TPD: Becoming a Member
Want to join TPD? There are many ways to help protect the safety of the citizens of Tallahassee. Applications are accepted year-round for all positions with TPD. Applications cannot be submitted electronically for any of these positions. For more information, please view our Frequently Asked Questions page.
The Employee Resources Division is composed of both the Employee Resources Office and the Recruiting Office, located at our headquarters.
Our Recruiting personnel handle all recruitment for Police Officers and Public Safety Communications Officers, administer typing tests, perform preliminary and complete background investigations, schedule polygraph and psychological examinations, and are the people to contact if you are interested in working for the Tallahassee Police Department as a Police Officer or a Public Safety Communications Officer.
Our Employee Resources Office is a "one stop shop" for information for all current employees. We supply information on payroll, retirement, insurance, policies and procedures, hiring, termination, and more. We also provide public records requests, verifications of employment, and basic information to the public. Our office provides the city's job listings concerning civilian positions around the city, as well as accepts applications for temporary, civilian positions within the department.
| Police Officer | Communications Operator (PSCO) | Civilian Positions |
| Temporary Employment | Internships | Volunteer Opportunities |
Police Officer
Minimum Training and Experience
- Must be U. S. citizen
- At least 19 years old
- Valid Driver's License & Good Driving History (No moving violations within 180 days of application; no DUI or felony traffic violations)
- Correctable vision to 20/20 with color distinction and depth perception within "normal" range
- Have at least a two-year degree OR 60 semester credit hours-Grade of "C" or better per class
- No felony arrest or use of felony class drugs
- Non-tobacco user of any type (on or off duty)
- Good moral character & no violation of moral turpitude laws
- Pass Oral Board, Polygraph, Drug, Medical and Psychological screens (Prior to Oral Board, applicants with no prior experience must complete a minimum of two Patrol ride-alongs. Applicant ride-alongs must be coordinated through the Recruiter's office.)
- Pass thorough background investigation
Annual Salary Range: $40, 068.07 - $62,224.49
Work Schedule: Patrol officers work four, 10-hour days and have three days off.
Benefits
- Competitive Salary (annual increases per PBA contract)
- Salary Enhancements:
- State educational incentive: up to $130/mo. ($1560/yr.)
- Physical Fitness: up to $45/mo. ($540/yr.)
- MGIB for military veterans and members of military reserves/National Guard during Academy and throughout probationary year
- Lateral Pay Plan for prior experience
- Take-home vehicle
- Weapons, equipment, uniforms, soft body armor and shoes furnished
- Free uniform cleaning
- Tuition assistance for college courses ($150.00 reimbursement/class)
- Group dental, medical and life insurance plans
- Contribution to 401K/457 pension enhancement (subject to IRS rules [CY-2008 - $15,500/yr. + $5,000 catch-up for previous year])
- City Retirement: vested after 5 years; may retire with full benefits following 25 years service or at age 55 with at least 5 years service
- 3% accrual per year for 20 years and 4% per year for next five years 3 mos. (max. = 81%)
- 3-year D.R.O.P. (Deferred Retirement Option Plan)
- Chapter 185 F. S. Police Officer Pension Enhancement (up to $100K contribution to you)
- Medical Insurance supplement ($5/yr. of service; max = $150/mo.)
- At retirement: payment for all personal leave and compensatory time at base rate of pay; payment for 1/3rd of accrued sick leave, up to a maximum of 700 hours; medical insurance supplement.
- COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) begins at age 55
Download Job Description (PDF)
To apply for this position please do the following:
- Download the City application here in (PDF) or (Word) or stop by the Tallahassee Police Department and pick up an application.
- Download the Police Officer Application Packet in PDF format PDF) or stop by the Tallahassee Police Department and pick up an application packet.
- Completely fill out the Application and Personal History Statement.
- Birth certificate - a copy of the document must be from the Bureau of Vital Statistics from the state of your birth.
- Download and complete the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Information Waiver (PDF)
- Social Security Card - a photocopy of your card.
- Driver's license - a photocopy of your current driver's license (front and back of driver's license if renewal information is located on the back).
- A certified College Transcript reflecting an A.A. or A.S. degree or the equivalent required hours (90 quarter or 60 semester with a grade of "C" or above in each course) from an accredited college or university. Official transcripts may be sent directly from the College or may be included with your application in a tamper evident envelope sealed by the College.
- Proof of name change (if applicable).
- Driver's record- a recent copy of your 7-year driver's history transcript from every state (except Florida) in which you have held a valid driver's license.
- Military Record - DD214 reflecting character of service for each tour of duty.
- All male applicants between the ages of 18 - 26 must submit a copy of their Selective Service Registration or Exemption card.
- Naturalization Papers (if applicable) -Federal law prohibits copying of naturalization papers. The actual papers must be presented at the time of application.
- Then mail the information to the address listed on the left side of this page.
Public Safety Communications Operator (PSCO)
Minimum Training and Experience
- Must be U. S. citizen
- High School diploma or equivalent recognized certificate
- Two years experience in radio transmitting, with at least one working in emergency services, OR
AA, AS, AAS degree, OR 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) from an accredited college or university with a "C" average or better, OR - Certified law enforcement officer with eighteen months law enforcement experience, OR
- Three years minimum public contact work that included customer service, OR
- An equivalent combination of training and experience listed above
- Pass Polygraph, and Psychological screens
- Pass thorough background investigation
Salary: Minimum hiring rate is $13.70 per hour
Special Requirements: Achieve a minimum overall score of 80% on Criticall (computer test)
Work Schedule: There are 3 shifts: 7AM to 3PM, 3PM to 11PM, and 11PM to 7AM. During training the first 5 weeks are in the classroom. From there you will be assigned to a trainer and you will work on their shift. There are four training areas to complete and you will be assigned a different trainer for each. Therefore your schedule must remain flexible throughout your training, which lasts seven months to a year. Once you have completed all phases of training you will be assigned a regular shift based on seniority. New employees generally start on the second or third shifts, until they have some seniority built up.
Benefits: Download benefits information (PDF)
See also the G.I. Benefits/ Public Safety Officer On-the-Job Training Program
Download Job Description (PDF)
To apply for this position please do the following:
- Download the City application here in (PDF) or (Word) or stop by the Tallahassee Police Department and pick up an application.
- Download the PSCO Application Packet (PDF) or stop by the Tallahassee Police Department and pick up a PSCO Application Packet.
- Completely fill out the Application and Personal History Statement.
- Then mail the information to the address listed on the left side of this page.
Civilian Employment Opportunities
The Tallahassee Police Department offers two types of civilian employment:
- Temporary - All part-time and temporary positions at the Tallahassee Police Department are without benefits and leave time. The positions are mainly clerical-type work. If you are interested in a part-time or temporary position, please fill out a City Application and return it to Employee Resources at the Tallahassee Police Department. All applications will be kept on file for a period of 60 days and all applicants on file that qualify will be taken into consideration for each part-time and temporary job that comes available.
- Full-time - The only applications for full-time positions that are accepted at the Tallahassee Police Department are for Police Officer and Public Safety Communications Officer positions, which are advertised year-round. Applications for all other full-time civilian employment opportunities are only accepted for current vacancies. To view the current vacancies for the City of Tallahassee, please see the job listings. You are welcome to contact Employee Resources at 891-4324 if you have any questions about Police Department vacancies being advertised.
Internship Opportunities
The Tallahassee Police Department offers internships to college students during the Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters. The program is designed to educate those seeking a career in law enforcement about the duties and responsibilities of various divisions that make up the Tallahassee Police Department.
Internship Overview - Internships are available to currently enrolled college students during the Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters. The internship during the Summer Term is for the full 13-week term. The Internship Program accepts up to 4 interns each semester. All internships are non-paid and require the same commitment as a 40-hour-a-week job for the entire semester. Interns will be assigned a sponsor for the semester to assist them with any questions or problems. During the semester, each intern rotates throughout the following divisions:
- Criminal Investigations Division (CID)
- Patrol
- Crime Analysis
- Forensics
- Special Operations
Most of the intern's time will be spent observing investigators or police officers in their daily activities. However, some units provide the opportunity for interns to join in the activities. Interns will also be encouraged to attend at least one autopsy during their internship.
Application Process - All interns will be considered on a first come, first serve basis. Intern candidates should submit an application package that will include:- A recommendation letter from their respective university that grants them clearance to participate in an internship
- A copy of their unofficial transcript
- A Tallahassee Police Department Internship Application (PDF)
All documentation should be delivered no later than one month prior to the beginning of the semester to the Tallahassee Police Department Employee Resources Office or mailed to:
Tallahassee Police Department
Employee Resources
234 East 7th Avenue
Tallahassee, FL 32303
Each candidate will be subject to a criminal history check. The Internship Coordinator will review on a case-by-case any criminal history that is disclosed or discovered. Falsifications of the application relating to criminal history will be grounds for dismissal from consideration for our internship program. After the criminal history screening has been completed, each candidate will be interviewed; then a notification letter that will be mailed to each student acknowledging his or her status for the following semester. The University Coordinator will also be notified in writing which students have been accepted into our program.
Contact the Internship Coordinator -
If you have any additional questions, please contact:
Ms. Dione Worrell at (850) 891-4587 or via email.
Frequently Asked Questions about TPD Internships
- I was arrested in the past. Can I still be an intern?
Each specific situation will be looked at on a case-by-case basis. Contact the Internship Coordinator for more information. - I turned in my application already. When should I receive my letter?
As soon as your background check is complete, you will be called by the Internship Coordinator to schedule an interview. - Can I do an internship in just one division?
No. We only offer a rotating internship. - Can I do an internship in Forensics?
We do not offer an internship solely in Forensics. However, you will be able to spend a week in Forensics during the rotation. - I want to become a Police Officer. Can I do my internship at the Academy?
If you have not already applied with the Tallahassee Police Department, please see the "TPD: Becoming a Member" section. If you have already been hired by the Tallahassee Police Department and we are sponsoring you through the Academy, you can count that as an internship.
Volunteer Opportunities
The Tallahassee Police Department welcomes the assistance of enthusiastic, dependable, and committed citizens who freely contribute their time and talents in an effort to enhance our service delivery.
Volunteer opportunities at the Tallahassee Police Department are mainly limited to clerical type work. We do not offer job-shadowing opportunities. Current volunteer opportunities can be found in the Volunteer Program Listing. There are also the following volunteer opportunities outside the Department:
Goodwill Ambassador - Goodwill Ambassadors ride for one duty shift with a police officer and observe that officer's daily shift functions. Anyone can schedule a ride-a-long, but in order for it to count as volunteer hours you must be registered in our volunteer program.
Disabled Parking Patrol - The Disabled Parking Patrol program originated on November 18, 1998, with the objective of educating the community and enforcing laws that will ensure persons with disabilities will have parking spaces available to them as intended by the law. Police officers alone cannot identify every handicap parking violation and take enforcement action. The multiple tasks performed by TPD officers are staffing-intensive and require assistance from members of the community to be effective in reducing crime and protecting our quality of life. This community partnership is extended to traffic enforcement by the incorporation of citizens to assist in enforcement of handicap parking ordinances and laws. Disabled Parking Patrol volunteers are trained in a special Disabled Parking Patrol training session to identify parking violators and to write citations.
This program is in conjunction with the City's Equity and Workforce Development Department. The training is held once a year. Please contact the volunteer coordinator at 891-4952 to place your name on the training list.
Community Traffic Watch - The Community Traffic Watch trains volunteers on what constitutes aggressive driving. These volunteers will watch traffic throughout our community; if they observe someone driving aggressively the tag number and aggressive behavior will be reported to the Aggressive Driving Unit. The Aggressive Driving Unit will then contact the tag owner through the mail and inform them that they were observed violating traffic laws and provide them with educational material. The hope is that this will make people more aware of their driving behavior so they will be more careful in the future. The Community Traffic Watch Volunteers can also observe our officers in traffic court and assist when needed at DUI and vehicle checkpoints.
Application Process - If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please forward a completed an application to the volunteer coordinator for processing. Applications can be downloaded or can be picked up from Employee Resources at the Tallahassee Police Department. Applications may be turned in directly to Employee Resources or mailed to the following address:
Tallahassee Police Department
Employee Resources, Volunteer Coordinator
234 East 7th Avenue
Tallahassee, FL 32303
Employee Resources will complete criminal history and local records and intelligence checks on each volunteer applicant. This process takes from 1-2 weeks. As soon as this process is completed, the volunteer coordinator will contact you to discuss the different volunteer opportunities that are available to you.
Requirements - Volunteer applicants must be at least 18 years of age and pass a criminal history check prior to being accepted as a volunteer.
Volunteer Coordinator Contact Information - If you have any questions, please contact Dione Worrell at (850) 891-4587 or via email.
Presidential Service Award Opportunities - Tallahassee Police Department volunteers receive Presidential recognition in the form of the President's Volunteer Service Award for their contribution to our community. The President's Volunteer Service Award is an initiative of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation in conjunction with the Corporation for National and Community Service and the USA Freedom Corps. All volunteers who qualify will receive a certificate and pin. In addition to the volunteer hours earned at the Tallahassee Police Department, hours earned at other community agencies can be counted towards qualification. Make sure to turn in your timesheets every month so we can document your hours! The awards are as follows:
- Gold Level: 500 hours or more
- Silver Level: 250 to 499 hours
- Bronze Level: 100 to 249 hours
Frequently Asked Questions about volunteering with TPD
- Is there an age requirement for volunteers?
Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age - Are there volunteer opportunities in Forensics?
There are volunteer opportunities in Forensics, when available. The Forensic duties include: filing fingerprint cards, and occasionally taking fingerprints for walk-in traffic. This is strictly clerical type work; the volunteers will perform no crime scene work. - Can I job-shadow as a volunteer?
We do not offer job-shadowing opportunities. However, if you are a college student, be sure to look at our Internship opportunities. - I was arrested in the past. Can I still volunteer?
Each application is viewed on a case-by-case basis. - I turned my application in already. How long will it be until I am contacted?
Employee Resources will complete criminal history and local records and intelligence checks on each volunteer applicant. This process takes from 1-2 weeks. As soon as this process is completed, the volunteer coordinator will contact you to discuss the different volunteer opportunities that are available to you. - Can I volunteer after 5 P.M. or on weekends?
Most of our volunteering positions are clerical and nature and are not available after 5 P.M. or on weekends. You may, however, participate in a ride-along as a Goodwill Ambassador at nights or on weekends pending availability.
Volunteer Applications / Time sheets
- Download the TPD Volunteer Application (PDF)
- Download the TPD Volunteer Time Sheet (PDF)
- Download the TPD Disabled Parking Patrol Time Sheet (PDF)