Police Officer Career Information

• High school diploma or G.E.D. 
• At least 21 years of age (at time of appointment)
• Valid Arizona driver's license (at time of hire)
• United States citizen
• Be of excellent character
• Must be able to read, write, and speak the English language
• If Prior Military: Must have been honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces
• No felony convictions
• No unlawful use of a narcotic or dangerous drug within the past seven years
• No unlawful use of marijuana within the past two years
• No pattern of drug abuse
• Must be willing to work rotating shifts, weekends and holidays

OVPD recruits attending the academy start at the step 1 officer level, not a lower recruit pay level. Step 1 of the pay scale is $24.3072 per hour, $50,559 annually. The first pay increase can be earned 12 months after starting date.

Click here to view the full salary scale(PDF, 118KB).

Key benefits of joining the Oro Valley Police Department: 

• Shift Differential of $1.50 per hour
• Special Assignment Pay
• Vacation and Sick Leave
• 12 Paid Holidays + Paid Birthday Holiday every year
• Yearly Uniform Allowance of $1,200
• Take-Home Vehicle
• On-Duty Fitness Program/Paid PT
• Off-Duty Opportunities
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Training and Advancement Opportunities
• On-Site Town Sponsored Health Clinic
• Medical, Dental and Vision Healthcare Options
• PSPRS Retirement Program
• 457 Available

Click to view full details of the Human Resources benefits information.

The process includes: Online Application, Personal History Questionnaire, written exam, physical agility test, oral board, background investigation, polygraph, conditional offer of employment, medical exam, controlled substance screening, psychological exam, overall executive review and field training.

• A Personal History Questionnaire must be completed.
• Written Exam (lateral officers excluded) 
• Physical Agility Test (lateral officers excluded) - The following must be met by male and female applicants.

  Dynamic Strength	Fit Force (minimum number)
  Sit-ups (in one minute)	25
  Push-ups (in one minute)	22
  Cardiovascular Endurance	Maximum Time
  1.5 Mile Run	15 minutes 28 seconds

   

• Oral Boards (interview)
• Background Investigation
  • Polygraph
• Conditional Offer of Employment
  • Medical Exam
  • Controlled substance screening
  • Psychological Exam
• Overall executive review (officers will be hired based upon executive review and available positions within OVPD; eligible applicants not hired will be placed on a hiring list for 6 months)
• Police Academy (22 weeks - lateral officers excluded) at Pima County Sheriff's Department Academy
• Field Training (12 weeks - entry after academy; 9 weeks - lateral after executive review)

Lateral full-time officers (currently employed as a full-time police officer) with two or more years experience as a certified police officer will receive one week of vacation and one week of sick leave upon hire.

We offer police officers an excellent benefit package, which includes retirement, medical and dental, tuition reimbursement and $1,200 uniform allowance. Other benefits can be viewed through the Town of Oro Valley Human Resources page.

The hiring process for a Lateral Reserve Officer is the same as for a Lateral Full-Time Police Officer. The Oro Valley Police Department's Reserve Officer is a paid position working a minimum of ten hours per month. After Field Training is successfully completed, Reserve Officers may put in for off-duty jobs. Reserve Officer may be utilized on patrol. Experience and training in background investigations are highly desired and may be utilized in other areas per Department needs.

Visit: Pima Community College's Law Enforcement Academy