Police Officer

Cleveland Metroparks Police Department, a CALEA accredited and nationally recognized law enforcement agency, is hiring full-time Police Officers. This law enforcement position provides for park visitor's safety and the protection of Park District natural resources. Police Officers enforce Park District ordinances and State laws, and enhance park user experience through assistance, information, and education.

Cleveland Metroparks prides itself on providing an opportunity for quality work life balance for its employees.

• Membership in the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System
• Vacation, Holiday and Sick Leave programs
• Compensatory time
• Comprehensive healthcare benefits
• Paid life insurance with additional and/or dependent coverage at employee's expense
• Deferred compensation program
• Medical and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Long-Term Disability coverage
• Employee Assistance Program
• Compensation & Benefits package also includes discounted golf at eight Park District golf facilities (employee only), and discounted admission for employee and family to other Park District facilities including Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
• Tuition Reimbursement

Applicants may be accepted as lateral transfer candidates under the following conditions:

• Applicant is currently employed as a full-time law enforcement officer in the State of Ohio, or has been laid off from such a position within one-year of appointment.
• Have a minimum of two years of full-time law enforcement experience (the two-year minimum of on-duty experience would still apply in cases of a layoff).
• Not currently under Internal Affairs investigation for any reason.
• Must be in good standing at current agency with no pending discipline and/or internal investigations, or have retired within the past 2 years in good standing.

A lateral transfer is eligible for starting salary (below) based on qualifications and whole years of law enforcement experience (partial years of service will not be considered):

• Two Years – up to $34.599 per hour
• Three Years – up to $36.991 per hour
• Four or More Years – up to $40.022 per hour

Hiring Process:

• Candidates meeting the minimum qualifications will be eligible for a phone interview.

• Candidates selected after the phone interview phase will be invited to participate in an in-person panel interview.

• Candidates selected from the panel interview will be required to pass a physical fitness assessment, background investigation, and law enforcement index or equivalent position assessment.

• Candidates who successfully complete step 3 will be provided with a conditional offer of employment. The offer of employment will be conditioned upon passing a psychological exam(s), a drug screen, and medical examination.

• The entire process can take between 2-3 months upon completion of the phone interview.

Candidates who are not selected for employment, and were not disqualified during the background investigation, may reapply after six months have passed.

If you are not prepared or qualified for this process, but will be in the future, we encourage you to submit a “Notify Me” on the career site. By submitting a “Notify Me” you will receive an email whenever a position in your area of interest becomes available.

Applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications:

• Minimum 21 years of age.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or possess a permanent resident card and a resident of the State of Ohio.
• By the time of appointment, must be certified in law enforcement as required by the Ohio Peace Officers Training Council.
• Must possess a valid State of Ohio Driver's License and have a good driving record (less than six active points on driving record at the application stage of the hiring process)
• High school diploma or equivalent; associate's degree or completion of at least 50% of credit requirements towards a bachelor's degree preferred.
• Experience as a law enforcement officer in the State of Ohio preferred.
• Ability to pass physical fitness requirements.
• 20/200 correctable to 20/20 vision in both eyes, with an absence of color blindness
• Must have an acceptable criminal record and no open or pending criminal cases; no past felony, domestic violence or other serious convictions or admissions.
• Must pass background investigations including drug & psychological testing
• Willingness to work all shifts, holidays and weekends.

Candidates selected for hire will be subject to the following physical requirements and working conditions:

• The primary duties of a Police Officer are performed in both a general office environment and an outdoor environment that may include exposure to adverse weather conditions and to potential personal danger.
• Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to discern verbal instructions, to communicate effectively, to interrogate and interview people, to discern noises that may require investigation, and to perform telephone and radio communication.
• Sufficient vision or other powers of observation, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to comprehend written work instructions, to read and write reports, correspondence, etc., to perform surveillance, to operate a police vehicle both day and night, to observe criminal and traffic violations taking place, to sight and shoot a firearm, to gather evidence at crime scenes and to coordinate detailed investigations.
• Sufficient manual dexterity, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to use a firearm safely and effectively, to direct traffic, write reports, utilize equipment required for the performance of duties and operate a vehicle.
• Sufficient personal mobility, flexibility, stamina, strength and physical reflexes, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to direct traffic, bend or stoop repeatedly, maneuver through and over rough, uneven, slippery or rocky terrain; to climb over fences and walls as necessary; to perform search activities for extended periods of time; to apprehend suspected criminals and to and perform all duties required in a law enforcement environment.
• Freedom from mental disorders which would interfere with performance of duties as described.

Wage: Entry – up to $30.053; also see lateral transfer experience rate. Actual hire rate based upon prior law enforcement experience and training.

Filing Deadline: Open until filled