PAY and BENEFITS:

PAY SCALE

• DURING GEORGIA POST ACADEMY:
  • $35,046 for trainees with H.S. Diploma or GED
  • $37,446 for trainees with college degree (Bachelor’s or higher)
  • $300 per year of honorable military service (maximum of $1200 annually)
  • SCMPD pays for ALL required training and ALL uniforms / equipment
• PAY INCREASE AFTER COMPLETION OF GEORGIA POST ACADEMY (approx. 11-14 Weeks)
  • $39,230 for newly certified officers with H.S. Diploma or GED
  • $41,630 for newly certified officers with college degree (Bachelor’s or higher)
  • $300 per year of honorable military service (maximum of $1200 annually)
• SIGNING BONUSES FOR PRE-CERTIFIED OFFICERS
  • $800-$2,400 SIGNING BONUSES
  • Eligible to pre-certified, experienced officers
  • SEE LATERAL ENTRIES (Column 2)
• ADVANCED POLICE OFFICER
  • 5% PAY RAISE
  • Eligible after 2 years with a Bachelor’s Degree / 3 years without degree
  • Must meet specific training requirements and performance criteria

EP 2
LATERAL ENTRY

• GENERAL LATERAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
  • POST Certification from ANY State
  • Full-time employment for two continuous years within the last 24 months
  • Must have been employed by a “Full Service Agency” 
    • “Full Service University Police” will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
    • “Full Service” is defined as an agency that responds to calls for service, makes arrests and files criminal cases without the service/help of another law enforcement agency.  
• Law enforcement experience obtained in the following areas IS NOT considered
  • Corrections
  • Military Police
  • District Attorneys Office

• LATERAL ENTRY FOR NON- GEORGIA CERTIFIED OFFICERS
  • If selected, the training process begins with 11-weeks of state mandated academy with daily physical training.
    • Most candidates will attend the Georgia POST Academy located in Savannah.
    • Other academies around the state of Georgia may also be used.
  • Six-weeks of In-Service training at SPD.
  • Assignment to a Certified Police Training Officer for 11-weeks of in-the-field training in a Patrol Division Precinct.
  • After field training, you will begin working solo. Training will continue through evaluations and follow-up training.
  • The probationary period is for the first 12 months of employment with SPD.

• SIGNING BONUSES:
  • • Out-of-State Law Enforcement Experience (qualifying agency of 50 officers plus)
  • • • First paycheck after hire date – $400 (one-time payment)
      • First paycheck after graduating Patrol School  – $400 (one-time payment)
      • First paycheck after completing 1 year of employment – $400 (one-time payment)

• LATERAL ENTRY FOR GEORGIA CERTIFIED OFFICERS
  • If selected, the training process begins with six-weeks of In-Service training at SPD.
  • Assignment to a Certified Police Training Officer for 11-weeks of in the field training in a Patrol Division Precinct.
  • After field training, you will begin working solo. Training will continue through evaluations and follow-up training.
  • The probationary period is for the first 12 months of employment with SPD.

• SIGNING BONUSES:
  • • Georgia POST Certified Officer (qualifying agency of 50 officers plus)
  • • • First paycheck after hire date – $800 (one-time payment)
      • First paycheck after graduating Patrol School  – $800 (one-time payment)
      • First paycheck after completing 1 year of employment – $800 (one-time payment)

BENEFITS/LEAVE

•  EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
  • The City of Savannah provides a number of employee benefits including:
    • Group Medical Insurance
    • Life Insurance
    • Pension Plan
    • Wellness Program
    • Credit Union

In addition, the Savannah Police Department provides all basic equipment including uniforms, body armor, weapon, leather gear, and footwear with an allowance for uniform maintenance.

• VACATION AND HOLIDAY LEAVE
  • City employees earn 10 paid holidays per year. The vacation year runs from January 1 to December 31. Vacation is earned from the date your employment starts but may not be taken during the first six-months of service. Vacation time earned is based upon years of service with the City of Savannah.
    • 1 – 4 Years Service = 12 Days Per Year
    • 5 – 9 Years Service = 14 Days Per Year
    • 10 – 14 Years Service = 18 Days Per Year
    • 15 + Years of Service =  20 Days Per Year

• SICK LEAVE
  • Sick leave is earned at the rate of one day per month. You may accumulate a maximum of 260 days of sick leave. Supervisors routinely assess employee sick leave usage.

•  MILITARY LEAVE
  If you are a member of a National Guard or military reserve unit, you are permitted up to 18 paid days of military leave per year.

• ASSIGNMENT/TRANSFERS TO SPECIALIZED UNITS
  Once you’ve completed two years of continuous sworn service with SPD or have completed one year of continuous sworn service with the department and at least two years of continuous law enforcement service with another law enforcement agency, you will be eligible to apply for any of the department’s specialized assignments, if there is an opening in the Unit desired.

The City of Savannah is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

TESTING:

PHASE 1

• Conducted over approximately 2-4 days
  • Complete Online Application and Upload Documents
    • CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION
• Physical Fitness Assessment
  • Vertical Jump
  • Agility Run Test
  • Sit-up (1 Minute)
  • 300 Meter Run
  • Push Up (1 Minute) 
  • CLICK HERE FOR STANDARD AND REQUIREMENTS
• Oral Board
  • Scheduled at time of post-physical agility exam orientation
• Polygraph Examination
  • Scheduled at time of post-physical agility exam orientation
• Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Testing Examination
  • This is similar to an ACT, SAT, ASSET, CPE, or Accuplacer Test
  • This does not need to be completed in Savannah

 1
PHASE 2

• Performed over approximately 4-8 Weeks – AFTER Completion of Phase 1
  • Background Investigation is completed
    • Ensure you notify the people you used as references that SPD will be contacting them during this phase of your testing process.

PHASE 3

• Conducted over approximately 2-4 days
  • Final Interview for Employment (this may be conducted before Medical Examination)
  • CONDITIONAL Offer of Employment (this does not guarantee employment)
  • Medical Examination
    • Date may be contingent on start of applicant’s hire date
  • Psychological Evaluation
    • You may be required to travel to the Atlanta area
    • You will be notified of the results by Human Resources
  • Fingerprinting

Attention Out-of-Town Applicants

If you live outside the Savannah area, you will need to plan two trips to Savannah and possibly a third to the Atlanta area.

The first trip will be to complete Phase 1 of the testing process. Please plan on being in Savannah as follows:

• Monday testing session – from Sunday evening until Wednesday evening.
• Saturday testing session – from Friday evening until Tuesday evening.

The second trip will be to complete Phase III of the testing/hiring process after successfully passing Phase I and II. The time frame between the completion of Phase I and the beginning of Phase III is approximately 4-8 weeks.

CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION INFO