Learn About the Job
Salary and Benefits
Baltimore County offers a competitive salary and benefits package. Starting salaries:
- Police Cadet, $24,295
- Police Officer, $46,699
Cadets and Officers receive yearly pay increases.
Benefits include:
- Medical/Dental/Vision
- 25-year Retirement
- Paid Vacation/Sick/Military Leave
- Tax-Free Investments
- Life Insurance
- Credit Union Services
- Equipment and Uniforms
- Nightshift Differential
- Promotional Opportunities
- Police Academy and other Professional Training
- Tuition Reimbursement
Learn more about Baltimore County's employee benefits.
Job Qualifications
To apply for the Police Officer and Police Cadet job openings, you must meet the following qualifications.
- Police Officer applicants must be age 21 by graduation of our six month police academy.
- Police Cadet applicants must be at least 18 years of age at the time of hire. You can apply at 17 1/2 years of age.
Applicants must:
- Pass a written examination.
- Pass a physical agility test.
- Pass a physical examination.
- Pass a comprehensive background investigation, psychological screening, polygraph examination, and periodic drug testing.
- Have US Citizenship at the time of appointment.
- Have a valid driver's license.
- Have a high school diploma or a GED certificate recognized by the Board of Education of Maryland at the time of the appointment.
- Have less than 4 points on their driving record.
- Have no felony convictions.
Examples of Job Duties
Police Cadet
- Performs administrative functions in a precinct or specialized police unit.
- Directs traffic, inspects vehicles and issues citations.
- Works undercover to investigate crimes and target criminal activities.
- Communicates through law enforcement radio channels and through computer networks to provide information to officers.
- Provides arrest and warrant information to police officers.
- Assists with crowd control and special events.
- Helps provide security at police facilities.
Police Officer
- Performs general patrol duties in a vehicle and on foot.
- Conducts initial and follow up investigations of crimes and other incidents and events.
- Identifies and determines possible solutions to community crime problems.
- Communicates through law enforcement radio channels and through computer networks to provide information to officers.
- Provides security at police facilities.
- Enforces traffic laws and ordinances and investigates traffic accidents.
- Directs traffic, inspects vehicles and issues citations.
- Arrests and detains persons.
- Processes and monitors prisoners.
Advancement Opportunities
A career with the Baltimore County Police Department offers individuals a chance to experience unlimited professional and personal growth while investigating possibilities for success in a variety of interesting and exciting areas.
After two years as a patrol officer, members are eligible to apply for specialized unit assignments, such as:
- Homicide
- SWAT
- Sex Crimes
- Vice and Narcotics
- K-9
- Hostage Negotiation
- Computer Crimes
- Dignitary Protection
- Missing Persons
- Community Outreach
The Baltimore County Police Department is an equal opportunity employer.
Revised November 8, 2011
