Employment — Personnel Division

Police Officer    back to top

Educated, Proactive. Responsive. Committed to making our highly diverse community a better place to live. That's a Montgomery County Police Officer.

The Montgomery County Department of Police is responsible for enforcing statutes, laws, and regulations designed to protect the life and property of the citizens of the County.

A Police Officer Candidate receives comprehensive training through a recruit training program. Upon graduation from the Academy, the Police Officer Candidate will be advanced to Police Officer I.

The work of a Police Officer involves considerable personal risk and requires the use of sound, independent judgment in all emergency situations. The tactful, conscientious performance of duties is carried out with limited supervision. The Police Officer works in an environment that encompasses the tenets of community-oriented policing with quality service delivery being paramount. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, working rotating shifts, patrolling a designated area in the County to preserve the peace and to prevent and discover the commission of crime, resolving problems within the community, directing traffic at pedestrian crossings and street intersections; enforcing motor vehicle operations and parking regulations, and performing communication functions. A Police Officer is also required to conduct preliminary investigations at the scene of a crime, administer first aid, gather evidence, obtain witness statements, make arrests, and testify in court.

As a Montgomery County Police Officer, you'll grow professionally and personally as you advance your career in a rewarding community policing environment. After two years as a patrol officer, you'll be eligible to apply for assignment in your choice of specialized units:

The Following Minimum Qualifications Must Be Met By All Police Officer Applicants

1. Possession of an Associate's Degree or it's equivalent
   (60 college credits or 90 college quarter hours) at time of application. We do not substitute prior law enforcement or military experience for the credit requirement.
2. Not less than 21 years of age at the time of graduation from the Academy.
3. United States citizenship.
4. Possession of a valid driver's license.
5. Successful completion of a comprehensive background investigation conducted by the Department of Police.

Successful candidates must pass a written examination, structured interview, polygraph examination, background investigation, psychological and medical evaluations.

In addition to an individualized assessment of suitability, selected candidates must demonstrate the following:

1. 20/20 corrected vision. Uncorrected vision no worse than 20/40 each eye for wearers of hard contact lenses or glasses. Successful wearers of soft contact lenses (at least six (6) months) not subject to uncorrected standard.
2. Color vision adequate to perform essential job tasks as measured on a Farnsworth D-15 test.
   Pure tone hearing thresholds in the worst ear that exceed 25db without amplification require further evaluation.
3. Exercise capacity of 12 METS (10 min.) as measured on an exercise treadmill utilizing BRUCE protocol with a target heart rate of 90% maximum heart rate adjusted for age.
4. Grip strength - 80 lbs. or 50% of body weight each hand.
5. Standing long jump - 73 inches.
6. Pushups - 17 continuous pushups on palms and toes.
7. Bent Knee Sit-ups - 34 in three minutes.
8. Abdominal stretch 27 inches measured from chin to wall while bending backwards with hips strapped against wall.

There is also a hiring "frequently asked questions" page with answers to the most common questions about the hiring process.

Salary and Benefits for Police Officer    back to top

We offer a starting salary of $46,972 (effective 7/6/08) for Police Officer Candidates.

Lateral Salary Range (based on prior police or military police experience). Year 1-$48,617, Year 2- $50,319, Year 3- $52,081, Year 4- $53,904, Year 5- $55,791.

Other Benefits Include:

• 4-Day Work Week for Patrol Officers
• Permanent Shift Schedules
• Differential Pay for Bilingual Capabilities Upon Certification (averages $2000 - $4000 per year, based on fluency and hours worked)
• Pay Differential for Evening and Night Shift (averages $1000-$2000 per year, based on shift hours worked)
• Paid Holidays, Accrued Sick, Annual, and Compensatory Leave
• All Uniforms Furnished to Include Cleaning and Alteration
• All Leather Goods Furnished To Include Boots and Shoes
• Eligibility to Participate in Take Home Police Car Program after 18 months of Employment
• Liberal 25 year Retirement Plan / Deferred Compensation Plan
• Paid Military Leave for Training Purposes (15 days per year)
• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance/Prescription Drug Plan
• Medical Catastrophe Benefits/Workman's Compensation Insurance
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Professional Improvement Leave
• Worker's Compensation Insurance
• College Tuition Assistance for Continuing Education
• Promotional Opportunities
• Extensive In-Service Training and Specialized Career Opportunities
• Credit Union
• Salary and Benefits subject to change

For additional information call our Job Information Line at 240-773-5300 or 1-800-828-1930

TDD #301-762-7619 (HEARING IMPAIRED)

Chief of Police

Assistant Chief of Police

Captain

Lieutenant

Sergeant

Master Police Officer

Police Officer III

Police Officer II

Police Officer I

Police Officer Candidate

The selection process that all applicants must go through to become a Montgomery County Police Officer consists of a variety of tests, assessments, and investigations that assist the department in employing those applicants best suited for police work.  This process can take anywhere from 3-9 months from the date of initial on-line application.

• On Line Application:   After completing the on line application, you will receive a confirmation number letting you know your application was received. You will then receive a confirmation packet approximately 2 weeks prior to the written examination which is generally held the 3rd Saturday of each month.  The confirmation packet will consist of a cover letter with the date, time and location of the test and a 40 page personal confidential questionaire booklet. This booklet and other paperwork will need to be filled out and brought to the testing facility at the time of the written test.                                                                                                     
• Written Examination: (Duration - up to 3 hours) The written examination consists of 100 multiple choice questions, and is scored on a pass/fail basis. A score of (60%) or higher will be necessary to pass. All applicants who pass the written examination will be reviewed for further consideration while those who do not pass will be eliminated from the selection process.
• Qualifications Appraisal Board (QAB): (Duration - up to 1hours) Every effort is made to administer the QAB (oral interview examination) at the time of the written examination.  Preference will be made to those who are coming from out of state.  Any interviews not completed that day will be scheduled within two (2) weeks.  The QAB is a structured interview consisting of approximately 9 questions. This means that all applicants will be asked the same questions before a 3 member panel. The applicants responses are measured against response guidelines. Possible rating outcomes include "Well-Qualified" and "Qualified". Only those applicants receiving a rating of "Well-Qualified" will be processed further.
• Background Investigation: (Duration 8 - 12 weeks) All applicants selected for further processing will undergo a comprehensive background investigation. This will include an in-depth interview, written exercise, and extensive investigation of employment history, criminal and traffic records, credit reports, school transcripts and military records (if applicable). We will interview references, neighbors, co-workers and family members. The information produced by this background investigation will enable us to better evaluate those candidates best suited for a career with this department.
• Polygraph Examination: (Duration - up to 3 hours) All applicants selected for further processing must submit to a polygraph examination. The polygraph will cover areas of employment, undetected crimes, falsification of information, drug usage, and sex crimes, etc. Applicants whose polygraph examinations indicate suitability problems, will be terminated from the selection process.
• Conditional Offer of Employment: All applicants who successfully complete the above processes may be considered by the Assistant Chief of Police or designee for a conditional offer of employment. The Assistant Chief of Police or designee may select any applicant from the "Well-Qualified" category for a conditional offer. Therefore, due to the abundance of candidates, it is possible to complete the selection process and not be considered for employment.
• Psychological Examination: (Duration - up to 6 hours) All applicants who receive a conditional offer of employment must successfully complete written and oral psychological examinations. The oral component is conducted by a psychologist who will also review the written test results. A standardized writing skills test will also be administered.
• Medical Examination: (Duration - Approximately 2 hours) All applicants must successfully complete a medical examination to be eligible to receive a final offer of employment. The medical examination will include stress and physical testing as well as the medical examination and drug screening. The psychological and medical examination results are reviewed by the Chief of Police or designee, and a final determination is made. Successful candidates may then be made a final offer of employment.
• Notifications: Every effort will be made to give applicants at least two (2) weeks notice of any scheduled appointment. Additionally, every effort will be made to notify applicants concerning the results of each component of the selection process within 30 days of the selection decision.
• Re-Test Policy: Any applicant who fails either the written test component or the Oral Qualifications Board (QAB) component, must wait six (6) months before they are eligible to reapply. Applicants who do not successfully complete other phases of the process must wait one year before reapplication, if they have not been eliminated permanently through the existing screening and review processes.