Police Officer Candidate

Salary: $70,056.00 - $83,211.00 Annually
Location : 8751 Snouffer School Rd Gaithersburg MD 20879 USA
Job Type: Permanent
Job Number: 2026-00201
Department: Department of Police
Division: POL 47 MSB Training and Education Division
Opening Date: 03/31/2026
Closing Date: 9/30/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
FLSA: Non-Exempt


About the Position
POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATE- SESSION 82

January 2027 POLICE ACADEMY

$20,000 HIRING BONUS WILL BE AWARDED TO SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES
The department is currently looking for Police Officer Candidates who are ready to answer the call for a challenging and rewarding career in law enforcement. Our police officers receive comprehensive training in a state-of-the-art training facility and all uniforms and equipment are provided. We offer many opportunities to serve to include our 6 District Police Stations and over 50 specialized units.
Applicants possessing the minimum qualifications will be invited via email (CHECK SPAM FOLDERS) to complete an online written examination. Applicants who successfully complete the written exam will be provided instructions to complete an online background investigation booklet, which must be filled out COMPLETELY, along with instructions to upload all required background documents. Candidates must also successfully complete an oral interview, background investigation, polygraph examination, psychological and medical examination including a physical ability component, and a drug and alcohol screen in order to receive a final offer of employment.
A Police Officer Candidate receives comprehensive training through a six (6) month recruit training program and three (3) month field training program.
For more information on the Police Officer Candidate requirements for selection and the selection process go to and click on Career Opportunities.

What You'll Be Doing
Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, patrolling a designated area in the county to preserve the peace and to prevent and discover the commission of crime, directing traffic at pedestrian crossings and street intersections, enforcing motor vehicle operating 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 witnesses, make arrests, and testify as a witness in court. Employees work varying shifts and may be called upon to work irregular hours.

Minimum Qualifications
In addition to the MQs from the PD/Class Spec, if the minimum qualifications from the Classification Specification do not fully describe the needs of your position, add the relevant areas of experience below:

• Experience: No previous experience in law enforcement is required.
• Education: Graduation from High School Current Montgomery County Police Cadets may apply.
• Equivalency: Three (3) years of active-duty military service with an honorable discharge or three (3) years of full-time law enforcement officer experience recognized by MCPD; i.e., work as a sworn, government agent with full arrest powers eligible for rehire (Recognized) may be substituted for education.
• Other: Be a U. S. citizen - OR - permanent legal resident of the United States who is an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Armed Forces, and who has applied to obtain United States Citizenship, and the application is still pending approval; and not less than twenty-one (21) years old as of the anticipated first day of employment as a sworn Police Officer.
• License:

Possession and maintenance at all times of a valid Class "C" (or equivalent) driver's license from the applicant's state of residence
IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position.

Montgomery County Government(MCG) is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should email OHR at View email address on click.appcast.io. Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.

MCG also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference.

All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicant's responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria or interview preference status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on the Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.

This will establish an Eligible List that may be used to fill both current and future vacancies.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

Montgomery County Ethics Law : Except as provided by law or regulation, the County's "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriff's office) are subject to the County's ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code. Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.
Leave Benefits

Our generous leave package starts with non-MLS permanent and term employees earning 15 days of sick leave and 15 days of annual leave in their first year, as well as up to three additional personal days each calendar year. Positions in MLS earn 35 days of paid time off each year. In addition, we offer all employees 10 paid holidays. Our leave policies adhere to the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, and we provide six weeks of paid parental leave for new parents.

Retirement Benefits

All permanent and term positions are eligible for robust retirement plans. Public safety positions are eligible for a defined benefit pension plan in which they are vested after only five years. Employees in non-public safety positions can participate in retirement plans that contribute up to 12 percent of their annual salary. All employees can also participate in a supplemental retirement plan, the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, to contribute even more to their retirement goals.

Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Forgiveness

Montgomery County employees are eligible to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Participants who meet all requirements may qualify for forgiveness on the remaining balance on their Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time in a qualifying public service position. To learn more about PSLF, please visit the Student Loan Repayment Benefits page. Our tuition assistance program allows you to receive up to $2,130 annually in tuition assistance to help you achieve a degree that supports your career path.

Free Mass Transit Benefit

County employees are entitled to use the RideOn Bus service for free with a valid County-employee ID. This benefit can be used any time of the day or evening, including weekends. We also offer a pre-tax flexible spending account to reduce the cost of other mass-transit options such as MARC trains and Metro.

Reduced Child and Health Care Costs

Working for Montgomery County also entitles permanent and term employees to participate in healthcare and childcare Flexible Spending Accounts. These plans allow eligible employees to save on a pretax basis for healthcare and dependent care costs incurred during the plan year.


Employee Wellbeing

We deeply care about your holistic wellness. Our award-winning wellness program, LiveWell, will support you in improving and maintaining your physical, mental, financial, social, and intellectual well-being.

Learn more about our wonderful benefits available to you once you join our team. Montgomery County Benefits
01


MQ Question POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATE (003086)

Did the $20,000 signing bonus impact your decision to apply with the Montgomery County Police Department?

• Yes
• No

02


MQ Question POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATE (003086)

Are you a US Citizen?

• Yes
• No

03


MQ Question POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATE (003086) Have you graduated from high school?

• Yes
• No

04


MQ Question POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATE (003086) Will you be 21 years old or older in July 2027?

• Yes
• No

05


MQ Question POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATE (003086)

What is your date of birth? (MM/DD/YYYY)
06


MQ Question POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATE (003086)

Do you possess and currently maintain a VALID Class "C" (or equivalent) driver's license from your state of residence?

• Yes
• No

07


MQ Question POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATE (003086)

If yes, provide Driver's License number, State, and Expiration Date:
08


MQ Question POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATE (003086) (003086)

If you were referred by a Police employee, please provide name:
09


MQ Question POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATE (003086) Have you ever been convicted of, pled guilty to, or received probation before judgement for a felony or a serious misdemeanor (punishable by more than one year of incarceration?

• Yes
• No

10


MQ Question POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATE (003086) Have you ever been involved in any undetected felony or serious misdemeanor criminal activity?

• Yes
• No

11


MQ Question POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATE (003086) Have you ever been convicted of a traffic-related offense punishable by one year or more of incarceration (eg., DUI)?

• Yes
• No

12


MQ Question POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATE (003086) Have you had a DWI conviction or alcohol-related license suspension/restriction within the past 5 years?

• Yes
• No

13


MQ Question POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATE (003086) Is your driver's license currently suspended or revoked in any state?

• Yes
• No

14


MQ Question POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATE (003086) Have you had two or more license revocations or three or more suspensions in the past 10 years?

• Yes
• No

15


MQ Question POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATE (003086) Do you currently have five or more points on your Maryland driver's license (or equivalent in another state)?

• Yes
• No

16


MQ Question POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATE (003086) Have you ever been dishonorably discharged from the military?

• Yes
• No

17


MQ Question POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATE (003086) Have you illegally sold, produced, cultivated, distributed, or transported a controlled dangerous substance, narcotic drug, or marijuana?

• Yes
• No

18


MQ Question POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATE (003086) Have you ever used heroin, phencyclidine(PCP), lysergic acid diethylamide(LSD), or methamphetamine?

• Yes
• No

19


MQ Question POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATE (003086) Have you used any illegal drugs (excluding marijuana) within three years of this application?

• Yes
• No

20


MQ Question POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATE (003086) Have you used any illegal drugs (excluding marijuana, heroin, PCP, LSD, methamphetamine) since turning 21?

• Yes
• No

21


MQ Question POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATE (003086) Have you used any illegal drugs (excluding marijuana, heroin, PCP, LSD, methamphetamine) more than four times in your lifetime?

• Yes
• No

22


MQ Question POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATE (003086) Have you used marijuana within three years of this application?

• Yes
• No

23


MQ Question POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATE (003086) Have you used marijuana within one year of this application?

• Yes
• No

Required Question