Lateral Police Officer

Howard County Police Department Police Officer Lateral

Howard County Police Department is conducting written and physical testing for police officer lateral. Starting salary: $70,200 + $10,000 hiring bonus. Excellent benefits include: up to $5,000 out-of-state relocation bonus. The Howard County Police Department is a nationally accredited agency of more than 450 sworn officers serving a diverse community between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. To be considered for employment, applicants must meet the following standards:

• Have completed probation with a full-service law enforcement police agency by hire date
• Possess a valid driver's license
• Possession of a High School diploma or GED (high school equivalency certificate) acceptable to the Maryland State Board of Education as described in the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission regulation.
• Possess a current Maryland Police Training Commission (MPTC) certificate -or- satisfy comparative compliance standards
• Have no felony or serious misdemeanor convictions
• Be a U.S. Citizen

Comparative Compliance Standards include: minimum of 750 hours of academy training (not including firearms, field training, or in-service training) to meet COMAR and MPCTC requirements; records and documentation proving academy verification, graduation, and successful completing of a police academy; must currently be in good-standing with agency or have retired in good-standing within 2 years of application. All applications must be submitted at policeapp.com/HowardCountyMD. Prior to and on Testing Day: You must complete an application prior to testing day at policeapp.com/HowardCountyMD. Once your application has been approved, you will be invited to complete your Personal History Questionnaire. Applications are good for six months. If you previously applied within the last six months, you are not eligible to re-apply until six months from that date. Contact View email address on click.appcast.io with questions. Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ): After your initial application has been approved, you will receive instructions to complete your PHQ via a unique e-mail link. You will have ten days to complete and submit the PHQ electronically. It is critical that you are thorough and honest when completing this booklet, as all the information you provide will be verified during your polygraph exam and background investigation. Written Exam and Physical Agility Test: Testing will be conducted at the James N. Robey Public Safety Training Center, 2200 Scott Wheeler Dr., Marriottsville, MD 21104 on the following dates and times. Doors open one hour prior to testing. NO ONE will be permitted to enter beyond the start time. In case of inclement weather, call View phone number on click.appcast.io. Hiring Process Testing Dates: Contact View email address on click.appcast.io Written Test: The written test is scheduled and offered on an ongoing basis. You will have two hours to complete the written test. Passing written test scores are valid for six months or until the next academy is selected. If you do not pass the written test, you will be ineligible to re-test for six months. Physical Agility Test: You must first pass the written test before you are eligible to take the physical agility test. It is required that you bring the completed HCPD Physician's Authorization Form with you in order to complete the physical agility test. The physical agility test is comprised of three physical tests: sit-ups, push-ups, and a 1.5 mile run. Standards for each test are based on your age and gender, which are detailed on the Physician's Authorization Form. You are eligible to take the physical agility test as many times as it is offered within six months following your successful passage of the written test. Oral Interview: Upon successful completion of the physical agility test, you will participate in a panel interview. The oral interview is conducted by three Howard County Police employees. A series of questions will be asked of you concerning your experiences, abilities, and job awareness. Polygraph Exam: Upon successful completion of the oral interview, you will be scheduled for a polygraph exam. You will receive an information sheet concerning the polygraph exam explaining the polygraph equipment and exam procedures. The examiner will review all test questions with you prior to the test administration. You can expect the polygraph exam to last approximately three hours with a certified Polygraph Examiner. Background Investigation: If you are endorsed following the polygraph examination, your case file will be assigned to a Background Investigator. The investigator will make contact with you and will conduct various records checks, verify education and work history, and contact all of your listed references: family members, neighbors, and employers. This portion of the process takes an average of 4-6 weeks. Psychological Exam: If you are endorsed following the background investigation, you will be scheduled for a psychological exam. A trained and certified psychologist conducts the exam. Pre-employment Medical Evaluation (this step follows a conditional offer of employment): This exam is to evaluate medical abilities in order to safely perform the duties of a police officer. Excellent benefits include: health, dental and life insurance; vacation, disability and personal leave; uniform/equipment supplied with free dry cleaning service; take home vehicle for in-county residents; twelve-hour permanent patrol shifts with 6% night shift differential pay; day shift cycle: 2 on, 3 off; 2 on, 2 off; 3 on, 2 off; night shift cycle: 3 on, 3 off; 6%-night shift differential pay; four hours overtime XL per pay period (up to $4,495 annually); three hours minimum overtime for off-duty court appearances; multi-lingual specialty pay (up to $3,000 annually upon certification); specialty pay to officers assigned to Command Post, Computer Operations Section, Criminal Investigations Bureau, Drug Recognition Experts, Education and Training Division, Hostage Negotiation, Honor Guard, Intoximeter Operators, and Special Operations Bureau; competitive retirement plan (20 years at 50%, 25 years at 75%, 30 years at 80%).

For more information, visit or call 410-313-HCPD. HCPD is a CALEA accredited and EEO Agency.

To apply: You must complete an employment application online to be considered for this recruitment. Resumes cannot be substituted for completion of the job application work history. No paper applications will be accepted.

Selected candidates may be subject to drug screening, background screening, and reference checks.

At time of application, please submit a copy of any college degree, coursework, licenses, or certifications that you have referenced on your application. Applicants who have education obtained outside of the U.S. may need to provide proof of the equivalent U.S. education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service, such as the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services ( or World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation (

Howard County Government is not sponsoring employees in application of the H-1B Visa or providing an extension of an existing H-1B Visa. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

Howard County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to a workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. The County prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, ancestry, creed, national origin, disability status, genetics, marital status, military service, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Applicants requiring accommodations during the hiring process should contact the Office of Human Resources directly at View email address on click.appcast.io. Requests for accommodations should not be attached to the application.