Recruitment

Become an Ohio University
Police Officer! 

**Applications are currently being accepted, apply through OHIO's online job site . **

There are many benefits to becoming an Ohio University Police Officer:

WAGES AND LATERAL TRANSFER (Effective July 1, 2024)

• $5,000 signing bonus
• Top base pay for officers is $37.23 per hour ($77,438 per year base)
  • Educational incentive:
    • Officers with an associate's degree earn an additional 2% per hour ($37.97/hr, $78,978 per year base)
    • Officers with a bachelor's degree or higher earn an additional 4% per hour ($38.73/hr, $80,558 per year base)
• New employees who do not have an OPOTA commission earn $22.83 per hour while in the academy.
  • Upon graduation from the academy, new officer starting pay is $26.86 per hour ($55,869 per year base, plus educational incentive if applicable)
• New officers with OUPD who have prior law enforcement experience may be eligible for advanced placement in the wage steps upon initial hire (up to Wage Pay Step 4 - $34.31 per hour, plus educational incentive if applicable) and are also exempt from the physical fitness testing component (current and valid OPOTC certification required for exemption).
• Opportunities to work overtime as they arise for 1.5 times the hourly rate

SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL

• Shift differential paid at 0.45/hr for any hours worked on patrol between 5PM and 7AM

LONGEVITY INCENTIVE

• Officers with 10 years of service or more and a sick leave balance of at least 200 hours may cash out up to 40 hours of sick leave for pay each December.

EQUIPMENT

• All newly hired officers are issued 5 new full uniforms to include duty gear and equipment.
• Quartermaster system for uniforms and equipment - old or damaged items are replaced as necessary at the department's expense.
• Officers have a declining balance allowance of $525 for cleaning and pressing uniforms.  The department contracts with a local laundromat to arrange for weekly pickup and drop-off directly from the department for ease of use for employees.

VACATION

• Officers immediately begin earning vacation time at a rate of 2 weeks per year
• At 5 years of service, officers earn 3 weeks of vacation per year
• At 10 years of service, officers earn 4 weeks of vacation per year
• At 20 years of service, officers earn 5 weeks of vacation per year

HOLIDAYS

• Officers have 12 paid holidays throughout the year, one of which is the officer's birthday as a floating holiday.

SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS

• Once an officer has completed his/her probationary period, she or he is eligible for assignments such as:
  • Bicycle Officer
  • Field Training Officer
  • Firearms Instructor
  • RADAR/LIDAR Instructor
  • Less Lethal Instructor (Taser, OC Spray, baton, etc)
  • Evidence Room Manager
  • Explosive Detection Canine Handler
  • Detective
  • Narcotics Detective
  • Community Relations Officer
  • Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) Instructor
  • Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) Instructor
  • Other opportunities as available

RETIREMENT

• Officers contribute to the Ohio Public Employee Retirement System - Law Enforcement (OPERS-LE). Contributions to the plan are tax-deferred and deducted automatically each pay period.

TUITION

• Free tuition (with the exception of general fees) at Ohio University and Hocking College.
• Free tuition (with the exception of general fees) for the employee's spouse or domestic partner and dependent children at Ohio University

LIFE INSURANCE

• Officers are provided basic life insurance at no charge. In the case of an officer's death, your beneficiary will receive two and one-half times your salary, up to $50,000.
• Officers may buy additional life insurance at a low group rate.

MEDICAL BENEFITS

• Ohio University offers a PPO medical plan administered by Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
• Vision coverage is administered by Vision Service Plan (VSP) and varies depending on employment type.
• Dental plan
• Optional orthodontia plan

For a full listing and explanation of Ohio University benefits, please visit the Human Resources Benefits page.

QUESTIONS?Contact Capt. Mike Meek at (740) 593-1911 or meekm1@ohio.edu .