Your
Career
At Norfolk Police Department
The Norfolk Police Department wants you to be at your best.
Striving to exceed the statewide standard for policing. Norfolk Police Department’s full time training staff, wants their officers to be the best trained officers around. Join the Norfolk Police Department to grow your career and become a better officer.
Training At Norfolk
Salary & Benefits
To learn more about the job requirements and benefits. Click the “Join Today” button at the top of the page.
- While serving as a Police Recruit in the Norfolk Police Department, recruits make $44,396.
- Police Officer starting salary upon successful completion of the academy – $53,942.
- At present, the maximum base salary that may be earned as a police officer is $81,787. Police officers receive a yearly step increase in pay.
- $5,000 sign on bonus upon successful completion of the police academy.
- $12,000 retention bonus is awarded upon successful completion of one year as a police officer.
- Competitive salary.
- Supplemental pay for college degrees, Master Police Officer, Police Training Officer, Specialty Unit & Investigator pay.
- Tuition assistance/reimbursement.
- Military veterans can utilize their GI Bill to attend the police academy through the on-the-job training/apprenticeship category.
The City of Norfolk utilizes the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) for city employees. Click here for additional information on the Virginia Retirement System.
Norfolk Police officers assigned to patrol will work an average of 16 days a month consisting of 12-hour rotating shifts between day and night shift with every other Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off.
The City of Norfolk provides excellent health, dental, and vision plans that are available for police officers and their eligible family members. The City of Norfolk contributes to all plans.
Norfolk Police Officers receive 96 hours of Annual Leave, 96 hours of Sick Leave, 1 day of Birthday Leave, 1 day of Diversity Leave, holiday pay and leave: 13 holidays per year. 2 Wellness Days of leave.
Active duty / Reserve duty personnel receive 15 days of Military Leave per year.
Career Growth
Police Recruit
The first step in the career ladder with the Norfolk Police Department is Police Recruit. It is the entry-level classification given to all NPD officers upon entering the Police Academy. For six months in the Police Academy, officers are taught criminal law, human relations, and report writing. In addition, they are trained in tactics, firearms, and driving. Physical fitness and self-defense play a big part in Academy training.
After graduating from the Police Academy, a Police Officer is assigned to a geographic patrol division within the City of Norfolk where they must utilize all the knowledge and tactics learned in the Academy. They are placed under a Police Training Officer for the next three months for additional hands-on training. Once this is complete, they are “cut loose” to serve the citizens of Norfolk as a Police Officer.
Patrol
All NPD 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 the backbone of the NPD. NPD is challenging and rewarding. No day in patrol is ever the same, “Today will be different”.
A Police Officer assigned to a patrol unit performs basic duties such as: responding to the scene of a crime or an accident; interviewing suspects and witnesses; writing crime reports; responding to radio calls; monitoring any suspicious activity of ongoing crimes; coordinating vehicular traffic; visiting open businesses such as banks, markets, department stores, and service stations to establish a rapport with owners; booking suspects and evidence and transporting them to the appropriate Police Department facility; responding to citizens’ and visitors’ questions; and performing numerous other activities in support of community policing.
Specialized Assignments
There are many different career paths in the Norfolk Police Department. These are specialized positions, like Special Operations Team (SOT), Traffic/Motorcycle Unit, Harbor Patrol/Divers, Beach Officers, Detectives, Vice & Narcotics Investigators, Public Information Officers, K-9 Units, Forensics and Bike Officers to name a few. Most of these require specialized training which we provide.
Career Ladder
You can choose to remain a police officer and promote to Master Police Officer and explore field operations and different specialty units throughout your career, or you can promote from Police Officer to Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Assistant Chief, Deputy Chief and finally Chief of Police.
Grow your career by learning new skills.
For many officers, one of the best rewards of working in a department as big as the Norfolk Police Department (NPD) is the fact that they can do many jobs during the course of their career. It is possible to move from division to division, and to learn new skills of the job.
Utilize the training you received in the military to be a better officer.
Whether you have served or are currently serving. The Norfolk Police Department sees the value in officers with military experience and what they can bring to the department and the community. Continue serving by helping your community stay safe.Military At Norfolk
Veteran’s Education Benefits
This institution is approved to offer GI Bill educational benefits by the Virginia State Approving Agency.
All veterans interested in using their GI Bill benefits must fill out the paperwork provided by the School Certifying Official within 14 calendar days of the start date of the academy. Paperwork will be processed and forwarded to the VA for approval/denial. You should receive a letter from the VA with your approval/denial.
The Norfolk Basic Police Academy does not decide if you are eligible to receive benefits. The Virginia State Approving Agency (SAA) is the approving authority of education and training programs for Virginia. Their office investigates complaints of GI Bill beneficiaries. While most complaints should initially follow the school grievance policy, if the situation cannot be resolved at the school, the beneficiary should contact their office via email saa@dvs.virginia.gov.
Any changes to your information or student status should be reported to the School Certifying Official within 14 calendar days. Any questions regarding your Veteran’s Education benefits should be directed to the School Certifying Official.
Military veterans can utilize their GI Bill to attend the police academy through the on-the-job training/apprenticeship category.
Lateral Officers
Looking to jumpstart your career with a department that wants you to grow? Join the Norfolk Police Department and take control of your career while serving a great community.
Virginia holds out of state lateral police academies throughout the year. This academy is a “relaxed” atmosphere and is required by all departments in Virginia.
Eligibility requirements include:
● Must have at least 3 years/36 months continuous law enforcement experience commensurate with those of a Virginia law enforcement officer (i.e. respond to calls for service, take reports of crime, conduct traffic stops, issue summons, make arrests).
● Be out of law enforcement employment for less than 24 months.
● Must be in good standing with former employers.
● Must meet all requirements of 15.2-1705 Code of Virginia
