Police Officer

THIS IS A CIVIL SERVICE POSITION AND REQUIRES OUR CIVIL SERVICE APPLICATION.

For further consideration, please submit the City of Saratoga Springs application. The full Police Officer announcement can be found on www.SaratogaSpringsNY.gov

Applications are available in the Civil Service Office in City Hall, or online www.SaratogaSpringsNY.gov under Civil Service, or email civilservice@SaratogaSpringsNY.gov to request one be sent to you.

Completed applications can be emailed in to civilservice@SaratogaSpringsNY.gov mailed in, or dropped off to the office.
This is in office employment. This is not remote employment.

PLEASE EMAIL JOINSSPD@SARATOGASPRINGSNY.GOV FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

DUTIES:

• This work involves the responsibility for the protection of lives and property and the enforcement of the general laws of New York State and local ordinances within the City of Saratoga Springs (NY).
• On an assigned shift an incumbent performs routine patrol operations in accordance with standard departmental operating procedures and makes arrests and assists in investigations.
• The work is performed under the general supervision of the Commission and Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, and the Police Chief and the Assistant Police Chief with direct supervision of a higher ranking officer who gives specific instructions and assistance when special problems arise. The incumbent does related work as require.

SALARY: Academy Pay $51,780 Base Starting Pay $57,242 Year 5 Pay $81,326 NYS Retirement; Health, Dental, Vision Benefits; Paid time off; PBA Union; ‘Cost of living’ and anniversary step yearly increases.

Some additional benefits include:

• Competitive Pay with increasing steps and incentives.
• Overtime, comp time and callback pay.
• Shift Differential.
• Rotating schedule allows for every other weekend off.
• Education incentives:
  • 2% of base pay for Associate’s Degree.
  • 3% of base pay for Bachelor’s Degree.
• Professional training and improvement incentives.
• Tuition reimbursement per PBA contract.
• 20 year 384eb 1/60th retirement plan.
• Clothing Allowance (annually).
• Paid vacation leave.
• Paid personal leave.
• Paid sick time.
• 12 paid Holidays (annually).
• Competitive Health Care Plan with buy-out option.
• Extensive yearly training.
• Mounted Unit.
• K9 Unit.
• Bike Patrol.
• SRO (School Resource officer).
• FTO (Field Training Officer).
• Special Investigations Unit.
• Criminal Investigations Unit.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT: Saratoga County, Albany County, Schenectady County, Fulton County, Hamilton County, Montgomery County, Rensselaer County, Warren County and Washington County (established permanent residence one month immediately preceding the date of the written examination of October 17th 2026). Candidates will be required to submit proof of residency when requested.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

The following qualification(s) must be met and clearly detailed on the application form on or before the last filing date:

• Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma or a comparable diploma as described in Section 58 of NYS Civil Service Law with successful completion of at least 24 semester credit hours from a New York State or regionally accredited registered college or university. OR
• Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma or a comparable diploma as described in Section 58 of the Civil Service Law with at least two (2) years of Active Military Service, possessing an honorable discharge and DD214.

SPECIAL NOTES AND REQUIREMENTS:

• The email address you provide on your exam application will be our main means of communication.
• A COPY OF YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND NYS DRIVERS LICENSE MUST ACCOMPANY YOUR EXAM APPLICATION.
• Must be a citizen of the United States of America in accordance with NYS Civil Service Law 58 at time of appointment
• Must possess a valid NYS Driver’s License to be considered eligible for appointment. Must maintain said license for the duration of employment with the City of Saratoga Springs.
• Section 58.1(a) of NYS Civil Service Law requires that candidates must be at least 19 years of age on or before the examination date to be admitted to the written exam. Eligibility for appointments as a police officer begins when the candidate reaches age 20. Candidates who reach their 43rd birthday on or before the date of the written examination are not qualified except as follows:
  • Candidates may have a period of military duty or terminal leave up to seven (7) years, as defined in Section 243 (10a) of the Military Law, deducted from their age for purposes of determining whether they meet the age requirement.
  • Applicants who may be impacted by the maximum age requirement and who are requesting and granted an alternate test date after providing the appropriate documentation are advised to contact the Saratoga Springs Civil Service Commission office to discuss their request.

ANTICIPATED ELIGIBILITY:

• Applicants who do not possess the required 24 completed college credits as described in #1 above will be eligible to take the written examination but will NOT be eligible for appointment until they obtain the required 24 completed college credits. It is the applicant’s responsibility to update the Civil Service Office with a copy of your transcript when the applicant achieves the required 24 college credits – the applicants name will remain restricted on the eligible list until the office is updated.

PLEASE NOTE:

• It should be noted that in addition to the written examination, an assessment of an individual’s physical ability/physical agility will be made in accordance with Civil Service Law section 58 and the Municipal Police Training Council and Part 6000 of 9 NYCRR section 11(a). Candidates should, therefore, be aware that a permanent offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of an appropriate physical agility exam, background investigation, psychological exam, medical exam, drug test, etc. Failure to meet the standards may result in your conditional offer of employment being rescinded or in your disqualification. Conviction of a felony will bar appointment.

FUNCTIONS REQUIRING PHYSICAL ABILITY, STRENGTH AND AGILITY: Climb stairs in high rise buildings; carry an extra 20+ pounds of equipment on patrol or on surveillance while walking or on the run; operate a patrol vehicle for a long period of time on patrol or surveillance; walks patrol within assigned areas; break up fights between two or more persons; carry by yourself an immobile body; pull a person out of a vehicle to effect a rescue; subdue physically attacking person/people’ disarm violent armed suspects; search a darkened building or environment for suspects;

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS: Upon hire, individuals must satisfactorily complete the Basic Course for Police Officers as prescribed by the Municipal Police Training Council and required by Section 209-q of General Municipal Law in order to retain permanent status in the position. Title 9 NYCRR Part 6000 governs the Medical and Physical Fitness Standards and Procedures for Police Officer Candidates. These entry level standards require that candidates are to score in the 40th percentile of physical fitness for each test elements listed on the agility test.