Police Recruit (No Experience)

Salary : $58,285.00 - $60,033.55 Annually
Location : 2500 N. Military Highway, Norfolk, VA 23502, VA
Job Type: Permanent Full-time
Job Number: 14434
Department: Police
Division: Police - Sworn
Opening Date: 10/06/2026


Description
****Estimated Academy Start Date April 2027****

Norfolk Police:
Norfolk Police has a rich history of safeguarding lives, safeguarding property, preventing/investigating crime, and maintaining peace for the City of Norfolk. The department was established in 1797, covers 66 square miles, and protects over 244,000 residents.

Hear from one of our own and join today! Click Here!
Core Values of Norfolk Police:

S.H.I.E.L.D. - Service, Honor, Integrity, Equality, Leadership, Diversity


Norfolk Police Academy: Police Recruits will participate in a 25-26 week academy training program to successfully complete the Virginia state certified police officer training at the Norfolk Police Academy. The Academy will provide recruits with classroom training, physical fitness and police situation simulation training. We conduct three (3) academy classes per year. Because we recruit on a year-round basis and offer testing several times per year, we process applications in the order received for the next available academy class, typically scheduled in April, August, and December each year. Upon academy graduation, recruits receive a career progression to Police Officer and an increase in salary to $61,200.

Essential Functions
Essential functions include but are not limited to:

• Attends and completes the state-certified Basic Recruit Training course conducted by the Norfolk Police Training Academy.
• Performs limited, non-hazardous Police functions.
• May perform covert investigations designed to infiltrate, gather intelligence data, identify criminal activity and result in arrest and prosecution.
• Must be able to perform the physical aspects and meet the requirements and tests prescribed by the City's Civil Service Commission.
• Must have the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Education/Experience
Requires a level of knowledge equivalent to four years of high school or equivalency.


No experience required.

Additional Information & Requirements

Other Requirements:

• Must possess a valid Driver's License (prior to employment start date).
• U.S. Citizen (born or naturalized).
• Must be at least 20 years and 6 months of age at the time of application with the City of Norfolk.
• Must successfully pass all entry level testing and assessments.

To view all department specific Automatic Disqualifiers:

Overview of Process:
Applicants must successfully complete the following steps.

1. Physical Agility Test - events designed to simulate typical work-related situations, that require the ability to perform specific physical activities.
   • Obstacle Course completed in 2 minutes and 45 seconds
   • Recommended Training Program for Applicants
2. Psychological Examination - using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Test (MMPI), used to assess personality traits and psychopathology, provided at City expense.
3. Personal History Booklet - used to gather information of your personal history.
4. Background Investigation - involves obtaining and verifying information related to prior employment, drug usage, personal and professional references and criminal records, DMV records and credit records.
5. Polygraph Examination - used to verify the background data disclosed in the Personal History Booklet and employment application, provided at City expense. Deception noted in the areas of the automatic disqualifiers may prevent further processing of your application.
6. Medical Examination - includes medical physical and drug screen, provided at City expense.

Tobacco Use:
Selected candidates will be required to sign an acknowledgement indicating that they will refrain from using tobacco products, both on and off-duty.


Signing Bonu s :
This position is eligible for a one-time $5,000 signing bonus at completion of the recruit academy. To receive the signing bonus, you must be an active employee in good standing.

Questions:
For any questions, please email Police Recruiting.

• Regular full-time and permanent part-time employees may receive paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, employer paid pension plan, basic life insurance, voluntary participation in medical and dental, Section 457 deferred compensation, long-term disability, optional life insurance for self, spouse and children, medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, access to membership in credit union and employer provided parking.
  
  
• Special project/grant employees are generally eligible for the same benefits of regular full-time employees; however, retirement, life insurance and participation in health plans vary depending upon funding and authorization.
  
  
• Temporary/seasonal and part-time employees are generally only eligible for employer provided parking and access to membership in credit union.
  
  
• Retirement

If you are hired October 5, 2010, or after to a position with City of Norfolk Retirement System benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

If you are hired January 1, 2022, or after to a position with Virginia Retirement System (VRS) benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

• The Tuition Assistance Program is established to encourage employees toward continued self-development and education. Permanent full-time and permanent part-time classified, unclassified permanent, full-time special projects, and constitutional employees who have completed six months continuous service will be eligible to apply. The applicant's school of enrollment must be an accredited institution.

NOTE:
The benefits described above are broad generalizations. The specific benefits that an employee may be eligible for are governed by City regulations, as applicable to job type.
Non-City
Positions listed with a job type designation of "Non-City" are not subject to the benefits descriptions above. Refer to the content of the job posting for information regarding these positions.
01


The following Supplemental Questions are specific to the position for which you have applied to assist the hiring manager in screening applications. Please be specific and honest in answering these questions as they will be used to evaluate which applications will be given further consideration in the process. Do not answer "see resume" or "see application" as these are not valid answers. Please note that if you are invited to move forward with the recruitment process by the department, your responses to the following questions may be subject to verification.

• I understand and will answer the following supplemental questions completely and thoroughly.

02


This position requires United States (U.S.) Citizenship (born or naturalized). Do you meet this requirement?

• I am a U.S. citizen (born or naturalized)
• I am not a U.S. citizen

03


The minimum age requirement for this position is 20 years and six months of age. Do you meet the minimum age requirement for this position?

• Yes
• No

04


Do you posses a high school diploma or GED equivalent?

• Yes
• No

05


Do you possess a current and valid Driver's License?

• Yes
• No

06


Have you been convicted of drunk driving or driving under the influence within the past three (3) years?

• Yes
• No

07


Do you have more than ten (10) demerit points on your Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) record? (i.e. -11 points, -12 points, etc.) Demerit points are typically assigned as a result of traffic violations?

• Yes
• No

08


Has your driver's license been suspended within the past 12 months due to moving violations?

• Yes
• No

09


What type of discharge did you receive from the military? If not applicable, please select N/A.

• I am currently still serving
• Honorable Discharge
• General Discharge under Honorable Conditions
• Other than Honorable Discharge
• Bad Conduct/Misconduct Discharge
• Dishonorable Discharge
• Other type of Discharge
• N/A

10


If you are currently serving in the United States Reserves, please select if you are in a ready or standby status. If you are not currently serving in the Reserves, please select N/A.

• Ready status
• Standby status
• N/A

11


A conviction (felony or misdemeanor) does not necessarily eliminate you from employment consideration. A criminal background check is conducted on all new hires. Failure to disclose all criminal convictions may result in disqualification from employment consideration or may result in dismissal from City of Norfolk employment if you have been hired. The nature of the offense; the time that has passed since the offense, conduct and/or completion of the sentence; and the nature of the job sought may be taken into consideration. Have you ever been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor?

• I have been convicted of a felony
• I have been convicted of a misdemeanor
• I have been convicted of a felony and a misdemeanor
• I have not been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor

12


If you answered, that you have been convicted of a felony and/or a misdemeanor, please provide an explanation including the city, state and date of the conviction. This excludes minor traffic violations such as speeding tickets.
13


Have you used a controlled substance listed in Schedule I of the Code of Virginia. (Includes Heroin, LSD, MDMA, etc., excludes the use of marijuana)?

• Yes
• No

14


Have you used a controlled substance listed in Schedule II of the Code of Virginia (includes Cocaine, Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, Methamphetamine, PCP, etc.) within five (5) years of applying for a non-medical use?

• Yes
• No

15


Have you used a controlled substance listed in Scheduled III-IV of the Code of Virginia (includes illegal steroids, huffing, etc.) or any noxious chemical inhalant, within six months of applying?

• Yes
• No

16


Have you sustained an illegal act arising from the possession, sale, manufacture or distribution of any narcotic, controlled substance, or dangerous drug, as defined by state, or federal law?

• Yes
• No

17


If you answered yes to question(s) 13 through 16, please provide additional details; including the type of drug, timeframe this occurred, etc. If not applicable, indicate N/A. If you do not provide the specific information, this may result in removal from the process
18


Any use of marijuana or hashish after submitting your application is an automatic disqualifier.

• I acknowledge and I understand this requirement.

19


This position is required to sign an acknowledgement indicating that you will refrain from using tobacco products, both on and off-duty, if you are conditionally selected for hire.

• I acknowledge that I understand this requirement

20


This position is an essential position and requires the ability to work a varied work schedule, including weekends, evenings, holidays and periods or inclement weather.

• I acknowledge that I understand this requirement

21


If you were referred for this position by a current City of Norfolk employee, please provide the employee's full name, department, and job title. If not, please indicate by typing "N/A."
22


How did you become aware the Norfolk Police Department was hiring? (Please check all that apply)

• Career Fair / Event
• Radio Ad
• TV Ad
• Billboard Ad
• Magazine Ad
• Flyer Ad
• Military Resources: Career Development Resources Center
• Military Resources: TAP
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• Instagram
• Poster/Sign or Banner
• Tidewater Community College
• Old Dominion University
• Norfolk State University
• Google search
• Norfolk.gov
• Government.Jobs
• Indeed
• Text to Apply
• NPDjobs.com

Required Question