Frequently Asked Questions

Must I be certified in law enforcement to be hired as a Police Officer?
Yes. All Police Officer applicants must complete the basic Law Enforcement Academy curriculum and must pass the FL LEO Certification Exam prior to hire. However, we do have a Police Officer Trainee program.  This is a sponsorship program, where the Tallahassee Police Department pays for all associated costs of the law enforcement academy while you are on salary earning $39,950.84.

How often are Law Enforcement Academy classes held?
Florida Public Safety Institute (FPSI) offers day classes twice a year, usually January or February and then again in June or July. Night classes are also available. That information can be obtained from their website or by calling the FPSI at 850-201-7003.

As a Police Officer in another state, will the Tallahassee Police Department sponsor me through the Florida Equivalency of Training (E.O.T.) Course?
Yes. As an out of state Police Officer applicant, you can apply for the Police Officer Trainee position and request sponsorship through the Florida E.O. T. course. If you are hired at the conclusion of the background investigation, the Tallahassee Police Department will pay for all costs associated with the training course. While attending the E.O.T. course you will be on salary earning $39,950.84/year. After you complete the E.O.T. course and pass the Florida State Certification Exam, your salary will be adjusted to fit within the Department’s lateral hire pay plan.

If I have received a speeding ticket recently, will that disqualify me for a Police Officer position?
No, a speeding ticket is not an automatic disqualifier. Your entire driving history will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications.

If I am a civilian officer in another state, what must I do to qualify for a position in Florida?
Civilian law enforcement officers and military law enforcement officers with at least one year of street experience can qualify for the FL Equivalency of Training (EOT) process. To see if you qualify, visit the FDLE website. If you qualify, you must take the EOT Class at a certified law enforcement training academy and pass the FL LEO State Certification Exam.

Is it possible to become a part-time Reserve Police Officer while finishing college or working elsewhere?
No. Reserve Police Officers must meet all the qualifications for hire that are required of a Patrol Officer. In addition, Reserve Officers must have completed the Field Training Program and become "Solo" qualified. Current funding does not allow for this training.

Can I use my G.I. Bill benefits while training to become a police officer.
Yes. You are considered a full-time student while attending the day classes, or part-time student if attending the night classes of the Academy. During your Department Orientation Training and the remainder of your probationary period, you qualify for On-the-Job-Training (OJT) Benefits that are paid directly to you each month from the Veterans Administration Office that holds your military records. Recruiting personnel will assist you in applying for these benefits.

For more information about TPD Recruiting, you may contact us by calling 850-891-4324 or email tpdapplicants@talgov.com.

Lateral Hire Program

The Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) seeks out and highly values candidates who have previous sworn law enforcement experience from other jurisdictions. New hires who have previously worked as law enforcement officers are more likely to successfully complete their probationary period and remain with their new department for many years while taking advantage of transfer and promotional opportunities. At the Tallahassee Police Department, individual officer salaries are set by contract and are not negotiable regardless of an officer's prior experience or previous rate of pay; however, in order to attract more experienced candidates, TPD has a lateral hire pay plan.

New police officers who have completed their academy training are paid at Step 1 of the Police Officers/Investigators pay plan. Candidates with previous full-time work experience as a law enforcement officer may be eligible for a starting salary higher than Step 1. TPD's lateral hire pay plan applies to candidates who meet the following prerequisites:

1. Currently certified as a law enforcement officer in the state of Florida, with at least two years full time sworn law enforcement experience OR
2. At least two years full time experience as a sworn law enforcement in another state and/or as a military police officer (with arrest authority), AND a passing score on the Florida law enforcement certification exam within the last three years. Note: Certification and/or experience as a correctional officer does not qualify an applicant for the lateral hire program. Similarly, possessing a concurrent (law enforcement and correctional) certification does not qualify an applicant for the lateral hire program, unless he/she has two years of full-time law enforcement experience.

Effective October 1, 2023

Please refer to the above chart for a graphical representation of the program's pay scales.

Military Police experience counts as long as an applicant is not required to attend the complete 24-week academy training course. Qualifying Officers can receive up to 13.5 months of OJT benefits via the GI Bill.

Here are some examples of how the TPD lateral pay plan works:

Applicant A, currently employed at a south Florida sheriff's department, wants to relocate to Tallahassee and become a TPD officer. Applicant A has over 4 years of experience as a deputy sheriff. Applicant A's starting salary at the Tallahassee Police Department would be Step 2.

Applicant B retired from Florida law enforcement after 20 years of service, 18 of them as a detective. After retiring, and prior to her Florida law enforcement certification expiring, Applicant B misses police work and wants to work for a new agency. With a valid certification and well over the 11-year maximum for experience as listed in the lateral hire pay plan, Applicant B is eligible for Step 6 pay at the Tallahassee Police Department.

Applicant C's law enforcement career began in the military. Applicant C's DD-214 indicates that 3 years and 10 months were spent as a Military Police Officer. After leaving the service, Applicant C was a trooper in West Virginia for 3 years and served another 2 and half years as a Georgia Highway Patrol officer. Applicant C then passed Florida's law enforcement certification examination after demonstrating proficiency in Florida law and high-liability training topics. With over 9 years of experience, Applicant C is eligible for Step 5 pay at the Tallahassee Police Department.

Applicant D has just finished six months of police recruit training at an academy out of state. Due to family considerations, Applicant D wishes to move to Florida to continue a law enforcement career. Applicant D is eligible to apply to the Tallahassee Police Department but does not have enough experience to take advantage of the lateral hire pay plan.

G.I. Bill / On-the-Job Training Program