officer and are staffed by TPD retired officers.

Can I use my G.I. Bill benefits while training to become a police officer.

Yes. You are considered a full-time student while attending the police academy. During your department training at TPD and the remainder of your probationary period, you qualify for on-the-job-training (OJT) benefits that are paid directly to you each month from the Veterans Administration Office that holds your military records. We have a designated liaison at our department who will personally walk you through this process.

For more information about TPD Recruiting, contact us.

Become a Police Officer.

Certified law enforcement.

  • Lateral Hire Program for all applicants with law enforcement experience; with up to year for year credit for years of service for qualifying applicants up to step ten on TPD pay scale dependent upon agency size. 1 for 1 matching years of service.
  • GI Benefits/Public Safety On-the-Job Training Program.
  • Patrol Officers typically work four ten-hour days and have three days off.
  • TPD will cover 100% of Equivalency of Training (EOT) cost after a job offer has been provided.
becoming a TPD officer

Become a Police Officer Trainee

Needs police academy.

Police Officer Trainees (POT) are non-sworn positions. TPD will pay 100% of the academy cost for the POT to attend the Florida Public Safety Institute (FPSI). Once a POT successfully completes the FPSI and passes the State of Florida law enforcement exam, they will promote to the position of Police Officer.

Police Officer Trainees must sign a contract stating they will work for the Tallahassee Police Department for no less than two years after being removed from probation. Probation lasts one year after you are transferred from a Police Officer Trainee to a Police Officer.

becoming a police officer trainee

Become a TPD Cadet

A program for ages 14-20.

Are you interested in a career in law enforcement? If so, the TPD Cadet program is for you! The Cadet Program is open to individuals between the ages of 14 – 20 who are enrolled in school. The program begins with a 40-hour academy and offers continuous learning opportunities year-round.

View more information about this program here.

TPD cadet program

Become a Community Service Technician

Community Service Technicians (CSTs) are non-sworn members of the Tallahassee Police Department. Working side by side with sworn officers, CSTs respond to low-priority calls for service throughout the City of Tallahassee, where there are no known suspects or hostile persons on-scene, to include:

  • Traffic crash/Hit and Run investigations with minor injuries
  • Burglary & Thefts
  • Stolen/Recovered/Abandoned, or impounding vehicles
  • Harassing phone calls, cyberstalking, and criminal mischief
  • VIN verifications, lost or stolen vehicle license plate
  • Lost or found property
  • Assisting patrol officers as needed with traffic direction
  • Directing vehicle and pedestrian traffic at major events (e.g., football games, parades, public gatherings)

Salary

Step 1 - $18.93 hourly / $39,374.40 yearly
No Prior Law Enforcement Experience
Does not possess State of Florida Law Enforcement Standards or equivalency

Step 2 - $19.69 hourly / $40,955.20 yearly
0 – 3 years Law Enforcement Experience
Obtained State of Florida Law Enforcement Standards or equivalency
(does not have to be current)

Step 3 - $20.48 hourly / $42,598.40 yearly
4 – 6 years Law Enforcement Experience
Obtained State of Florida Law Enforcement Standards or equivalency
(does not have to be current)

Step 4 - $21.21 hourly / $44,116.80 yearly
7 plus years Law Enforcement Experience
Obtained State of Florida Law Enforcement Standards or equivalency
(does not have to be current)

Pension plan, with additional retirement plans available. Group medical, dental, and life insurance plans available. Take-home vehicle program within a 50-mile radius.

Contact

Employee Resources
850-891-4324

become a community service technician

Non-Sworn Employment

The Tallahassee Police Department offers three types of non-sworn employment: full time, Other Personnel Services (OPS) and temporary.

Temporary Employment
All part-time, temporary 25-hour or less positions at the Tallahassee Police Department are without benefits and leave time. The positions are mainly clerical-type, maintenance, and school crossing guards. No applications for temporary positions are accepted at the Tallahassee Police Department. Applications for part-time employment opportunities are accepted for current vacancies only. To view the current vacancies for the City of Tallahassee, please see the job listings. You are welcome to contact Employee Resources at 850-891-4324 if you have any questions about Police Department vacancies.

Other Personnel Services (OPS)
No applications for OPS positions are accepted at the Tallahassee Police Department. Applications for OPS employment opportunities are accepted for current vacancies only. To view the current vacancies for the City of Tallahassee, please see the job listings. You are welcome to contact Employee Resources at 850-891-4324 if you have any questions about Police Department vacancies. The only benefit offered to OPS positions is insurance.

Full-time Employment
No applications for full-time positions are accepted at the Tallahassee Police Department. Applications for full-time employment opportunities are accepted for current vacancies only. To view the current vacancies for the City of Tallahassee, please see the job listings. You are welcome to contact Employee Resources at 850-891-4324 if you have any questions about Police Department vacancies.

non-sworn employment

Join TPD

How to Become a Police Officer

Qualifications to Become an Officer

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements to qualify for employment as a Tallahassee Police Officer: 

  • Be a U.S. citizen.
  • At the time of hire, be at least 20 years old and live within a 50-mile radius of the intersection of N. Monroe Street and E. Tennessee Street, Tallahassee, Fl.
  • Possess a valid driver license and have a satisfactory driving history.
  • Have vision correctable to 20/20, with color distinction and depth perception within an acceptable range.
  • Possession of a high school diploma or an equivalent recognized certificate and successful completion of 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours of college. Work experience such as: sworn or non-sworn law enforcement (e.g. correctional officer, Community Service Technician, etc.), military service (active duty or reserve with honorable discharge), or public service (Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), firefighter, or communications operator/dispatcher with a public safety agency) or other relevant service fields may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the 30 semester hours.
  • Have no convictions for any felony, perjury, false statement, or domestic violence offense. Have no DUI convictions in the past seven years. Other arrest histories are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
  • Have no pending criminal charges.
  • Be able to pass a drug history review: No use of marijuana within one year of application. No use of prescription medication or other legally obtainable substance in a manner for which it was not intended within three years of application.
  • No use of marijuana within 1 year of application. No use of any other drugs (including anabolic steroids) within 5 years of application. No sale, distribution, manufacture, or transportation of any illegal drugs (as defined by F.S. 893.03). No use of prescription medication or other legally obtainable substance in a manner for which it was not intended within 3 years of application.
  • Be able to pass a thorough background investigation.
  • Submit a written essay.
  • Successfully pass an oral board, truth verification exam, and drug, medical, and psychological screenings.

During the hiring process, all applicants must complete a minimum of two Patrol ride-alongs.

Physical Assessment

Physical Assessment Test Description & Categories

The physical assessment test is a measure of physical fitness an applicant must demonstrate. The assessment will consist of a 1.5-mile run or 3-mile walk, pushups, and sit ups. The applicant must achieve the required run/walk time and number of sit-ups and push-ups as it corresponds to their age and identified gender. If the applicant claims no gender or nonbinary then the lesser of the two qualification standards will be applied for the applicant’s age category. The chart below outlines what the applicant must achieve. The applicant will be evaluated in a pre-assessment of all three categories, contemporaneous to the successful completion of the oral board phase of hiring. The applicant may submit any passing assessment category score as their formal assessment results. Any assessment category remaining shall be completed successfully prior to the scheduled interview with the Chief of Police or his designee. An applicant who cannot complete the assessment after no more than four months may be discontinued from the hiring process. They will be able to reapply six months from the date of discontinued declaration. If hired, the employee will be required to pass all categories on a yearly basis per PBA contract. If the applicant fails to pass more than one category then they will be allowed to repeat the assessment within a two-month time frame and will only have to repeat the category they were deficient in.

Fitness
Category		 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ Gender
1.5 Mile Run
(minimum)		 16:30 17:30 18:30 19:00 N/A
3 Mile Walk
(minimum)		 44:00 46:30 49:00 52:00 N/A
Pushups
(# in 1 minute)		 11 9 7 5 Female
Pushups
(# in 1 minute)		 24 19 13 10 Male
Sit-ups
(# in 1 minute)		 29 28 21 16 Female
Effective October 1, 2023, a timed indoor row, bike, or pool swim can be substituted for the 1.5 mile run or 3-mile walk.
Males & Females Age 20-29 Age 30-39 Age 40-49 Age 50-59
3,000 Meter Rowing 16:30 17:30 18:30 19:00
6,400 Meter Biking 16:30 17:30 18:30 19:00
500 Meter Swimming 16:30 17:30 18:30 19:00
Sit-ups
(# in 1 minute)		 37 35 31 26 Male

Required Documents

Thank you for considering joining the Tallahassee Police Department. Before continuing with the TPD Online application process, please review Job Application Instructions (PDF Document) and download and complete the documents below.

Required Forms and Documents

Forms to be downloaded, completed, and attached to your TPD Online Job Application

The following document should be downloaded, completed and saved to your computer desktop. Then attached to your TPD Online Job Application when submitted for consideration for employment.

Required Notarized Documents

Please download and complete the documents below. Print each and have a Notary Public witness your signature on both. Mail or deliver both to Employee Resources Office, Tallahassee Police Department, 234 East Seventh Avenue, Tallahassee FL 32303. Notary Service is available in the Employee Resources Office.

Additional Required Documentation

Mail, or hand deliver, the following documents to the Employee Resources Office, Tallahassee Police Department, 234 East Seventh Avenue, Tallahassee, Florida 32303.

  1. Birth certificate – an official copy from the Bureau of Vital Statistics in the state of your birth.
  2. Social Security Card – a photocopy of your card.
  3. Driver license – a photocopy of your current driver license (front and back if renewal information is located on the back).
  4. Driver's record – a recent copy of your 7-year driving history from every state (except Florida) in which you have ever held a valid driver license.
  5. Official College Transcript reflecting the DEGREE EARNED, or the minimum required hours (45 quarter or 30 semester with a grade of "C" or above in each course) from an accredited college or university. Official transcripts may be sent directly from the institution or may be included with your application in a tamper evident envelope that was sealed by the institution (if applicable).
  6. A copy of Florida law enforcement academy Completion Certificate. If you are currently attending the academy, a copy of the diploma must be submitted upon graduation (if applicable).
  7. Copy of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Form CJSTC 516 indicating that you have PASSED the State Officer Certification Examination (if applicable).
  8. Proof of name change (if applicable).
  9. U.S. Military Record – DD214 (Member 4 Copy) reflecting character of service/type of separation for each tour of duty (if applicable).
  10. All male applicants under age 27 must submit a copy of their Selective Service Registration or Exemption card.
  11. Naturalization Papers (if applicable) Federal law prohibits copying of naturalization papers. The actual papers must be presented at the time of application.

The above listed documents need to be submitted within two weeks of application date.

Currently Open Police Officer Positions

Apply Now

Apply at the City's jobs portal

 

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MISSION

The mission of the Tallahassee Police Department is to protect the rights of all people, ensure order, and provide for the public’s safety through the effective delivery of law Enforcement services while maintaining the highest level of professional standards.

Info

About Us

Our Address

234 E 7th Ave, Tallahassee, FL 32303

Text Us

850-688-7352

Our Contact Information

Contact a Recruiter
850-891-4894
tpdapplicants@talgov.com

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