Police Officer (New Recruits and Laterals) - 03 / 27 / 2026 Testing Date

Salary : $56,825.60 Annually

Location : Springfield, MO

Job Type : Full Time

Job Number : 032726

Department : Police

Opening Date : 11 / 28 / 2025

Closing Date : 3 / 20 / 2026 11 : 59 PM Central

Description

This job posting is for our March 27th testing date and may qualify you for the September 2026 academy.

If you are interested in applying for a testing date on April 17th, May 15th, or June 12th for the September 2026 academy contact Faith Teycer at or call 417-864-1914.

The Springfield Police Department is seeking to hire passionate new officers to make a positive impact in the Southwest Missouri area. Our department has one of the best training programs in the area, along with an abundance of diverse specialized units to experience, and an excellent benefits package

We are looking for people who are dedicated and motivated to serve. Individuals who believe in constitutional, community-engaged policing and who are committed to protecting the rights of all people.

As a Springfield Police Recruit, you'll have received quality training through the Academy to prepare you for the position of Police Officer. After graduating the Academy, you will start off in patrol, responding to emergency and non-emergency calls for service and promoting the safety of the public and of fellow police officers. You will be a proactive member of our Department, engaging in community-oriented policing, traffic enforcement, and on occasion, special detail. SPD is one of the best agencies in Missouri for specialized assignments and promotional opportunities.

Through our 6-month paid Police Academy, as a Police Recruit you will develop skills to :

• Understand and enforce the law in order to provide quality service and assist in our mission to reduce crime within the City of Springfield
• Use modern policing methods to solve problems in our community while treating people fairly and with a helpful attitude
• Hold yourself and others around you accountable using sound moral principles that earn the public trust, respect, and confidence of the community
• Effectively communicate with citizens through active listening, compassion, and empathy

As a Lateral hire, you will have a shortened 1-month academy to learn about Springfield's specific policies and procedures. Read more about our Lateral Program here

Selection Process

Applicants must successfully complete the following steps in the hiring process before being hired as a Springfield Police Recruit and go through our Police Academy. To learn about the hiring process here.

We offer Testing and Relocation Assistance!

Testing

To help with costs incurred from traveling to participate in entry testing, travel vouchers are provided.

Distance Traveled Travel Assistance Provided 50-150 miles$50 travel voucher150 miles or more$125 travel voucher

and 1 overnight hotel accommodation

Follow-up Testing and Post Offer

During the post-offer phase of the Officer selection process, on-site testing is required such as a polygraph and psychological examination. Testing is coordinated and accommodations are made so that the least amount of travel is required of our candidates. Additional assistance is available to help with costs incurred for both Police Recruits and Lateral Officer candidates. Distance traveled Travel Assistance Provided 150 miles or more$125 travel voucher per visit

and 1 overnight hotel accommodation50-150 miles$50 travel voucher per visit

Relocation

We love welcoming new Officers to our wonderful community. To make things easier, we offer relocation reimbursement. This benefit is offered to both new Recruits and Lateral Officer candidates. Distance Traveled Reimbursement Amount 50-150 milesUp to $1,000150-300 milesUp to $3,000300 miles or moreUp to $5,000

This application must be submitted to determine your eligibility to take the written exam. If you've read through this information and you're not ready to apply, consider getting more information by talking to a recruiter

To learn more about the Springfield Police Department follow us Instagram and Facebook .

Qualifications and Requirements

Experience, Education, and Training

Police Recruit

AND

PREFERRED

Additional Requirements

Police Officer (Lateral) Requirements

In addition to the requirements listed above, lateral candidates must possess the following :

AND

Functions

For more information on essential functions and other requirements for Police Recruit, please see the

For more information on essential functions and other requirements for Police Officer, please see the

Other Requirements

Testing & Selection Procedure Steps

Interviews will be scheduled immediately following the written exam for the following week

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability and Vet

The City of Springfield promotes equal employment opportunities to all without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability, or other legally protected status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

Individuals with disabilities who believe they will need an accommodation to undergo any part of the interview, examination, or pre-employment process, should request a reasonable accommodation in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act prior to the testing or appointment. Requests should be requested by contacting City of Springfield Human Resources by phone, 417-864-1607, or in person at the Municipal Busch Building, 840 Boonville Ave. Springfield, MO 65802.

Proof of United States Citizenship / Authorization to Work in the United States as established by the Immigration Reform Act of 1986 is a condition of employment. We are committed to a drug-free workplace. Pre-employment drug testing is required.

All interested candidates MUST complete the City of Springfield on-line application in its entirety. The candidate profile must include all employment history with accurate and complete information prior to submission. Resumes alone will not be accepted as the application, but they may be submitted as supplemental documentation.

Find out more about City of Springfield employee benefits through the following link :

01

The following questions are specific to the position you are applying for, and must be completed accurately. The information you provide below must be reflected in the experience, education, or volunteer work provided in your application above. A response of 'see resume' will not be accepted.

02

Do you have a High School Diploma or GED?

03

Do you have at least 30 college credit hours from a regionally accredited college or university?

04

How many years of active duty, national guard or armed forces reserves military experience do you possess?

05

Do you possess a Missouri POST Class A certification?

06

How many years of experience do you have as a Police Services Representative, Traffic Services Officer or 911 Dispatcher?

07

Do you possess 3 years of expereince within the last 5 years in one of the following :

08

Do you possess a valid driver's license?

09

Do you have at least 2 years of full-time, sworn police experience within the last five years, with primary duties including : responding to calls for service, conducting preliminary and / or follow-up investigations of crimes, responding to traffic accidents, and apprehending, detaining and arresting suspects?

10

Have you previously applied for the Police Recruit or Police Officer position with the Springfield Police Department?

11

Have you participated in Springfield Police Officer testing in the past (written, physical agility, or interview)?

12

Are you a U.S. Citizen?

13

Have you ever been convicted of or plead guilty to a felony offense?

14

If yes, please provide detailed information regarding the crime(s), including offense and date convicted.

15

Have you ever been convicted of or plead guilty to a misdemeanor domestic violence offense?

16

If yes, please provide detailed information regarding the crime(s), including offense and date convicted.

17

Have you received a DWI, DUI, or BAC conviction within the past 3 years?

18

How many DWI, DUI, or BAC convictions have you received in your life?

19

Have you been at fault in more than one (1) traffic crash within the past 12 months?

20

If you have ever been a Police Officer, do you have a Giglio or Brady file, or have you been questioned about your ability as a witness?

21

Do you have any face, head or neck tattoos?

22

If you have any tattoos, please use the space below to describe each tattoo in detail, as well as where the tattoo is located. If you do not have any tattoos, please type 'N / A'.

23

For the purpose of responding to the following questions, "illegal drugs" includes the unauthorized or illegal use of prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs; it also includes the illegal use of any other substance for the purpose of getting "high."

Your responses should include - but not be limited to - your use of any of the following :

At any point within your lifetime, have you used any drug(s) as indicated above?

24

If you answered 'YES' to the above question, give details including drug(s) used, most recent date used, and circumstances. If you answered 'NO', please enter 'N / A'.

25

In order to be invited to Police Officer testing, you may need to submit documentation showing you meet the minimum qualifications for the position, such as unofficial transcripts, DD214, Class A POST certificate, etc. Please see the job posting for the minimum qualifications. This must be sent in with your application or shortly following the submission of your application to the email address below. Any documents you will submit with your background questionnaire are separate from the documents needed here with your application. Please email your documents to faith.teycer@springfieldmo.gov .

Please choose an option below that best reflects how you will show you meet the minimum qualifications.

26

Are you applying for our regular or lateral academy?

27

Were you referred by a current City employee to apply for this position?

28

If yes, please state the full name of the City employee who referred you to this position.

Required Question