Police Officer

Police Officer

Erie County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to workplace diversity. Examination date: October 17, 2026. Applications must be submitted, postmarked or hand delivered by September 2, 2026. Admission notices are emailed approximately one week prior to the exam. Please call View phone number on click.appcast.io if you have not received your notice three days before your exam date. All correspondence regarding online applications will be via email. Paper applications containing an email address will also receive email correspondence. If no email is provided, paper notification will arrive via USPS. There are no residency requirements for participation in this examination, but residency may be required at time of appointment. Candidates must be a United States Citizen, an Erie County Resident, and where applicable a resident of the Town or Village where he or she is appointed per Public Officers Law at time of appointment.

The work involves patrolling highways or streets for the purpose of preventing crime, arresting violators of the law, protecting life and property, controlling traffic and maintaining law and order. This position involves responsibility for the protection of lives and property and the enforcement of all laws and ordinances. Work consists primarily of routine patrol tasks, however, independent exercise of sound judgment is necessary in emergency situations. The incumbent works under the general supervision of a higher-ranking officer for assignments and reports. Does related work as required.

Patrols highways or streets, or a specific area on foot, in a radio cruising car or on a motorcycle; Investigates suspicious activities and apprehends and arrests criminals, disordered, vagrants or other persons menacing the general public; Gathers evidence and assists in the prosecution of such persons in court; Serves as a motorcycle patrol officer and arrests violators of traffic regulations or other laws; Investigates automotive accidents and submits reports in detail; Checks doors and windows of unoccupied business and residence properties; Escorts incarcerated individuals to jail and court; Investigates reports of and searches for missing persons and stolen cars and property; Directs traffic and marks cars for overtime parking; Broadcasts radio messages and send teletype messages; Makes daily reports.

Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and in addition, either:

A.) Completion of a minimum of sixty semester credit hours from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university at time of appointment; or:

B.) Completion of a minimum of thirty semester credit hours from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university and completion of one year of active duty military service* (see Notes 2, 3 and 5) at time of appointment; or:

C.) An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of (A) and (B).

Eligibility for appointment begins when candidates reach their 21st birthday. Candidates who reach their 43rd birthday before the date of the written examination are NOT eligible except as follows*: Candidates may have a period of military duty or terminal leave up to seven years, as defined in Section 243 (10-a) of the Military Law, deducted from their age for the purpose of meeting the age requirement. Candidates who may be impacted by the maximum age requirement and who are requesting an alternate test date (for active military duty, Sabbath observance or for an alternate test date situation which meets the conditions of Erie County's alternate test date policy) are advised to contact Erie County to discuss the request.

United States citizenship is required at time of appointment and maintenance throughout period of employment. Candidates must possess a valid New York State Driver's License at time of appointment and maintenance throughout period of employment.

All candidates must be not less than 19 years of age on or before October 17, 2026.

Active duty military service does NOT include active duty for training. Up to one year of active duty military service may be substituted for education on the basis of one month of active duty equals 2.5 college semester credit hours. Candidates must have a high school diploma or possess a high school equivalency diploma issued by an education department of any State of the United States or hold a comparable diploma issued by any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States or by the Canal Zone or hold a report from the United States armed forces certifying successful completion of the tests of general education development, high school level. ALL APPOINTEES MUST HAVE COMPLETED AT LEAST 30 COLLEGE CREDIT HOURS. Your degree/credit hours must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education. If your degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. A list of acceptable companies who provide this service can be found at You must pay the required evaluation fee.

Permanent appointment shall be contingent upon satisfactory completion of an approved municipal basic training program pursuant to Section 209q of the General Municipal Law. Candidates must have visual acuity of no worse than 20/100 in each eye uncorrected and must otherwise satisfy the medical and physical fitness standards prescribed by the New York Municipal Police Training Council. These physical and medical requirements are posted in the Erie County Personnel Department at 95 Franklin Street, Buffalo, New York, Room 604. Applicants will be subject to an extensive pre-employment background investigation and psychological evaluation. Conviction of a felony will bar and conviction of a misdemeanor or other offense may bar participation in examination and appointment. Criminal convictions or other offense are subject to evaluation and may result in disqualification pursuant to Section 50 of the New York State Civil Service Law. Candidates must be a United States Citizen, an Erie County Resident, and where applicable a resident of the Town or Village where he or she is appointed per Public Officers Law at time of appointment. (See Erie County Policies and Procedures.)

Candidates who pass the written test will be required to pass a qualifying physical agility and medical test. Failure on either qualifying test will bar candidates from appointment.

The agility test consists of bent-leg sit-ups, push-ups, and a 1.5 mile run and measures muscular endurance, muscular endurance of the upper body and cardiovascular activity. The minimum passing scores, depending on age and sex, represent the fortieth (40th) percentile of physical fitness as established by the Cooper Institute. In addition, the standards are available for review at the Erie County Department of Personnel. Agility testing will be performed before candidates are certified to appointing authorities and is expected to begin in spring of 2027. For instructions on how to prepare for your agility test, please visit

Candidates who pass the written test and the agility test and receive an offer of employment will receive more detailed information about the medical and physical fitness standards prescribed by the NYS Municipal Police Training Council. Candidates should also be aware that an offer of employment as a Police Officer/Deputy Sheriff-Criminal is contingent upon passing an appropriate medical examination. Both the medical exam and agility test are given on a pass/fail basis. Re-tests will be permitted only in accordance with the guidelines prescribed by the Commissioner of Personnel.