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About the Role
PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT
HONOR | SERVICE | INTEGRITY
OUR MISSION is to be the model of excellence in policing by working in partnership with the community and others to:
FIGHT crime and the fear of crime, including terrorism;
ENFORCE laws while safeguarding the constitutional rights of all people;
PROVIDE quality service to all of our residences and visitors; and
CREATE a work environment in which we recruit, train, and develop an exceptional team of employees.
The Philadelphia Police Department, known by many as the PPD, is the nation’s fourth largest police department, with more than 6,500 sworn and 800 civilian members. The PPD serves the people who live, work and visit the 140 square miles that is home to 1.5 million people.
The Department has 21 police districts in 6 divisions which are housed under two Regional Operational Commands (ROC). The districts are commanded by Captains, the divisions are led by Inspectors and the ROCs are led by Chief Inspectors. The department is commanded by the Commissioner and his Executive Team of Deputy Commissioners.
Philadelphia Police Headquarters is located at the Philadelphia Public Safety Building (PPSB) 400 North Broad Street. The recruit training facility is in Northeast Philadelphia.
Requirements
Residency
Applicants who live outside the city are now eligible for hire to enter the Academy and will have one (1) year and six (6) months from their hire date to move into the city of Philadelphia.
Education Requirements:
Equivalent to a High School Diploma.
Age
All applicants must be at least 20 years-old on the date of appointment.
Physical Fitness Test & Requirements
INSTRUCTIONS AVAILABLE IN BELOW LINKS
The physical fitness test confirms that prospective police recruits are performing physically (based on their age and gender) at the 30th percentile. The test includes the 300-meter run, pushups (within 1 minute), sit-ups (within 1 minute) and the 1.5-mile run. Read the latest physical fitness requirements as mandated by the Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training Commission and instructions on how to prepare for pushups. The Department has also prepared some basic guidelines on how to prepare for the physical fitness requirements.
Standards and times are subject to change and police recruits who are accepted in the Police Academy must perform based on their age and gender at the 30th percentile.
Reading Ability Test
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania also requires that all police recruits be able to read at no less than the ninth-grade level as established through the administration of the Nelson-Denny Reading Test.
Certification Requirements
YOU MUST PASS A WRITTEN EXAMINATION (IF REQUIRED).
Minimum age 20 years of age on date of appointment.
Establishment of residency will be required of each non-resident hired no later than 1 year and 6 months after appointment.
You must have a valid driver’s license prior to being hired.
You must be a US Citizen at the time of appointment.
You must pass an extensive background investigation.
You must pass a medical examination and drug screening.
You must pass a polygraph exam.
You must pass a psychological evaluation.
You must be willing to work rotating shifts, carry firearms and work in dangerous situations.
About the Agency
Overview
The City of Philadelphia offers an exceptionally competitive entry-level salary and benefits package. As a Police Officer's career progresses, longevity pay raises accrue and opportunities for advancement become available. Please take a moment to review the benefits outlined below.
Salary
The current yearly salary effective July 1, 2023, for a Police Officer Recruit in the Police Academy is $64,982. After graduating the academy as a Police Officer, you receive a pay increase to $69,492. There are scheduled increases in pay to the present maximum of $93,888 a year. Overtime is paid at the level of time and a half. There are excellent opportunities for promotion, which will result in a corresponding raise in salaries. Police Officers are paid biweekly. Salary does not include an annual uniform allowance or holiday time.
Health Care
Members of the Philadelphia Police Department heath care is covered under Blue Cross/Blue Shield Personal Choice Plan.
The Fraternal Order of Police administers the dental, prescription and eye plans. Officers and their eligible dependents are covered under these plans.
Dental plan: covers up to $2,500.00 per year per person.
Prescription Plan: offers a $5.00 co-pay per prescription.
Eye plan: covers one pair of glasses per year at a participating doctor.
Health benefits start when you enter the Police Academy.
Retirement
New Police Officers start paying into a Retirement Pension the first day of training. From each biweekly paycheck there will be a pension payroll deduction. A member's pension will be vested after ten years of service. For the first twenty years of service an officer will be credited with 2.2% per year toward their pension. In excess of 20 years the officer will receive 2.0% of their average compensation per year toward their pension. After twenty-five consecutive years of service an officer can retire with a pension that is 54% of their average total compensation regardless of age. An officer that has vested with ten consecutive years of service and has reached the age of fifty can retire with a pension based on their years of service at their average total compensation.
Deferred Compensation (457b Plan)
Deferred Compensation is a voluntary retirement plan that offers up to a maximum of a $16,500 annual payroll deduction. The money is tax deferred until retirement or when the money is taken out of the account. The money may be placed in various interest sensitive investment options such as mutual funds and money market funds. Members will receive information on what investment plans are available. As a member of the Philadelphia Police Department, there is no social security taken out as a retirement benefit, so this is an excellent tool for retirement saving.
Vacation and Holiday Leave
Police Officers of the Philadelphia Police Department will accumulate a certain number of hours of vacation time each month up to two weeks a year for the first five years of employment. Officers also earn and must use 4 administrative days each year which must be used by July 1st. You may allow your vacation time to run up to 592 hours before you must use it. Officers are allowed a summer vacation running from May to the end of September. Vacations are approved by the Commanding Officer. Dates for vacation are based on seniority.
Police Officers accumulate Holiday Time each year. Holiday Time is accrued when a holiday occurs on a Officers regularly scheduled day off, work day, or during any other absence. Each year, Officers sign a holiday register to either receive holiday pay or hold holiday pay until retirement.
Sick Leave
Police Officers accrue sick leave at the rate of 10 hours per calendar month, 15 days per year. Sick time can be accrued to unlimited hours without losing any time. It will be important for you to know the Police Department's Policies regarding sick time and sick abuse when you begin your period of training.
Parental Leave
Police officers shall be granted effective immediately upon employment up to six (6) weeks, thirty (30) working days, of paid parental leave after the birth of a child, or upon taking custody of an adoptive child or foster child under the age of eighteen (18).
We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program qualified employer.
25% tuition discount program for City employees (and sometimes spouses and dependents as well) in partnership with area colleges and universities.