Download the complete police officer position description here.
Being a police officer with the San Francisco Police Department offers qualified individuals a unique opportunity to experience working with diverse cultures and communities.
Police officers from other municipalities should look at our Lateral Entry Program.
Please note our recently announced Accelerated Hiring Program.
Minimum Qualifications
- Be at least 20 years of age. You will need to be 21 years old before starting the academy.
- Have not been convicted of a felony crime.
- Have not been convicted of an offense involving domestic violence.
- Have not been convicted of any misdemeanor, which carries a penalty of prohibiting ownership, posession or control of a firearm.
- Be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident alien and become a U.S. citizen within two years.
- Have a U.S. High School Diploma, have passed a G.E.D. or the California High School Proficiency, or have an AA or higher degree from an accredited college or university. To check your school accreditation click here
- Have a valid driver license to operate an automobile.
- Have reviewed the driving standards for this position (as outlined in the Announcement in the section: Review of Judicial and Driving Records) and my driving record is acceptable.
- Have not been disqualified within the last two years by the SFPD Background Unit for a reason that disqualifies me from reapplying.
- Have not been restricted from employment with the City and County of San Francisco.
Duties of a SFPD officer
Police officers duties include, but are not limited to the following:
- Patrolling their districts, responding to calls for service, conducting investigations, writing reports, pursuing and detaining suspects, and making arrests
- Participating in community policing programs.
- Enforcing traffic and parking laws.
- Working with superiors, peers, and other Department personnel.
- Preparing for and participating in planned events.
- Preparing for and attending court.
- Participating in self-development activities.
Salary and Benefits
The current annual entry-level salary for Police Officers is: $75,868 to $101,556
- 10 paid vacation days a year during the first five years of service.
- 15 paid vacation days a year during the next 10 years of service.
- 20 paid vacation days a year after 15 years of service.
- 4 floating holidays.
- 13 paid sick days a year and several healthcare plans.
- Bilingual pay and special assignment pay.
- Retirement eligibility at age 50, with a maximum of 90% benefit based on years of service.
Other benefits include:
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Employee Assistance Program.
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Crisis Incident Response Team (C.I.R.T.)
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Peer Support Program.
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Catastrophic Illness Program.
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Psychological Professionals (United Behavioral Health)
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Stress Unit-Chemical Dependency.
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Police Chaplains.
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Psychiatric Liaison Unit.
The Selection Process
The San Francisco Police Department examination process consists of three major test areas:
- Written Examination
- Physical Abilities Examination
- Oral Examination
Upon successful completion of the oral examination, you will be required to undergo a complete background process. This includes:
- Background information
- Medical examination
- Psychological examination
- Polygraph
- Driving
For a detailed description of the steps involved in the SFPD Police Officer selection process, please look here.