A Career In Service, A Life of Purpose

Join The Syracuse Police Department

A Path To Making A Difference​

Join the fight for a better syracuse

Our officers are not just enforcers of the law, they are also ambassadors of our city, working to build trust and foster positive relationships with residents. Join us in our mission to create a safe and inclusive environment for all by becoming a Syracuse Police Officer and making a meaningful impact in your community.

Protect and Serve Your Community

$5,000 bonus for new hires and $20,000 for lateral candidates

Exceptional Benefits Package

Competitive Salary Range ($58k - $87k)

Education, Military, & Bilingual Financial Incentives

Hiring Bonus for New Hires and Laterals

12-25 annual paid vacation days

12-25 annual paid vacation days

three personal days per year

Comprehensive medical & Dental Coverage

Holiday pay for 13 days

Retirement at 20 years @ 50% Salary

Medical Benefits after retirement

Syracuse Police Officers are more than just protectors – they're community builders

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Find Your Calling In The Syracuse Police Force​

Meet Our Officers

Get to know the men and women of the Syracuse Police Department and learn about their experiences serving and protecting our city.

How to Become a Syracuse Police Officer

Your Path To A Career In Law Enforcement​

Take the first step towards a career of service and community with a clear understanding of the hiring process.

Step One: Civil Service Written Test
The first step to becoming a police officer in Syracuse is taking the Civil Service Police Exam. This exam is offered twice a year (in the spring and fall), and registration opens about two months prior to the exam. The good news is that you don't need any prior knowledge of law enforcement or criminal justice to score well on the exam. Once you have taken the exam, it takes about 3-4 months for the exam to be scored. During this waiting period, it's a good idea to start preparing for the police agility test (see step two).
Step Two: Civil Service Agility Test
If you receive a score of 70% or higher on the Civil Service Police Exam, you will be invited to take the Police Agility Test. This test consists of a series of sit-ups, push-ups, and a 1.5 mile run. The requirements vary depending on age and gender (see chart below).

  Sit-Up
(1 Min)
Push-Up 1.5 Mile Run
Age M/F M/F M/F
20-29 38/32 29/15 12:38/14:50
30-39 35/25 24/11 12:58/15:43
40-49 29/20 18/9 13:50/16:31
Step Three: Civil Service Police List
Once you pass the Police Agility Test, you will be added to the current Civil Service Police List. You can remain active on the list for up to 4 years. When the Syracuse Police Department is hiring, they will contact candidates on the list.
Step Four: Background Investigation
If you're contacted for a job opening, you will need to participate in a background investigation. This is the most important part of the hiring process. You will be required to take a polygraph exam, psychological exam, medical exam, and have an interview with the chief's of police. It's important to be honest and forthcoming during this process.
Step Five: Sworn In & Academy Training
After successfully completing the previous steps, you will be sworn in as a Syracuse Police Officer. Congratulations! You will spend the next six months attending the Syracuse Regional Police Academy. During this time, you will receive intensive training in various areas, including New York State criminal procedure and penal law, defensive tactics, firearms, and emergency vehicle operations.

Frequently Asked
Questions

Discover quick answers to frequently asked questions below, and don’t hesitate to contact your recruiter for further information.

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
Pay Grade Base Pay Holiday Pay Uniform
Stipend
Total*
Entry $54,742 $2,737 $700 $58,179
End of Year 1 $68,775 $3,438 $700 $77,913**
End of Year 2 $75,000 $3,750 $700 $79,450
End of Year 3 $77,341 $3,867 $700 $81,908
End of Year 4 $79,656 $3,983 $700 $84,339
End of Year 5 $82,561 $4,128 $700 $87,389

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.

The Syracuse Police Department has several specialized units that are dedicated to specific tasks and areas of law enforcement. These units include:

  • Special Investigations
    • Special Investigations (Narco)
    • Gang Violence Task Force
  • Criminal Investigations 
    • Homicide
    • Intelligence
    • Abused Persons
    • Warrants
    • Crime Scene Unit
  •  Patrol
    • K-9
    • Traffic
    • Schools
    • Animal Cruelty
  • Training & Education
    • Recruitment
    • Academy
    • Inservice Training
    • Wellness
  • Specialized Units
    • SWAT
    • Crisis Response Unit
    • Public Order Unit
    • Bomb Squad
    • Peer Support
    • Ceremonial Unit

The Syracuse Police Department recognizes that societal norms and expectations have evolved over time, and we strive to accommodate these changes while maintaining a professional appearance. As such, we allow tattoos on any part of the body except the head, face, neck, and hands. Officers are also permitted to have facial hair, including beards, mustaches, and goatees, as long as they are well-maintained and do not interfere with the use of any required equipment or protective gear.

Yes, new hires of the Syracuse Police Department are required to establish residency in the City of Syracuse within six months of graduating from the Syracuse Regional Police Academy, and must live within the city for five years after their date of hire. However, lateral transfers are exempt from this residency requirement

Starting in the Fall of 2023, patrol officers in the Syracuse Police Department will work a 4/3-4/4 schedule consisting of 10-hour shifts. This means that an officer will work for 4 consecutive days, followed by 3 days off, then work for another 4 days, followed by 4 consecutive days off. Compared to a traditional 5-day, 40-hour work week, this schedule provides patrol officers with an additional 65 days off each year.

The Syracuse Police Department recognizes the value that veterans bring to our department and offers several benefits to support them. Firstly, veterans will receive an additional 2 days of paid time off each year. Secondly, while attending the Syracuse Regional Police Academy, veterans may use their GI Bill to receive extra funding from the government. Finally, veterans may be eligible to buy back service time, which would enable them to retire up to 3 years early.

Yes, in addition to the competitive salary and benefits package, the Syracuse Police Department also offers financial incentives for officers with certain qualifications. If you have an Associates, Bachelors, or Masters Degree, or if you are a veteran or Bi/Multilingual, you may be eligible for a financial incentive.


The Syracuse Police Department also offers a $5,000 hiring bonus for new hires and a $10,000 hiring bonus for lateral transfers.

Lateral Transfer Opportunities

Requirements for Lateral Candidates

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

connect with a recruiter

Start your journey towards becoming a Syracuse Police Officer today by filling out the form below.

The SPD is the largest municipal police force in the Central New York region, staffed by approximately 400 sworn officers and 100 civilian personnel. The department’s jurisdiction covers the city of Syracuse, which has an estimated population of over 143,000 people.

The Syracuse Police Department is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

For more information, visit us at SYR.gov.

©2024, Syracuse Police Department

Syracuse Police
Department

Headquarters

511 S. State St. Syracuse, NY 13202

Recruitment

Syracuse Police
Department

The SPD is the largest municipal police force in the Central New York region, staffed by approximately 400 sworn officers and 100 civilian personnel. The department’s jurisdiction covers the city of Syracuse, which has an estimated population of over 143,000 people.

The Syracuse Police Department is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

For more information, visit us at SYR.gov.

Headquarters

511 S. State St. Syracuse, NY 13202

Recruitment

recruitment@syracusepolice.org
315-442-5227
©2024, Syracuse Police Department
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