Fairfax County Police Department Job Announcement
Job Title: Police Officer
Location: FAIRFAX (EJ28), VA
Job Type: Full-time, Hourly
Job Number: 26-00057
Department: Police
Opening Date: January 4, 2025
Closing Date: July 4, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade: O18
Posting Type: Open to General Public
Description: The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) is seeking individuals to join our team to provide law enforcement and public safety services to the community in Fairfax County. About the Department: The FCPD is comprised of employees and volunteers who possess the highest standards of ethics and integrity, creating the foundation of our ability to deliver a variety of essential police services to protect and serve all members of our community. Our department provides ethical leadership by engaging with the community to prevent and fight crime, improve the culture of safety at work and in the community, preserve the sanctity of all human life, and keep pace with urbanization. Fairfax County possesses a stellar reputation nationally as the safest jurisdiction of our size among the top fifty major cities. We accomplish this through robust partnerships with all members of our uniquely diverse community.
Duties and Skills:
• Acts to enforce criminal laws, traffic regulations, and maintain public order. • Patrols designated area utilizing police vehicle or other means. • Conducts criminal and vehicle accident investigations. • Effects arrests and testifies in court. • Knowledge of modern methods and practices of criminal investigation and identification. • Knowledge of departmental rules and regulations. • Knowledge of the geography of the county. • Skilled in the use of firearms. • Ability to effectively communicate with persons of all ages and walks of life. • Ability to remember names, faces, and details. • Ability to comprehend and execute complex oral and written directions. • Ability to exercise good judgment in stressful situations. • Good physical condition. • Keen sense of observation. • Ability to maintain a high level of ethical standards. • Ability to demonstrate a high level of integrity at all times.
Work Schedule: Police officers work a varied shift schedule as follows (shift hours are subject to change):
• Day shift: 5:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. • Evening shift: 1:30 p.m. - 1:00 a.m. • Midnight shift: 7:30 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. • Workdays alternate weekly (1st week, Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 2nd week Wednesday and Thursday)
Incumbents are considered emergency essential services personnel requiring that they report on their scheduled day, or may be called back to work, should a manmade or natural disaster or emergency arise.
Academy Training: Academy Training is primarily Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Salary: Salary will be determined within pay grade based upon relevant preferred qualifications such as prior law enforcement experience, college degree, military experience, foreign language proficiency, and prior participation in the Fairfax County Police Department's Public Safety Apprentice program or Police Cadet programs. Opportunity to transfer VRS (Virginia Retirement System) into Fairfax County Retirement System (FCRS).
Sign-on Bonus: This position includes a signing bonus for fully qualified new county employees in the amount of $15,000.
Illustrative Duties: Patrols an assigned area by car or foot to maintain law and order; Responds to emergencies as directed by mobile display terminal, radio, or telephone; Uses radio and computer-aided dispatch equipment; Takes appropriate action in emergency situations in accordance with the Departments Standard Operating Procedures and training; Investigates unusual or suspicious conditions, traffic crashes, or incidents; Responds to various types of alarms; Makes arrests and maintains custody of those arrested; Interviews suspects; Gives testimony in court on actions taken during arrests and investigations in criminal matters; Prepares reports on investigations, offenses, arrests, and activities using computer-based programs; Administers first aid to injured persons and other employees as a first responder; Investigates a wide variety of criminal offenses; Responds to crime scenes, accident scenes, and other traumatic events that involve death or serious physical injury; Responds to and participates in investigations of serious crimes; Acts as evidence collector/technician; Fully investigates crimes not forwarded to a detective; Identifies and preserves evidence at minor crime scenes; Identifies and secures major crime scenes and maintains crime scene logs; As assigned, participates in specialized vice and alcoholic beverage violation investigations and raids, ascertains information or secures evidence for the arrest of suspects, and searches for and apprehends criminal offenders; May train newly sworn officers in the daily performance of their duties; Performs public relations duties such as instructing citizens in crime prevention and personal safety techniques, and attends community events; Builds and maintains relationships with residents and businesses located in their assigned Police Service Area; Transports mental health clients to mental health facilities for treatment.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Patrols an assigned area by car or foot to maintain law and order. • Responds to emergencies as directed by mobile display terminal, radio, or telephone. • Uses radio and computer-aided dispatch equipment. • Takes appropriate action in emergency situations in accordance with the Departments Standard Operating Procedures and training. • Investigates unusual or suspicious conditions, traffic crashes, or incidents. • Responds to various types of alarms. • Makes arrests and maintains custody of those arrested. • Interviews suspects. • Gives testimony in court on actions taken during arrests and investigations in criminal matters. • Prepares reports on investigations, offenses, arrests, and activities using computer-based programs. • Administers first aid to injured persons and other employees as a first responder. • Investigates a wide variety of criminal offenses. • Responds to crime scenes, accident scenes, and other traumatic events that involve death or serious physical injury. • Responds to and participates in investigations of serious crimes. • Acts as evidence collector/technician. • Fully investigates crimes not forwarded to a detective. • Identifies and preserves evidence at minor crime scenes. • Identifies and secures major crime scenes and maintains crime scene logs. • As assigned, participates in specialized vice and alcoholic beverage violation investigations and raids, ascertains information or secures evidence for the arrest of suspects, and searches for and apprehends criminal offenders. • May train newly sworn officers in the daily performance of their duties. • Performs public relations duties such as instructing citizens in crime prevention and personal safety techniques, and attends community events. • Builds and maintains relationships with residents and businesses located in their assigned Police Service Area. • Transports mental health clients to mental health facilities for treatment.
Minimum Qualifications:
• Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to: • High school graduation or a state-issued GED. • Successful completion of police recruit training. • Possession of a valid motor vehicle drivers license at time of appointment.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Associate or higher degree, or at least 60 credit hours towards a degree, from an accredited university or college. • Prior law enforcement or military experience. • Current law enforcement officer certification in the Commonwealth of Virginia. • Professional working proficiency, or higher, in a foreign language or American Sign Language.
Certificates and Licenses Required:
• Contingent upon the area of assignment, some positions within this class may require specific certification prior to employment and/or the ability to acquire necessary certifications within a specified time period following employment. • The certifications are identified in the position description and employment advertisement.
Selection Procedure:
• Successful completion of all background requirements and final interview with the Personnel Resources Division Commander or his designee.
Fairfax County Benefits:
• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage • Group Term Life Insurance • Long Term Disability • LiveWell Program • Flexible Spending Programs • Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!) • Paid Holidays • Contributory Retirement Plan • Deferred Compensation • Employee Assistance Program • Employees Child Care Center • Continuous Learning Opportunities
Non-Merit Positions:
• Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year. • Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage • Flexible Spending Program • Deferred Compensation • Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year. • No benefits
Employment Standards:
• Minimum Qualifications: • Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to: • High school graduation or a state-issued GED. • Successful completion of police recruit training. • Possession of a valid motor vehicle drivers license at time of appointment. • Preferred Qualifications: • Associate or higher degree, or at least 60 credit hours towards a degree, from an accredited university or college. • Prior law enforcement or military experience. • Current law enforcement officer certification in the Commonwealth of Virginia. • Professional working proficiency, or higher, in a foreign language or American Sign Language. • Certificates and Licenses Required: • Contingent upon the area of assignment, some positions within this class may require specific certification prior to employment and/or the ability to acquire necessary certifications within a specified time period following employment. • The certifications are identified in the position description and employment advertisement. • Necessary Special Requirements: • Must be a citizen of the United States. • Must be 20 years old, or within 180 days of 21st birthday at the time of academy start date, or currently a Police Cadet and within 180 days of 21st birthday at the time of academy start date. • Must successfully complete