Police Officer (New Recruits and Laterals) Testing Date

Springfield, VT - USA

Monthly Salary: Not Disclosed

Posted on: 10-11-2025

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Description

This job posting is for our February 20th testing date and may qualify you for the September 2026 academy.

If you are interested in applying for a testing date on March 20th April 17th May 15th or June 12th for the September 2026 academy contact Karissa Sieloff ator call .

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 excellentbenefits 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 youll 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 Springfields specific policies and procedures. Read more about our Lateral Programhere.

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.

Written Exam
Physical Agility Test
Interview
Background Investigation
Drug Screen*
Polygraph*
Psychological Evaluation*
Medical Examination*

*These examinations are completed after a conditional job offer is accepted.

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 voucher
150 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 forboth Police Recruits and Lateral Officer candidates.

Distance traveled	Travel Assistance Provided
150 miles or more	$125 travel voucher per visit and 1 overnight hotel accommodation
50-150 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 miles	Up to $1000
150-300 miles	Up to $3000
300 miles or more	Up to $5000

This application must be submitted to determine your eligibility to take the written exam. If youve read through this information and youre 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

Must be a high school graduate or have a G.E.D.

AND ONE of the following:

30 semester credit hours from an accredited college or university;
Class A POST certified peace officer or currently enrolled in a Class A POST program with successful passing of POST exam within six months of application deadline;
Two (2) years of active duty military service with an honorable discharge;
Four (4) years of honorable military service in national guard or armed forces reserves;
Three (3) years of full-time successful ownership and management of a business within the last five (5) years
Three (3) years of full-time employment as a correctional or detention officer within the last five (5) years;
Three (3) years of full-time employment as a licensed professional security or private security contractor within the last five (5) years
Three (3) years of full-time employment working in the professional trade industry within the last five (5) years
Three (3) years of full-time employment in the last five (5) years providing paraprofessional work experience to the public or community in one of the following fields: social services health care services and/or education;
Two (2) years of experience as a Police Service Representative;
Two (2) years of experience as a Traffic Services Officer;
Two (2) years of experience as a 911 dispatcher and/or telecommunicator.

PREFERRED

Law enforcement experience and/or education preferred but not required.

Additional Requirements

U.S. Citizen
21 years of age at commission
Excellent physical condition
No felony convictions
No conviction for domestic assault
No more than one DWI conviction; and no DWI conviction in the past three years
May not have two (2) moving violations from separate incidents within the past twelve months or have been at fault in more than one (1) traffic crash/accident during the past twelve (12) months
Meet vision and hearing standards
No objectionable tattoos and no head face or neck tattoos.

Police Officer (Lateral) Requirements
In addition to the requirements listed above lateral candidates must possess the following:

A MO POST Class A license (if candidate does not possess a MO POST Class A license but possesses law enforcement certification through another state he/she may participate in the testing process while seeking reciprocity through MO POST)

AND

A minimum of two (2) years full time sworn police experience in any state within the last five (5) years. Police experience must include the primary duties of responding to calls for service conducting preliminary and/or follow-up investigations of crimes responding to traffic accidents and apprehending detaining and arresting suspects.

Functions

For more information on essential functions and other requirements for Police Recruit please see the job description.

For more information on essential functions and other requirements for Police Officer please see the job description.

Other Requirements

Testing & Selection Procedure Steps

Submit application
- Be sure to attach email () fax or drop off documents showing you meet the minimum requirements. These can be unofficial copies.
Receive email notification with instructions to schedule for written exam.
Schedule for written exam February 20 2026.
Bring photo ID with you on day of testing.
Complete the written exam and physical agility test.
- Interviews will be scheduled immediately following the written exam for the following week
Go to scheduled interview.
Background investigation will begin.
Once the background investigation is completed a conditional job offer can be made.
The final steps after a conditional job offer is made include a drug test medical exam psychological evaluation and polygraph before the job offer is confirmed.

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 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 applicationbut they may be submitted as supplemental documentation.

Required Experience:

Unclear Seniority

DescriptionThis job posting is for our February 20th testing date and may qualify you for the September 2026 academy.If you are interested in applying for a testing date on March 20th April 17th May 15th or June 12th for the September 2026 academy contact Karissa Sieloff ator call .The Springfield P...