Police Officer Recruit

Salary: $76,418.16 - $107,260.35 Annually
Location : PO Box 1466, Mesa, AZ
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 16929C
Department: (H210)Police
Opening Date: 10/01/2026
Closing Date: 12/31/2026 11:59 PM Arizona


Description/Duties
Join Mesa PD!

Police Officer Recruits hired with a Bachelor's Degree will receive a $500 incentive upon completion of the Field Training Officer Program, or Police Officer Recruits hired with a Master's Degree will receive a $1,000 incentive upon completion of the Field Training Officer Program.

Notifications, reminders, and invitations are primarily sent via email. Please make sure the email address on your application is valid and checked frequently. Be sure to check your junk/spam folders for communications as well.

*In order to be considered for the current recruitment, you must complete the online job application before the posting closes at 11:59 pm on December 31, 2026.

( Please read for important testing information)

Please review and print the Job Announcement document for additional information related to minimum qualifications and requirements, as well as the full testing and hiring process.

The Cooper's Test will be utilized for the fitness test portion of the recruitment process. The Cooper's Test will be administered during the background process once you've successfully completed the Written Exercise through National Testing Network (NTN). For the Cooper's scoring matrix see below:

• Max amount of Push-ups in one minute (20 minimum)
• Max amount of Sit-ups in one minute (30 minimum)
• 1.5 mile run (15 minutes maximum)

A Police Officer Recruit attends the Mesa Police Department Academy to learn and perform the responsibilities of an entry-level Arizona peace officer, which include interacting with a culturally and socially diverse population, employing discretion in solving problems, maintaining public order, preventing crime, enforcing laws and ordinances, conducting investigations, making arrests, issuing summonses/citations and warnings, and assisting the public. Upon successful completion of academy instruction, the incumbent receives further training in the Field Officer Training Program. This class is responsible for performing related duties as required. This is a trainee class for protective service work in the Police Department. An employee in this class receives academy instruction and field training in the areas of patrol methods, causes of criminality, courtroom procedures, fingerprinting, community relations, and other law enforcement topics to prepare for appointment to the position of Police Officer. Upon successful completion of training, an incumbent performs law enforcement patrol activities in a designated area of the City. Duties performed may involve an element of personal danger, and the employee must take action without direct supervision and exercise independent judgment in meeting emergencies. Work assignments are made by a Police Sergeant or other superior, and work methods and results are checked through personal inspections and review of reports and discussions. Work requires occasional physical exertion under adverse circumstances. An employee in this class is subject to rotating shifts, weekend, and holiday work. After successful completion of academy instruction and field training, a Police Officer Recruit is promoted to the class of Police Officer. This class is FLSA nonexempt.
Please refer to the link below for the full job description and additional information regarding assignments, preferred qualifications, and essential functions.

Qualifications & Requirements

Employee Values : All employees of the City of Mesa are expected to uphold and exhibit the City's shared employee values of Knowledge, Respect, and Integrity.

Minimum Qualifications Required. Graduation from high school or GED.
Age: At least 21 years of age by graduation from the Police Academy.
Vision: As outlined by Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST), if vision is uncorrected at 20/80 or better, and can be corrected to 20/20 by use of glasses or hard contacts, it is acceptable. If vision is uncorrected at 20/200, it must be corrected to 20/20 with soft contacts. Vision is also acceptable if it is 20/20 uncorrected, 20/20 or better corrected by glasses, or 20/80 corrected with glasses. An eye examination by an optometrist of the City's choice will be required prior to appointment. Radial Keratotomy may be accepted once visual acuity is stabilized.

License: Must possess a valid Class D Arizona Driver's License by hire or promotion date.
Citizenship: Applicants must be a United States citizen.

Special Requirements. Because of the confidential, sensitive nature of information handled, successful completion of a background investigation and polygraph is required. Must meet the qualifications to wear a tight-fitting respirator by passing a medical evaluation in accordance with Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.134 by hire or promotion date and must maintain certification. Candidates given a conditional job offer will be required to pass a pre-employment medical physical, psychological test battery, and drug screening.
Substance Abuse Testing. Due to the safety and/or security sensitive nature of this classification, individuals shall be subject to pre-employment/pre-placement and random alcohol, drug, and/or controlled substance testing as outlined in City policy and procedures.
Preferred/Desirable Qualification. Completion of college-level courses in criminal justice.

Link to Job Description
A is linked here.
01


Are you a U.S. Citizen?

• Yes
• No

02


Did you receive a High School Diploma or GED?

• Yes
• No

03


Are you at least 20 years old at the time of application (today)?

• Yes
• No

04


Do you have a valid Class D Arizona Driver's License, or can you obtain one by hire or promotion date?If the answer is No, your application will be ineligible. For out-of-state applicants who would be relocating if hired, according to the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division, new Arizona residents can transfer their license from another state to Arizona.

• Yes
• No

05


Were you referred for this position by an employee of the City of Mesa Police Department?

• Yes
• No

06


If you responded 'Yes' to the question above, please provide the employee's name in the box below.
07


Would you like to receive text messages from the Mesa Police Department Recruiting team? Please note primary communication regarding scheduling and test confirmations will come via email from City of Mesa Human Resources. Text messages may be reminders or information on practice sessions.

• Yes
• No

08


If you served in the military, what was your discharge status?

• Honorable
• Dishonorable
• Uncharacterized
• Other than Honorable
• Entry Level
• Bad Conduct
• General
• Current Active Duty
• N/A

09


Have you ever been convicted of a felony (this includes criminal convictions out of state that would be considered a felony in Arizona)?

• Yes
• No

10


Have you tried or used any of the following drugs unlawfully (without a doctor's prescription): Hashish, Thai Sticks, Barbiturates, Amphetamines, Cocaine, Heroin, Opium, Steroids, or Hallucinogenic Substances?

• Yes
• No

11


Have you used Marijuana in the last two years?

• Yes
• No

12


Have you tried or used any illegal narcotics or dangerous drugs (with the exception of Marijuana, Steroids, or Adderall) in the past seven years?

• Yes
• No

13


Have you tried or used any illegal narcotics or dangerous drugs (with the exception of Marijuana, Steroids, or Adderall) more than 1 time since turning 21 years of age?

• Yes
• No

14


Have you tried or used any illegal narcotics or dangerous drugs (with the exception of Marijuana, Steroids, or Adderall) more than 5 times in your life?

• Yes
• No

15


If an explanation or comments are needed regarding drug usage, please note your information here.
Required Question