Join The Syracuse Police Department

To be considered for a position as a Syracuse Police Officer, you must meet the following basic requirements:

• Age: You must be between the ages of 19.5 years old and under 35 years old to qualify to take the Police Civil Service Exam.
• Education: You must have a High School Diploma or GED.
• Citizenship: At the time of appointment you must be a United States citizen.
• Driver’s License: At the time of appointment you must have a valid NYS Driver’s license.
• Criminal Record: You cannot have been convicted of a Felony.
• Testing: You must pass the Civil Service Police written and Agility Test.
• Background Investigation: You must also pass a thorough Background Investigation.

Syracuse Police Pay Scale 2023

Top pay for 5 year officer in July of 2027 = $101,862

*Current contract will grant 1.75% increase every 6 months for 5 years.
**You will receive your new-hire bonus at the completion of the Probationary Period (ie $5,000).
**Totals do not include sick incentive or education, military, or language incentive.
***Sick Incentive allows an officer to sell back up to 8 days at the end of the year.

To be considered for a lateral transfer to the Syracuse Police Department, you must meet the following requirements:

• Employment: You must be currently employed full-time as a Police Officer in New York State.
• Hiring: You must have been hired from a NYS Civil Service List.
• Training: You must have successfully completed the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Basic Academy.
• Probationary Period: You must have successfully completed the probationary period with your current agency.

It’s important to note that lateral transfers are not subject to residency requirements. If you meet these requirements and are interested in joining the Syracuse Police Department as a lateral candidate, please email us directly at: recruitment@syracusepolice.org

We want to ensure that candidates are fully prepared for the Civil Service Police Exam. To help you prepare, the Syracuse Police Department will host Civil Service Prep courses leading up to the exam. These courses are designed to provide candidates with an overview of what to expect on the exam, as well as strategies for success.

In addition to the Civil Service prep courses, we also host Police Agility Test prep courses twice a week every week. These courses focus on helping candidates improve their physical fitness and agility and prepare candidates to take the Police Agility Test. 

If you’re interested in attending a Police Agility Test Prep Course, please contact our Recruitment team at recruitment@syracusepolice.org for more information.

The Syracuse Police Department hosts the Syracuse Regional Police Academy, which is a comprehensive training program designed to prepare recruits for a career in law enforcement. The academy is 26-28 weeks long and is held right here in Central New York.

During the academy, recruits will receive training in a wide range of areas, including New York State criminal procedure and penal law, defensive tactics, firearms, emergency vehicle operation, and more. The academy is rigorous and demanding, but it provides recruits with the knowledge and skills they need to serve as effective and responsible police officers.

The hours on most days will be Monday-Friday from 8:00am-4:00pm. Recruits will be expected to attend all training sessions and complete all required coursework in order to graduate from the academy. The Syracuse Police Department is committed to providing our officers with the best possible training, and we’re proud to host the Syracuse Regional Police Academy to help prepare our recruits for a successful career in law enforcement.

Yes, recruits who are accepted into the Syracuse Regional Police Academy will be compensated for their time while attending the academy. Once you are sworn in as a Syracuse Police Officer, you will begin to receive your salary and benefits.