Park Police Officer Trainee

New York State Park Police Officer

The New York State Park Police are highly trained and dedicated to helping people and protecting the state's natural and historic treasures. If you're interested in a rewarding career in law enforcement, consider becoming a New York State Park Police Officer. Our team works in some of the most beautiful places in the state!

Recruitment for the 2026 Park Police Academy begins now! We will be accepting applications for the Park Police Officer Trainee position through February 18, 2026.

To be considered for a Park Police Officer Trainee position, please submit the following documents to : PPOCareers@parks.ny.gov.

NYS Parks Police Employment Application Part 1

A copy of your DD-214 (if applicable)

Official college transcripts must be sent electronically to : PPOtranscripts@parks.ny.gov directly from your college or from a credential request service like Parchment.

After applying, if you meet the requirements and provide all documentation listed above, you will be contacted with an invitation to the agility testing to be held in April / May 2026.

Following a successful agility test, candidates will move on to the psychological and physical / medical testing.

Travel is required for certain steps in the hiring process.

About the State Park Police :

Do you have what it takes to become a New York State Park Police Officer? Looking for a career with variety? Apply to be a New York State Park Police Officer to serve your state, protect our visitors, and preserve our natural resources.

A Day in the Life Serve. Protect. Preserve.

The State Park Police operate in a wide variety of locations from crowded urban areas within New York City to popular ocean beaches to vast natural areas. On a typical day, a State Park Police Officer may handle very large crowds; assist park users; search for and rescue missing persons; make arrests; conduct criminal and non-criminal investigations; and provide emergency services wherever and whenever they are needed. Special services the State Park Police also offer include marine law enforcement and education duties on New York waterways, snowmobile enforcement and education, and high angle and swift water rescue teams.

Starting Salary :

First 6 months of traineeship - $61,587 (at the residential academy)

Second 6 months of traineeship - $63,192 - $82,525 (rate will be based on what county the Park Police Officer Trainee is assigned to for field training after the 6-month residential academy)

After traineeship is complete (1 year) - $73,796 - $93,129

To see a full Salary Chart for the career of a Park Police Officer, visit :

Additional Geographic Pay :

Officers who work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester counties will receive an additional $1,762 annual downstate adjustment.

In addition to the downstate adjustment, Police who work in the following locations will receive an additional supplemental local pay in the following amounts : the counties of Orange, Putnam, and Dutchess counties - $1,467; the five boroughs of New York City, Rockland, and Westchester counties - $2,204; and Nassau and Suffolk counties - $2,571.

Officers who work in the Mid-Hudson region (Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, and Westchester counties) or Downstate region (Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, or Suffolk counties) are eligible for an additional $15,000 in geographic pay differentials.

BENEFITS :

Accrue 13-24 vacation days, 12 holidays, 5 personal days, and 13 sick days each year.

Excellent health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.

Salaries do not include overtime.

Retirement is at half pay after 20 years.

Promotional opportunities are available by competitive examination processes.

All uniforms and equipment are provided.

Learn more about salary and benefits here :

Minimum Qualifications :

To read more about the minimum qualifications, please visit :

Age Requirements :

Candidates must be at least 20 years of age at time of hire. Candidates must not have passed their 43rd birthday by October 1, 2026. Time spent on military duty or on terminal leave, not exceeding a total of six (6) years, shall be subtracted from your age if you have passed your 43rd birthday.

Education / Experience Requirements :

Education Requirement Must meet education requirements by June 30, 2026, if applicable.

Experience Requirement Must have required experience by February 18, 2026, if applicable.

Either 1 : 60 college semester credit hours; or 2 : two years of active United States military service with an honorable discharge or under conditions in the New York State Restoration of Honor Act; or 3 : four years of United States military reserve or any state National Guard service; or 4 : two years of full-time of experience as a police officer within New York State with a valid New York State Municipal Police Training Course certification; or 5 : two years of full-time of experience as a peace officer within New York State with a valid a New York State Municipal Police Training Course certification.

30 college semester credit hours can substitute for one year of the required experience.

In the addition to the above, you must have a high school diploma, high school equivalency diploma issued by a recognized educational authority, or a USAFI GED high school level diploma.

Additional Requirements :

Must be a United States citizen and a New York State resident at the time of appointment and maintain a New York State residency after appointment. Must hold a valid New York State Driver license at time of appointment and maintain it after appointment as a term and condition of employment.

Once the application and documentation has been submitted and processed, qualified candidates will be invited to participate in the next steps of the evaluation process, which include :

Travel is required for certain steps in the hiring process.

Agility Performance Test

Background investigation

Medical examination, after a conditional offer of employment, after a conditional offer of employment.

Visual acuity should be correctable to better than or equal to 20 / 30 (Snellen) in each eye; if correction is required, distant visual acuity should not be less than 20 / 100 without correction in each eye.

Drug testing. Cannabis use is not permitted for employees in this title.

See the Civil Service Physical / Medical Requirements Form (pdf) - https : / / parks.ny.gov / sites / default / files / CivilServicePhysicalMedicalRequirements.pdf.

Psychological examination

Civil Service written examination

To learn more about next steps in the evaluation and hiring process visit :

Those who are selected for hire will start as Park Police Officer Trainees, Grade 13 and will :

Be enrolled in a six-month residential police academy located in Rensselaerville, NY.

Be assigned to a Park Police Zone within New York State upon graduation.

Complete Field Training and the remaining 6 months of their probationary period.

After successfully completing the traineeship, candidates will advance to Park Police Officer Grade 14.

If you have any questions, please contact Division Headquarters at PPOCareers@parks.ny.gov.