Police Officer Trainee at City of Chesapeake Human Resources – Chesapeake, Virginia

$55,266* (while attending the Chesapeake Law Enforcement Training Academy)
$59,000* base pay upon successful completion of the approximately 6-month Chesapeake Law Enforcement Training Academy:
$600 annual stipend ($25 per pay period) for possessing an Associate’s Degree
$1,000 annual stipend ($41.67) per pay period) for possessing a Bachelor’s Degree (*subject to change)

June 22, 2026, 83rd SESSION ACADEMY HIRING PROCESS:

Join us at the forefront of community service and protection! At the Chesapeake Police Department, we’re not just looking for employees—we’re seeking passionate individuals committed to making a real difference. As a Chesapeake Police Officer, you’ll have experiences where every day presents new challenges and opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Why Choose Us:

• Diverse Responsibilities: From safeguarding life and property to investigating crimes, our officers engage in a wide range of meaningful duties that contribute to the safety and well-being of our community.

• Comprehensive Training: Our Chesapeake Law Enforcement Training Academy offers paid training and a wealth of resources to ensure you’re fully prepared to excel in your role, even if you have no prior experience in law enforcement or security.

• Supportive Environment: We foster an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone’s unique backgrounds and perspectives are valued. We believe diversity strengthens our team and enhances our ability to serve the community effectively.

• Work-Life Balance: We understand the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Our scheduling options and commitment to employee well-being ensure you have time to recharge and enjoy life outside of work.

As a Chesapeake Police Officer, you’ll play a vital role in engaging with and protecting our community, enforcing laws, and investigating crimes. You’ll engage in surveillance, law enforcement activities, apprehension, and reporting, adhering to established procedures to ensure the safety and security of all residents and visitors.

Commitment to Service:
Our commitment to serving the community is unwavering. We operate on a 24-hour basis, providing around-the-clock service to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors. This dedication requires officers to work on rotating schedules, including weekends, holidays, and sometimes paid overtime as needed to meet operational demands.

Join Our Team:
If you’re ready to join a team dedicated to service, diversity, and making a positive impact, we invite you to apply and begin a rewarding career with the Chesapeake Police Department.

TYPICAL TASKS:

• Conducts routine patrols in residential and business areas; maintains contact with businesses and residents to establish good relations.

• Responds to calls for police service and responds to crimes, domestic disputes, disturbances, disputes among neighbors, juveniles, or other incidents; apprehends lawbreakers as necessary; conducts follow-up investigations of crimes and other incidents; conducts surveillance of areas for suspected or potential criminal activity.

• Provides information and/or assistance to the public, informing citizens of services in the community, or providing referrals to other city, county, or state agencies.

• Maintains the peace and safety of the community by quelling public disturbances and maintaining order at group functions.

• Provides for the safe and convenient flow of traffic and pedestrians within the community, investigates traffic accidents, enforces traffic violations, promotes vehicular and pedestrian safety, reports unsafe road conditions, and conducts DUI or other investigations.

• Issues civil or legal documents such as traffic citations; prepares written reports, forms, and other documents as required; may testify in civil and criminal court proceedings or give depositions.

• Attends training meetings, in-service training, and technical or professional classes, seminars, or conferences to improve technical or professional skills.

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

• Take-Home Vehicle for Personal and Official Use

• Uniforms and Equipment

• Provided Free 24/7 Access to 7 Private Chesapeake PD Gyms

• Paid Specialized Training Opportunities (in-house and out-of-town)

• Paid Annual Leave (up to 37 days per year)

• Paid Sick Leave (up to 12 days per year)

• Paid Military Leave (up to 21 days per year)

• Funeral Leave (up to 3 days for the death of certain family members)

• Family and Medical Leave (time off for the birth or adoption of a child, a serious health condition, or to care for a family member with a serious health condition)

• The City observes the same paid holidays and additional time off as the State of Virginia.

• Health and Wellness Incentives

• Tuition Reimbursement Program

• Virginia Retirement System Plan

• Deferred Compensation

• Life Insurance

• Disability Insurance

• Long-Term Care Insurance

• Health Insurance

• Dental Insurance

• Vision Insurance Dependent

• Care Flexible Spending Account

• Medical Care Flexible Spending Account

• Health Savings Account

• Legal Service Plan Additional

• Optional Life Insurance Additional

• Optional Long-Term Care Insurance

• All City Employee Benefits

Required Qualifications | VOCATIONAL/EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT:
-Requires high school diploma or GED.

SPECIAL CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES:
-Requires a valid driver’s license and driving record in compliance with the City Driving Standards. Special skills or equipment certification will be required.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
This job classification provides service to the community on a 24-hour basis. In order to accommodate the 24-hour service, this job classification is required to work rotating schedules, which include working weekends and holidays, and may involve work in excess of regularly scheduled hours when required by operational necessity.

Applicant Must:

• Be a United States Citizen;

• Be at least 19 and a half years old at the time of application.

• Be a high school graduate or possess a GED/HSE.

• Possess a valid motor vehicle operator’s license with an acceptable driving record in accordance with City Driving Standards.

AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFYING FACTORS: Disqualification factors from the date of the application include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Convicted of, plead guilty to, or no contest to any felony.

• Convicted of, plead guilty to, or no contest to a misdemeanor involving acts of moral turpitude (lying, cheating, and stealing).

• Convicted of, plead guilty to, or no contest to a misdemeanor sex offense.

• Convicted of, plead guilty to, or no contest to domestic assault.

• Conviction of possession, manufacture, and/or distribution of illegal drugs, excluding possession of marijuana or any cannabis derivative.

• •Use of Cocaine, LSD, PCP, or any type of hallucinogenic drug in the last five years. (Subject to ADA guidelines)

• Dishonorable discharge, Bad conduct/Misconduct discharge, and Other than Honorable discharges from military service. General and Uncharacterized discharges from military service will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

• Untruthfulness or the withholding of pertinent information during any phase of the application process (e.g. application, interview, paperwork).

• Cheating on any examination or testing associated with the process.

• Firearm Eligibility Requirement: Applicants must be eligible to obtain a Virginia Concealed Handgun Permit in accordance with §18.2-308.09 and 18 USC §922. Any disqualifying factors under this statute will result in removal from the hiring process.

• No more than two convictions involving any moving violation within the last twelve months.

• No violations or convictions that indicate the valid driver’s license is/was denied, suspended or revoked during the past two years for any reason other than failure to pay fines or other non-drug or alcohol related administrative reason(s).

• No drug or alcohol related driving convictions within the past three years.

• No more than one conviction of reckless driving or driving 20 or more miles over the speed limit within the past three years.

• Convictions which are so egregious that they could be deemed negligent in the City’s duties to the public may be addressed separately through the City’s Disciplinary Policy or may result in disqualification of an applicant, intern, or volunteer. The date of conviction and anticipated date of hire will be used when determining eligibility under this policy.

• Empathy and Sensitivity: Ability to empathize and connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds, fostering trust and understanding in challenging situations.

• Effective Communicator: Exceptional communication skills, including active listening and clear articulation, enabling positive interactions with diverse community members and fostering trust and collaboration within the team.

• Multilingual Skills: Proficiency in a second language commonly spoken in our diverse community, empowering effective communication with a broader range of residents.

• Community Engagement: Prior experience or involvement in community engagement initiatives, outreach programs, or volunteer work.

• Professional Development: Eagerness to engage in ongoing professional development opportunities focused on providing fair and impartial police services.

• Collaborative Team Player: Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative spirit, contributing positively to a diverse team environment.

• Physical Fitness: Willing to improve physical fitness and stamina, ensuring the ability to effectively perform law enforcement duties and maintain safety for oneself and others, regardless of gender.

ALL APPLICANTS FOR THIS POSITION ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING PHYSICAL ABILITY TEST (PAT): You may be contacted to register for a testing date AFTER your online application has been reviewed.

The PERSONAL HISTORY STATEMENT (PHS) will be emailed to you from the recruiter, allowing you to complete it online. Alternatively, you can print the form and fill it out by hand. Please submit the completed PHS either by mail, emailed to cpdrecruiting@cityofchesapeake.net or through hand delivery to the Chesapeake Police Headquarters.

304 Albemarle Dr.
Chesapeake, VA 23322
Attn: Backgrounds Investigations Unit

The PATs are primarily held at the Chesapeake Law Enforcement Training Academy (CLETA), on various Saturday mornings, at 8:00 AM.

PAT OBSTACLE COURSE: A timed (1:36 minutes or less) 150-yard course to measure stamina and cardiovascular fitness in completing various job-related physical skills. Trainee Applicants must make two bonified attempts at the wall, if the applicant cannot get over the wall after the two attempts, they can bypass the wall as directed by the proctor.
Watch Video!

*Applicants must PASS the Police Obstacle Course (within two (2) attempts). If an applicant is unable to pass on the initial day of testing, they can schedule a retest on a later date.

Physical Performance Testing:

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Visit: https://flow.page/joincpd

Email: CPDrecruiting@cityofchesapeake.net

Text “JoinCPDnow” to 757-280-2779 to connect with our recruiter.

Drug Screening: MARIJUANA
In accordance with City policy, this position is deemed safety sensitive. As such, applicants for this position are subject to pre-employment drug/alcohol testing after receiving a conditional offer of employment and may also be subject to random testing. This drug test includes testing for marijuana. Generally, a positive test result for marijuana, alcohol, or other controlled substances will disqualify an applicant from employment. Possession of a medical marijuana license will not excuse an applicant from the testing process or the consequences of testing positive for marijuana.