There are many different career paths you can pursue in the Wooster Police Department. Embedded in the Department are several specialty areas, including Supervision, SRT, K9, Bike Patrol, School Resource Officer, Hospital Resource Officer, Hostage Negotiator, Field Training Officer, Detective, Community Impact Unit Officer, Community Relations Officer, and Instructor. Join us as a valued member of our team!
The Wooster Police Department offers excellent compensation and benefits:
- Police Officer entry pay = $22.70/hr. Top pay to be reached in five years is $32.44/hr
- Department does both new hire and lateral testing
- 12-hour shifts- with every other weekend off
- Paid vacation (maximum of five weeks)
- Holiday pay (Time and a half wages for working certain holidays)
- Compensatory Time (maximum of 180 hours on books)
- Trade time
- Paid sick leave
- Pension (Drop Program)
- Education reimbursements ( Up to $4000.00 a year)
The Wooster Police Department has an authorized strength of 45 full-time sworn officers and five non-sworn employees. In addition to the Chief of Police, there is one Assistant Chief of Police, two Captains, and five Sergeants. In addition to Patrol, which is the backbone of our agency, we also have a detective bureau, Community Impact Unit, two Hospital Resource Officers, one Community Resource Officer, and two School Resource Officers.
- Age 21-35 at time of appointment
- High school diploma or equivalent required
- Certification by the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy (OPOTA) is preferred
- Associates degree in criminal justice, law enforcement, or related field OR two years of employment experience in a public law enforcement agency OR a minimum of two years active duty in the armed forces of the United States and have been honorably discharged is required
- Ability to maintain firearms qualifications required
- Valid driver’s license by the State of Ohio required or ability to obtain by hire date
- Weight in proportion to height and body structure
- Must be able to meet and maintain physical fitness standards
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, F/M/H. Women and Minorities Encouraged.
An assembled Civil Service examination will be administered for this position, details to be announced at a later date. Passing applicants on the overall civil service test will be placed on a Civil Service eligible list. Applicants will be processed for further testing from this list until an eligible list is developed. Such examination may include, but no be limited to, physical fitness examination, medical examination including drug screen after provisional offer of employment, psychological and/or psychiatric examination, polygraph examination, background investigation, and personal interview. The duration of the list will be one year or until exhausted. These applicants will be processed for future vacancies in the Police Officers classification should a vacancy occur within the next year.
Important Information
- Testing for a position with the Department is currently done on as as-needed basis.
- There is a residency requirement within 90 days of appointment.
- Veterans should bring in or mail a copy of DD-214 Military Discharge Papers (Member 4 - the type of discharge must be indicated).
- Special auxiliary aids for handicapped person are available upon written request. At least five (5) days notice is required prior to the Civil Service Examination. Requests must be made, in writing, to the Human Resources Division at the above address.
- Study guides are available in the Human Resources Office or online via the link below.
