Employment Information

            The Falmouth Police Department is an equal opportunity employer that has a sworn staff of 68 full-time officers.  The Department responds to approximately 22,000 incidents per year.           

The Falmouth Police Department uses the Massachusetts Civil Service process to hire its police officers.  Prospective applicants must first take and pass a competitive written exam given by the Massachusetts Department of Human Resources.  Applicants for the exam must apply at the Massachusetts Department of Human Resources at One Ashburton Place, Room 303, Boston, Ma.  02108-1515.  Applications may also be obtained at the Falmouth Police Department or Falmouth Town Hall.

 

The Falmouth Police Department complies with the Massachusetts Civil Service laws whereby residents of the Town of Falmouth who take and pass the Entry Level Police Examination will appear first on any eligibility list requested by the Department and will be given preference when the hiring process is conducted.

 

Upon passing the written state exam all applicants are placed on an eligibility list determined by the Human Resources Division.  Eligible persons will be required to complete a Falmouth Police Employment Application.  Candidates for employment will be subjected to a thorough background investigation, psychological testing, physical examination, physical abilities test, reference check and interview.  Upon completion of the stated process the Chief of Police will make his recommendation(s) to the Town Administrator who will then make appointment(s) of the selected candidate(s) to the Falmouth Police Department. 

The Falmouth Police Department seeks highly motivated individuals with strong verbal and interpersonal skills. 

         Training 

Newly appointed officers will attend a Police Academy sponsored by the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Council.  Upon successful  completion of the training academy the new officers will receive additional training through the Falmouth Police Department Field Training Program. 

Salary

Entry-level salary for a police officer as of July 01, 2009 is $45,635.20 per year.  Top step patrolman earn $52,041.60 per year. 

Benefits

  • Health Benefit Program

  • 15 Sick Days per Year

  • Night Differential Pay

  • Quinn Bill (Education Bonus)

  • Uniform Allowance

  • 11 Holidays

  • 10 Vacation days after one year of employment 

 Minimum Requirements

  • 21 Years of Age, but younger than age 32 (up to age 36 as a qualified veteran)

  • High School Diploma or GED equivalent

  • Possess a valid Massachusetts Drivers License

  • Be able to qualify for a Massachusetts License to Carry Firearms

  • Must not have been convicted of a felony

  • United States Citizen

  • Honorable Discharge from the Armed Forces, if applicable

A rewarding career with the Falmouth Police Department…

Patrol

All Falmouth Police Officers start in patrol. While many Officers will choose to remain in patrol, others put in for promotions or for transfer to specialized divisions after a few years in the field. Patrol is the primary provider of police services to the community and is considered to be the backbone of the police department. No day in patrol is ever the same.

Patrol officers investigate crimes, handle traffic enforcement, make arrests, patrol the community to make it safer, work with the community to solve problems, conduct community meetings, mediate disputes, investigate traffic crashes, and provide general police services.

Switching Jobs

Many Police Officers work several different specialized assignments during the course of their careers. All Officers who have finished their probationary period are eligible to apply for specialized assignments. Although some specialties, like detective and Special Response Team operator are competitive, and will not take every applicant, there are many different jobs to choose from within the department.

Specialized Assignments

There are over 10 different specialty assignments within the Falmouth Police Department. Most are part-time and include jobs like field training officer, narcotics detective, motorcycle officer, bicycle officer, community liaison officer, defensive tactics instructor, firearms instructor, sexual assault investigator, arson investigator, elder affairs officer, traffic crash reconstruction officer, ATV officer, child safety seat technician, honor guard officer, and Special Reaction Team operator. Most of these positions will require specialized training.  

Full-time specialty assignments are generally within the Special Services Division as a detective. Detectives conduct special and general follow-up investigative work. Examples of specialty assignments within the Special Services Division include narcotics, juvenile crimes, court officer, school resource officer, family violence investigations, internal affairs, robbery investigations, and homicide investigations.

Promotions

Sergeants - Most Sergeants serve as field supervisors. Promotional candidates must demonstrate their qualifications in this area. There are also administrative and specialized assignments for Sergeants. 

 

This page last updated on Monday, June 14, 2010

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