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Certified Police Officer Applications open Monday, November 3, 2025!

OUR AGENCY:

FAQs

Sign Up for 
Text Alerts!

Text CAREER to 863.834.1000 for notifications on recruiting events and job postings for Police Officer, Police Academy Sponsorships, and 911 Dispatch Operators

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Learn More about Lakeland with the City of Lakeland 2024 Demographic Guide!

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Wakesha Phidd
Recruiting Officer

Want more information about applying for a position with the Lakeland Police Department?

Submit questions to 
joinlakelandpd@lakelandgov.net.

or call us at
863.834.5915

• WHAT IS THE SALARY?

  

• WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS?
  • Minimum Age: 21 years.
  • Applicant must be a United States Citizen.
  • Must possess a high school diploma or GED from an accredited school or training facility. Preference may be given to those applicants who possess an associate's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
  • Must maintain valid contact information.
  • Must possess a valid State of Florida driver license or have the ability to obtain one.
  • Applicants must meet all requirements established by the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. Applicants must also possess a current State of Florida Police Officer Certification or meet Commission Comparable Compliance. The requirements are enumerated in F.S. 943.13 (listed below).
  • Applicants will be required to pass ALL elements of the selection process prior to being employed as a Lakeland Police Officer.
• WHAT IS THE TATTOO POLICY?

  Team members are permitted to have tattoos except on the face, head, neck, hands, or fingers except for a common wedding ring tattoo. Tattoos are prohibited if they are racist, sexist, offensive, or obscene.

• WHAT ARE THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS NEEDED TO APPLY?
  • Copy of birth certificate.
  • Copy of valid passport if applicable. 
  • Copy of valid driver license.
  • Copy of State of Florida Law Enforcement Certification (If you are Florida Certified).
  • Copy of High School Diploma.
  • Copy of DD214 – Military Discharge (if applicable).

  Applicants for the position of POLICE OFFICER are required to submit a copy of ALL required documents with the employment application. Applicants will not be eligible for employment until ALL required documents have been submitted to CIVIL SERVICE or uploaded with the application.  Required documents will not be accepted after the closing of the job posting.
  

   

• WHAT IS THE PHYSICAL ABILITY TEST (P.A.T)?

  This test consists of a standardized obstacle course which was created and recommended by the FDLE Criminal Justice and Standards Training Commission for Police Officers. It simulates activities that may be encountered while working in this position at the Lakeland Police Department.  Applicants should wear proper clothing and shoes for the test. Test is administered on a pass/fail basis.

  The course consists of the following tasks (not necessarily in the order you may experience them). The time limit for this test is 6 minutes and 4 seconds:

  • Exit from the seated, safety-belted driver's position of a parked motor vehicle
  • With opposite hands, remove two flags fastened to a belt with Velcro, from your back
  • Utilizing the vehicles' keys, retrieve from the car trunk a flashlight to be carried during the following stages:
    - 220-yard run (twice)
    - Jump over a four (4) foot wall
    - Run through a series of cones
    - Jump over a series of three (3) hurdles
    - A low crawl under three (3) hurdles
    - Drag a 150-pound dummy for 100 feet
    - Dry fire a service pistol six (6) times with the strong hand and six (6) times with the weak hand
    - Return the flashlight to the vehicle trunk
    - Return to the safety belted driver's position of the vehicle
• WHAT TYPE OF PRE EMPLOYMENT TESTING IS THERE?

  COMPUTER VOICE STRESS ANALYSIS: 

  The CVSA examination is used to confirm the truthfulness of information previously provided to the department. Applicants must respond truthfully to questioning. Information received during the CVSA is confidential.

  PSYCHOLOGICAL FITNESS EXAMINATION:

  An emotional stability and psychological fitness examination of each candidate for a sworn position is conducted and assessed by a qualified professional prior to appointment to probationary status.

  MEDICAL EXAMINATION:

  The applicant will undergo a medical examination to ensure compliance with standards and to rule out the existence of any medical conditions that may preclude the applicant from performing the duties of a police officer.

  DRUG SCREEN:

  The City of Lakeland is committed to a drug-free workplace and all applicants must pass a drug screen before employment can occur.

• WHAT IS THE RE-APPLICATION PROCESS?

  Reapplication, retesting, and re-evaluation of applicants not hired is permitted after six months as long as nothing in the applicant’s history indicates an unfitness for employment. Conditions that qualify as unfitness for employment include revelations of unacceptable drug use, criminal records, or other factors discovered during the selection process.

• WILL I GET CREDIT FOR MY PREVIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE?

  Yes! If you have previous full time law enforcement experience, you may be eligible to begin at a higher pay grade, up to pay step five. For example, a five year veteran from a comparable or larger agency than LPD could start at pay step 5. A four year veteran from a similar agency could start at pay step 4. Those with three or two years of experience could begin at their respective pay steps.