POLICE OFFICER (LATERAL)

Kind of Work

* State statute provides an additional $7200 in annual supplemental pay after one (1) year of qualified law enforcement service. City longevity pay is provided upon completion of one (1) year of consecutive service with the City. Employees in the classifications of Police Recruit, Police Officer and above are eligible for educational incentive pay at the rate of $1,000 per year for an Associate's Degree, or $2,000 per year for a Bachelor's Degree, or $3,000 per year for a Graduate Degree. Colleges must be accredited by a regional accrediting authority recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Responsible police patrol and investigative work in protecting life and property, preventing crime, and enforcing federal, state and municipal laws and ordinances; Police Officers patrol assigned areas to deter and detect criminal activity, respond promptly to calls for service, including emergencies and offenses in progress, conduct investigations, gather evidence, and prepare reports on incidents. Officers engage with community members to promote safety and address concerns, enforce laws and ordinances, including traffic regulations, collaborate with other officers and other emergency service personnel and participate in community outreach programs and events, and related work as required. Upon employment, employees may be assigned to work on a rotating or fixed shift basis, which may include nights, evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events. Employees in this classification are subject to call to duty in emergencies and may be required to work overtime with little to no notice. An employee's work hours and days will be at the discretion of the Superintendent of Police or his/her designee.

Part-time Officers : In addition to full-time lateral officers, the New Orleans Police Department is also seeking part-time lateral officers. Part-time officers perform the same duties as full-time officers (listed above). As a part-time officer, your work schedule will be determined by your district captain. You will work approximately 42.75 hours in a two-week pay cycle. Incentive pays may be pro-rated based on the number of hours worked.

Minimum Qualifications

An applicant must:

1. have current P.O.S.T. certification or equivalent from a state board. Note : Applicants who do not possess a Louisiana P.O.S.T. Level 1 certification or equivalent from a state board will be required to complete a full academy.
2. have at least one (1) year of patrol and/or investigative law enforcement experience. This experience must have been gained after completion of a police academy and field training.
3. be at least 20 years old.
4. be licensed to drive with a good driving record and driving experience.
5. be in good physical and psychological condition to perform the essential functions of the job of Police Officer.
6. possess a state approved G.E.D./high school diploma. ( ** Please see #3 below regarding foreign diplomas.)

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

1. P.O.S.T. certification or equivalent from a state board.*
2. A valid driver's license.*
3. A high school diploma, high school transcript, or General Equivalency Diploma (G.E.D.) issued by a state Department of Education.* College diplomas from institutions accredited as colleges/universities by an organization that is recognized by the USDE (United States Department of Education) will also be accepted.

** High school diplomas and College diplomas from foreign countries will be accepted if the applicant submits a statement of educational equivalency from one of the evaluation services accepted by the Department of Civil Service. A list of the accepted evaluation services can be found on the National Association of Credential Evacuation Services (NACES) website (

* Prior to appointment, the hiring agency is required to verify education, driver's license, and certifications claimed by the applicant to qualify for this classification. If selected for hire, applicants must provide original documents to the hiring agency prior to their start date in this job classification .

AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFIERS: An applicant applying for any commissioned position within the New Orleans Police Department shall be automatically disqualified if, as an adult, he/she falls into any of the categories listed below. In accordance with the Louisiana State Statutes and for general application of the New Orleans Police Department's Hiring Criteria, an adult is hereby defined as a person who has attained the age of seventeen years. A juvenile is hereby defined as a person who has not attained the age of seventeen years. IF YOU FALL INTO ANY OF THE CATEGORIES LISTED BELOW, DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS POSITION.

1. Been convicted of, pled guilty or nolo contendere to any felony.
2. Been convicted of, pled guilty or nolo contendere to any misdemeanor involving any crimes against person or sexual offenses.
3. Been convicted of, pled guilty or nolo contendere to, any offenses involving violations of the civil rights of any person under the Constitution or laws of the United States or any state or territory.
4. Used any prescription drug or legally obtainable substance in a manner for which it was not intended within the two years prior to application.
5. Used any illegal drug, other than marijuana, within the five years prior to application.
6. Sold, distributed, manufactured, or transported any illegal drug.
7. Been dishonorably discharged from any military service and/or arrested for any violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice that would constitute a Felony or disqualifying Misdemeanor in the State of Louisiana.
8. Been terminated or forced to resign from any law enforcement agency for disciplinary reasons; resigned a position within a law enforcement agency to avoid potential or proposed adverse disciplinary action or termination; or received a disability retirement from any law enforcement agency.

Applicants are required to assist and cooperate with the Civil Service Department and the Police Department in obtaining past employment records, medical records and personal history information. Failure to comply may be cause for disqualification.

Applicants may be required to sign a waiver releasing information from a medical evaluation to Civil Service and/or Police Management.

Kind of Examination

1. A non-competitive examination consisting of a report writing test, multiple choice reading test and a human relations test which focuses on using good judgment in enforcement, public relations, and teamwork. Applicants must wait a period of three (3) months before they are eligible to be re-tested. Applicants who fail the test on two consecutive attempts must wait one year prior to re-test.
2. If given a conditional offer of employment, a qualifying medical test including a chest x-ray, lumbar spine x-ray, and psychological/psychiatric evaluation. A stress EKG may be given.

Note: After the Civil Service examination process, additional screening steps will be administered by NOPD prior to a conditional offer of employment including a urinalysis and background investigation.

This is a non-competitive original entrance examination. DOMICILE requirements are waived for this position.

General Information

THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, GENDER, AGE, PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, CREED, CULTURE, OR ANCESTRY. REQUESTS FOR ALTERNATE FORMAT OR ACCOMMODATIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO SHANA PARKER AT View phone number on click.appcast.io OR TTY/VOICE AT View phone number on click.appcast.io or View phone number on click.appcast.io.

BACKGROUND CHECK: The hiring department will conduct interviews of qualified individuals prior to requesting a criminal background check, and no job application submitted prior to such interview shall inquire into an applicant's criminal history. If this position is subject to a background check for any convictions related to its responsibilities and requirements, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history.

APPLICATIONS: Applications will not be accepted if received after the closing date or after the stated maximum number of applications has been received, as specified on this announcement. All minimum qualification requirements for examinations must be met by the final filing date unless otherwise specified on this announcement.

DELAY IN THE MAIL: The Department of City Civil Service cannot be responsible for failure of the applicant to receive an admission slip to an examination or for failure of the Department to receive material mailed by the applicant. Applicants should notify the Department of City Civil Service in writing of any address changes The minimum age limit is 18 years for any class of work requiring hard physical labor, operation of or proximity to hazardous machinery, exposure to hazardous chemicals, or participation in any other processes or procedures which are prohibited or limited by the Louisiana State Child Labor Law.

WORKING TEST PERIOD: Effective August 1, 2023, the working test (probationary) period for all positions in the classified service is one year.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE TESTING: The City of New Orleans has a comprehensive program of substance abuse testing. Candidates for employment for certain positions where the health, welfare and/or safety of the public, co-workers and the individual employee is at risk will have to undergo pre-employment substance abuse screening. Candidates for all other original entrance positions will have to undergo an unannounced substance abuse screening during their working test period. For further information, see Civil Service Rule V, Section 9.

A MEDICAL EXAMINATION is required for all original entrance probationary appointments to ACTIVE classifications, and may be required for re-employment, promotions and/or transfers.

A MEDICAL SCREENING , which may result in a medical examination, is required for all original entrance probationary appointments to non-active classifications.

GOOD MORAL CHARACTER is required of all applicants. Any applicant may be disqualified if his/her character or past employment record is found to be unsatisfactory as determined by the Department of City Civil Service. Forgery, misrepresentation of facts, or cheating on examinations is punishable by disqualification, fine and other penalties.

IMPORTANT : Applicants who are licensed to drive should have a current license on their person for purposes of identification during all phases of an examination. In lieu of such license, the Department of City Civil Service may require that applicants have some form of picture identification.

VETERANS PREFERENCE: On original entrance examinations, veterans (as defined in Article X, Section 10(2) of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana), disabled veterans, certain spouses and parents of veterans shall receive additional credit if claimed as provided on the Veterans Preference claim form which can be obtained in this office. To obtain credit, this form must be submitted with the required proof (at the minimum, a DD214) before the final filing date.

HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND GENERAL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMA (GED) must be issued by a state Department of Education or an institution recognized by a state Department of Education. Certificates of completion, high school diplomas and GED from institutions not recognized by a state Department of Education are not acceptable. High School diplomas from foreign countries will be accepted if the applicant submits a statement of educational equivalency from one of the evaluation services accepted by the Department of Civil Service. A list of the accepted evaluation services can be found on the National Association of Credential Evacuation Services (NACES) website (

ACCREDITED COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: An accredited college or university is an institution that is accredited by an organization that is recognized by the USDE (United States Department of Education) as an Institutional Accreditor. College diplomas from foreign countries will be accepted if the applicant submits a statement of educational equivalency from one of the evaluation services accepted by the Department of Civil Service. A list of the accepted evaluation services can be found on the National Association of Credential Evacuation Services (NACES) website (

EXPERIENCE: Applicants will not receive credit for unpaid work unless specified on the job announcement. Partial credit only will be given for related part time employment. Civil Service reserves the right to determine which degrees, education, or other credentials are related or closely related. Experience credit will be granted for related provisional appointments (internal applicants).

PROFESSIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE: The Civil Service Department defines this experience as experience gained in a position that required a Bachelor's Degree upon entrance.

OFFERS OF EMPLOYMENT OR PROMOTION: Prior to appointment, the hiring agency is required to verify education, driver's license, and/or professional licenses/certifications claimed by the applicant to qualify for this classification. If selected for hire, applicants must provide original documents of their qualifying credentials to the hiring agency prior to their start date in this job classification. Offers of employment or promotion are required to be withdrawn for applicants who are found to have misrepresented their credentials during the application process.

Revised 1/91, 4/03, 7/05, 2/07, 8/10, 2/12, 8/15, 6/16, 1/17, 1/19, 2/23, 8/23, 3/24, 6/24, 2/25, 3/26.