How to Become a Police Officer – in Boston or Elsewhere
How to Become a Police Officer – in Boston or Elsewhere
Posted on 2/4/2022
Boston Police Officers are among the highest paid government workers in the state of Massachusetts. The average pay for employees of the Boston Police Department in 2020 was $132,500 (Forbes, April 2021). Each year several hundred applicants take the Massachusetts Police Officer civil service exam in hopes of being selected for training at the Boston Police Academy and winning a post as a Boston police officer.
You only need to be a resident of Boston for at least one year prior to taking the civil service exam for the Boston Police Academy. But traditionally it has been difficult to gain entry to the Academy due to the preferential treatment given to military veterans under civil service rules. The Massachusetts civil service system ranks military veterans who score a passing grade above all non-veteran test takers, including those with higher scores. In the past few years, a number of non-veterans who scored high on the civil service exam have been able to gain entry into the Boston Police Academy. But the odds remain long for those who have not served in the military.
However, students who live in Boston have an alternative route to becoming a Boston Police Officer – the Boston Police Cadet Program. This two-year training program provides participants with the classroom and practical experience needed to become a Boston police officer. More importantly, students who complete the program in good standing are put on a preferred list for selection into the Boston Police Academy. Cadets still need to pass the state Police Officer civil service exam. But they are able to bypass the regular civil service ranking system, with preferred status given to military veterans, and are instead placed on a separate eligibility list. The department is allowed to select Cadets to fill up to 30% of its recruitment class before it has to draw from the state civil service list. In practice, this means that Cadets who perform well during the program and pass the state civil service exam (and the physical fitness test) are all but guaranteed admission to the Boston Police Academy. During this two-year program participants work in paid civilian positions for the Police Department. Positions have a starting pay of $28,978 with benefits.
Application Process and Requirements
In order to qualify for the Boston Police Cadet program, applicants must:
Be 18-25 years old
Have lived in Boston for at least five years
Have a high school diploma or GED
Have a Massachusetts Driver’s License
Interested applicants must complete an online application. The application process also includes an interview, a physical fitness test, a psychological evaluation, background check, and a drug test.
How to Become a Cadet
The Police Cadet selection committee looks for candidates who demonstrate a genuine interest in becoming a police officer and serving the public. Participation in paid or volunteer work helping the community is a strong plus. The selection committee also places a high value on cultural competency, as the department seeks to diversify its workforce to better reflect the communities it serves. In addition to seeking candidates who demonstrate a cultural awareness of the needs of Boston’s communities of color, the selection committee is also interested in increasing the representation of female officers on the force. Finally, the ability to speak another language is a plus in the application process.
While a postsecondary degree is not a requirement to enter the Cadet program, completing an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree is a plus on your application. Earning a degree demonstrates your ability to handle the intellectual rigors of the Cadet program and push through challenges. Your degree does not need to be a criminal justice degree. Any degree related to social or community service is a plus. If your degree is not directly related to community or public service, you can use volunteer or work to demonstrate commitment to public service.
Other Routes to Police Work
What are your options if you don’t meet the five-year residency requirement to qualify for the Boston Police Cadet Program? If you’ve lived in Boston for at least a year you can try the traditional civil service route. With a high enough score, you may still win entry to the Academy and become a Boston Police Officer.
If you don’t live in Boston, you can apply to your local police department. You will likely face less competition to secure a job in the police force in your community than you would in Boston. For example, if you are a Chelsea resident and achieve a passing score on the civil service exam, there is a good chance you will rank high among candidates for the Chelsea police force. This is because the City of Chelsea gives preference to Chelsea residents and there are fewer Chelsea residents who are veterans with passing civil service scores vying for these positions. See Police Civil Service Exam Ranking Lists by Town to see ranking of veterans versus non-veteran residents by town. You may also consider pursuing a career as a campus police officer (e.g., Boston University Police).
The Fitchburg State University five-year Police Officer Program can give you a leg up for campus police posts as well as positions with several city and town police departments.
For More Information
Sign into your Navigator account to learn more about the Boston Police Cadet Program and the Fitchburg State Police Officer Program.