1. The Hamilton Police Department offers an excellent salary and benefits package. Salary for service officers currently tops out at $50,690.
2. Longevity pay is in addition to top pay and is currently set at:
   $1013.79 after five years of service
   $2027.58 after eight years of service
   $3041.38 after twelve years of service
   $4055.17 after sixteen years of service
   $5068.96 after twenty years of service
3. Medical plan to include dental, vision and prescription coverage. Vacation, holiday, sick leave, group life, deferred compensation and membership in Ohio Police & Fire Pension System. Officers also receive a $10,000 group life insurance policy.
4. Officers receive a uniform allowance and a uniform maintenance (dry cleaning) allowance.
5. After one year, officers are eligible for two weeks paid vacation.
6. Officers accumulate sick leave at the rate of ten hours per month, and upon retirement are paid a percentage of their unused sick leave.
7. Officers are eligible for retirement at age forty-eight, combined with twenty-five years of service completed.
8. Officers receive eight to eighteen "holidays" off per year, depending upon their work schedules.
9. Police Officers assigned to the Patrol Division work a four/two schedule, which means that their regular work week consists of four days on and two days off. This gives those officers about seventeen additional days off per year as opposed to a normal five/two work schedule, yet the four/two officers are paid for a forty-hour week.
10. All promotions are by competitive examination, as governed by Civil Service. A police officer must have four years prior to taking a competitive written examination for promotion to the rank of Detective. The officers in all other ranks must serve in those capacities for one year prior to taking competitive written examinations for promotions to the next higher rank.

Basic Requirements:

1. A person must be a minimum of 21 at time of written examination and not yet 35 years of age at time of appointment.
2. A person must have uncorrected total vision of 20/250, total vision must be corrected to 20/20.
3. Applicants must be high school graduates or have Ohio Equivalency Certificates (GED).
4. A comprehensive physical examination will be given prior to appointment. A person's height must be in proportion to body weight, as determined by a licensed physician.
5. A person must have a valid Ohio Operator's License prior to appointment, but the person may take the entry examination prior to obtaining such license.
6. There is no residency requirement to take the entry examination. If appointed, however, the officer has one day less than one year to move within the lesser of:
   Butler County; or
   A twelve-mile radius of the City of Hamilton Municipal Building at One Renaissance Center.
7. The Hamilton Police Department does not utilize lateral entry.

How to become a Hamilton Police Officer:

1. Apply by filling out an application at the Department of Civil Service and Personnel on the first floor of One Renaissance Center, or by contacting the Department of Civil Service and requesting an application to be mailed to your home address. When applying, applicants must bring their operator's license, high school diploma or GED certificate, and a DD214 form if previously in the military. Those who have properly filed for examination will be notified of the examination date, time, and location.
   Civil Service & Personnel
   345 High Street, First Floor
   Hamilton, Ohio 45011 Phone: (513)785-7030
   Fax: (513)785-7037
2. Take a written examination. The results of a written, validated examination will determine the eligibility list. Those applicants who have at least 180 days active military service with Honorable Discharge will be granted an additional five points. Applicants who are Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) certified will receive five extra points towards his/her exam score. Applicants who have obtained a Bachelor's Degree will receive an extra credit of five percent of their exam score. Applicants who claim Spanish speaking proficiency must submit a written request to undergo further testing. You must provide some indication as to the level of proficiency with which you claim to speak Spanish. Applicants who score in the intermediate high level or above will receive a 5% credit added to his/her exam score. The maximum amount of credit for the exam is 20 points.
3. Ranking on the eligibility list is based upon the written examination score.
4. Take the physical fitness examination. All potential officers are required to complete the physical fitness examination under the following requirements (requirements are based upon the national 50th percentile for gender and age group):
   Male:
   Age 20-29
   1.5 mile run: 12:18
   Push-ups: 33
   Sit-ups in one minute: 40
   
   Age 30-39
   1.5 mile run: 12:51
   Push-ups: 27
   Sit-ups in one minute: 36
   
   Female
   Age 20-29
   1.5 mile run: 14:55
   Push-ups: 26
   Sit-ups in one minute: 35

   Age 30-39
   1.5 mile run: 15:26
   Push-ups: 21
   Sit-ups in one minute: 27

5. Applicants still in contention will undergo:
   A psychological examination conducted by a licensed psychologist who is specifically experienced in the evaluations of police officer candidates;
   A polygraph examination, which encompasses drug usage and criminal behavior;
   An extensive background check.
6. After all phases are successfully passed, information is forwarded to the Chief of Police.
7. The applicant is asked to test at the Police Department. The testing includes the oral and written reporting of a scenario, and an oral interview conducted by a panel of officers from each rank. After the interview, recommendations are made by the panel on whether to hire the applicant.
8. A drug screen will be conducted wherein a hair sample is taken & tested for illegal substances.
9. A medical examination will be conducted by a licensed physician and will include an examination for general good health.
   
10. Recruits are sent to a basic training academy, if hired, for a period of thirteen to fifteen weeks. The most often used academies are the:
    Ohio State Patrol Training Academy
    Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA)
    Butler County Police Academy
    Butler Tech Peace Officer Training Academy
11. After successful graduation from the training academy, new officers are assigned to Field Training Officers (FTOs) for a period of approximately ninety days, prior to independent assignment.

If you are interested in applying for a position with HPD, please email your resume to the Dept. of Civil Service & Personnel.