The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) offers aspiring police officers the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people, by solving problems, responding to a wide array of critical concerns and directly helping people.

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Why Become a Part of the IMPD?

IMPD offers stellar opportunities to those who want to serve this wonderful city. You will become a part of an amazing team that allows you to shape your own career. You will be given access to repeated opportunities for advancement and training. You will also get competitive salary and benefits, including an amazing pension plan. You can join the IMPD in various capacities, such as the patrol team, SWAT and police officer etc.
If all of this has convinced you to become a part of this amazing team, you might want to continue reading to find out how to become a police officer in Indianapolis.

Requirements to Become a Police Officer in Indianapolis

The initial requirements you need to meet in order to join the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) include the following:

  • Candidate must be a citizen of the US
  • Candidate must be at least 21 years of age and not over 40 years old
  • Candidate should not have ever been arrested or charged with a felony
  • Candidate must have at least a high school diploma or a GED
  • Candidate must not have a misdemeanor conviction of domestic violence
  • Candidate must have a valid driver’s license from their state of residence
  • Candidate must not have been dishonorably discharged from the military
  • Candidate must pass a drug screening test
  • Candidate must be in compliance with the body art policy of the IMPD

Steps to Become a Police Officer in Indianapolis

Once you have satisfied the above mentioned minimum requirements, you may continue with the actual hiring process, which would involve the following steps:

Step 1: Preliminary Application
Step 2: Written Test
Step 3: Oral Board Interview
Step 4: Physical Agility Test
Step 5: Polygraph Exam
Step 6: Background Investigation
Step 7: Medical Tests
Step 8: Psychological Exam
Step 9: Drug Screening
Step 10: Board Approvals

After these steps have been successfully cleared, the candidate then moves on to the training academy. They will be sworn in as recruit officers and will enter the IMPD Law Enforcement Training Academy. The training academy is a state-certified center that provides instruction on criminal justice, police skills and human behavior. Candidates are required to complete 932 hours of training in a 24-week time period. The academy also involves physical courses.

How Much Does a Police Officer Make in Indianapolis?

According to the 2019 Salary Schedule by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, a 1st Year Patrolman (Recruit) has a annual base salary of $51,000. A 2nd Year Patrolman (Probationary) has a salary of $59,500 annual and a 3rd Year Patrolman has a salary of $70,139. In addition to this base salary, additional pay is offered in the form of various allowances and benefits.