Police Officers

image of police officers and police vehicles
County of Hawaii Jobs

Hawaiʻi County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

As part of our recruitment efforts to make it easier for individuals to serve as police officers, the Hawai‘i Police Department (HPD) has opened continuous recruitment effective immediately.

Previously, those interested in becoming a police officer could only apply twice a year during a ten-day application window.

The Police Officer I (Recruit) continuous open-competitive recruitment is currently open as of December 3, 2023.

Interested applicants can apply here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/countyhawaii/.

“In addition, we will soon begin hiring new officers early through a pilot program with the County,” says Chief Ben Moszkowicz. “Once potential new officers have completed the background check, polygraph, psychological, and medical aspects of the process and are ready to be hired, we will be extending job offers, with recruits officially starting their one-year probation when they start the academy.

“This is different than before, when new recruits used to have to wait until a recruit class started, sometimes several months after they applied. By using this early-hire model, we hope to get people acclimated to the department’s culture, help them to find a mentor in the department, and get them physically working out with the existing recruit classes. Then, their one-year probation period will begin when the recruit class starts.

“We’ll also be increasing the number of recruit academy classes per year,” adds Chief Moszkowicz. “Once the department has between 10 and 20 candidates to fill a recruit class, roughly every four months, police officer recruits will undertake six months of academy training five days a week. After successful completion of academy training, new recruits will transition from an academic setting to four months of field training where they are paired with an experienced officer and gain hands-on experience, forming the foundation of their career.

“While we’re making it easier to apply to be a police officer, the department remains committed to its rigorous screening and training program that graduates highly qualified officers,” added the Chief.


Minimum Qualification Requirements

Training and Experience: 

A combination of education and experience substantially equivalent to:

  • graduation from high school or equivalent (GED or HiSET); and 
  • 20 years of age by the closing deadline, (at least 21 years of age by the time of graduation from the Police Academy); and
  • Possession of a valid State of Hawai’i Driver’s License (Class 3) or any other valid comparable driver’s license by the closing deadline.  (You will be required to submit your driver’s license during the Personal History Questionnaire phase with the Hawai’i Police Department); and 
  • Must be qualified to carry and/or possess firearm or ammunition in accordance with state and federal laws – no misdemeanor or felony domestic violence conviction.
  • Meet the health and physical condition standards deemed necessary and proper to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations, such as have a correct ratio of weight to height; possess good eyesight and good physical condition and agility according to standards set by the County of Hawai‘i.

Examinations:

  • Written examinations (two hour multiple-choice examination) will be administered in Hilo on the Island of Hawai’i only. (Test dates/times will be determined based on the number of qualified applicants). Qualifying applicants will be allowed to self-schedule for various sessions scheduled and will be provided an email notification to do later in the process.
  • The physical agility test involves running an obstacle course in 70.00 seconds or less.  Only one run of the course is allowed. This is a pass/fail test. Those who pass the physical agility test will be processed for further screening by the Hawai’i Police Department. Click on the link to watch our Youtube video on what you need to do to pass Hawaii Police Department’s agility test: https://youtu.be/teOUcIobOsc.

Knowledge of:  grammar, spelling, and word usage.

Ability to:  learn and explain laws, ordinances, and regulations; learn police principles, practices, methods, and techniques; follow oral and written instructions; deal courteously but firmly with the general public; learn the geography of the County of Hawai’i and the economic, social, and racial composition of the community; keep records and prepare simple reports; operate various office and other equipment and appliances.

Physical and Age Standards:  Persons seeking appointment to positions in this class must meet the health and physical condition standards deemed necessary and proper to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.  All candidates for employment as a Police Officer I shall be at least 20 years of age at the time of filing, and at least 21 years of age by the time of graduation from the Police Academy; have a correct ratio of weight to height; possess good eyesight and good physical condition and agility according to standards set by the County of Hawai’i.

Distant Vision – 20/20 binocular vision, with or without correction.  Vision correction by soft contact lenses: Soft contact lens wearers must have 20/200 or better binocular vision before correction, corrected to 20/20.  If selected, applicants must provide certification to the County Physician from an ophthalmologist/optometrist that he/she has successfully worn soft contact lenses for the past 3 months.  Vision correction by other than soft contact lenses (e.g., glasses, hard contact lenses, semi-rigid contact lenses): Wearers must have 20/40 or better binocular vision before correction, corrected to 20/20.

Physical Effort Grouping:  Special


Benefits

The starting salary for Police Officer I is $72,384 a year. Officers receive night differential pay and time and a half for holiday work and overtime.

Fringe benefits include:

  • Automobile allowance:   $600.00/month.
  • Standard of Conduct Differential: $624.00/month.
  • Firearm Allowance:   $1,000.00 per fiscal year.
  • Uniform Allowance:   $300.00 per fiscal year.
  • Vacation:   21 days per year.
  • Sick Leave:   21 days per year.
  • Holidays:   13 days per year + general election day in an election year.
  • Medical, Vision, Prescription Drug, & Dental Plans. 
  • Group Life Insurance.
  • Night Differential (6am-6pm):  $0.55 per hour for each hour of actual work performed.
  • Membership Benefits:   Membership in the County Credit Union.
  • State of Hawai’i Organization of Police Officers (SHOPO) union, the Flexible Spending Plan, and the State of Hawai’i Deferred Compensation Plan.
  • Retirement: Eligible to retire at age 55 with 30 years of police service in Hawai’i.

How to Apply

For more information on how to apply, go to the County of Hawaiʻi Job Opportunities web page.