CMPD Recruitment Mission Statement

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Recruitment Division is committed to recruiting, assessing, and hiring the best suited and qualified applicants to meet the needs of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community and the CMPD. The CMPD is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe our employees should be reflective of the community they serve.

New Recruits

We will be accepting applications for our police trainee process throughout 2020. For more information about the hiring process, available Recruitment personnel can be reached at 704-432-1603 during normal business hours.For general questions or to receive a reminder email for the next open application process, contact Sgt. Foggie at candace.foggie@cmpd.org.

Applicants can also follow us on facebook or twitter for announcements and information. Applicants are also encouraged to review the “How to Apply” link prior to the open application date. For application tips. Reminder DO NOT complete the City Application using a Tablet, Smartphone, MAC or iPad! You will not be able to see all the fields that are required for you to complete the application.

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Lateral Entry Recruiting Program

CMPD is currently processing in-state and out-of-state certified Police Officers for Lateral Entry. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is looking for outstanding certified, sworn law enforcement officers to add to our ranks. We are interested in officers who exhibit integrity, professionalism and dedication to bring their skills and experience to service for our citizens.

The CMPD has a long history of excellence borne out of a commitment to making Charlotte one of the safest large cities in the United States. You will not find a police department with more pride, more talent or more integrity. We invite you to experience what we do – and the difference you can make as a member of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Apply today!

Lateral Entry - Frequently Asked Questions:

What are the minimum qualifications for the Lateral Entry program?

-- A minimum of 2 years of full-time employment as a sworn law enforcement officer. -- Sworn service in a non-law enforcement capacity does not qualify. For purposes of this policy, a non-law enforcement capacity includes: Deputies who work in jails, courtrooms, or communications. -- Specialized law enforcement agencies do not qualify for lateral entry regardless of sworn status. This includes: transit police, campus police, housing authority police, department of corrections, park rangers, private police, etc. -- Agencies must answer 911 calls for service and have comparable duties to CMPD. Note: State Police agencies and the NC Highway Patrol qualify under this policy. -- Applicants who have been separated from full-time sworn service for less than a year qualify under this policy. Applicants separated for over a year but less than 3 years are evaluated on a case by case basis.

Are there additional requirements for out-of-state lateral transfers in the hiring process?

-- Yes. In addition to completing the full CMPD background process, out of state lateral transfers must obtain three additional items. (These documents are required by the NC CJ Education and Training Standards Commission and are necessary to be sworn in as a Law Enforcement Officer in North Carolina.)

1: A letter from your previous agency/ agencies detailing your dates of full-time, sworn service and that you left or are leaving the agency in good standing. The letter MUST state that you were full-time, sworn, and are in good standing with the agency. 2: A copy of your Basic Law Enforcement Training course certificate of completion. Please Note: This is not your law enforcement certificate, but the diploma you received indicating you graduated from your state’s basic law enforcement training program. If you did not receive a diploma or have misplaced it and cannot obtain a new copy, you must obtain a letter from your state’s law enforcement commission (P.O.S.T., Justice Academy, etc.) stating the start date and graduation date of your basic training, as well as the number of hours of basic training. 3: A topical breakdown/syllabus of the courses you completed in BLET.

How does the lateral academy compare to the traditional recruit academy?

-- In-state lateral trainees will attend a 4-week academy covering specific CMPD rules and procedures. In-state Laterals will then be sworn in and assigned to one of thirteen patrol divisions to complete a field training phase. -- Out-of-state lateral trainees will also complete the 4-week academy with the in-state lateral trainees and will be sworn in after the 4-week academy. Out-of-state trainees will then split their time between a patrol division and the academy. During the 4-week lateral academy, out-of-state trainee’s training and experience will be evaluated by the State Education and Training Standards Commission. The State will then determine how many additional credit hours and topics out-of-state trainees will be required to complete. (Note: All out-of-state trainees will be required to pass the 96-hour legal training block). All out-of-state trainees will be required to successfully pass the NC BLET State Exam within one year of their swear in date.

What is the pay structure for Lateral Entry Officers?

-- The Lateral Entry program starting pay is listed below. Pay is based on years of credible service and education level:

In addition, there are other documents, specific to your current department, training and experience that you will need in order to complete your application for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. The following links for currently certified law enforcement officers will give you the information you need to submit a completed application in a timely manner.

**Highway Patrol & State Troopers are NOW ELIGIBLE for our Lateral Entry Program**

APPLY NOW!!

For additional information, please contact: Lateral Recruitment Specialist - Kay Rivera or Lateral Recruitment Background Investigators - Inv. Frazita | Inv. B. Edwards |

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

CMPD Military Recruiting

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police department takes great pride in supporting our brave men and women who serve and sacrifice for our country. Many of the values and attributes military members exhibit are what we look for to represent our department. We are a strong advocate of hiring veterans.

Does CMPD offer additional benefits to military members?

Yes. CMPD offers the following benefits to military personnel:

-- Additional time to complete background packet. If you successfully pass the written and fitness testing, applicants have 30 days to return their background packet to the Recruitment Division. Active Duty military members can take an additional 60 days to return the packet if needed. Note: Applicants will need to contact the Recruitment Division to request the additional time while completing their packet. -- Current military members receive up to two weeks of paid military leave for annual/ monthly training. This allows our service members to attend training without having to use vacation or other leave time. -- CMPD participates in the Veteran’s Administration Apprenticeship Program, through the North Carolina Department of Labor. Military members eligible to receive GI Bill benefits may be enrolled in the program and earn an additional monthly supplement. More details are available through your local Veteran’s Affairs office -- (Eligible active duty military time can be purchased and added to years of service for retirement benefits.) Please Note: The service purchase program is managed by the NC retirement system. Years of eligible service and cost will vary by applicant and are determined by the Local Government Employees Retirement System.

Does CMPD offer a separate application process for military veterans?

-- Military members should apply through the normal police trainee application process. Previously, CMPD offered written and fitness testing at various military bases in the Carolinas. Due to an update in the fitness testing format, the fitness test is no longer mobile and must be completed at the CMPD Training Academy.

Does CMPD use military / veteran preference points in the hiring process?

-- CMPD Recruitment does not currently utilize a point system to rank applicants. Each candidate is individually evaluated based on their unique qualifications, suitability and organizational fit. We place a high value on military experience because we know that many of the qualities obtained through military service (i.e., leadership, teamwork, commitment to public service, discipline) have direct application to the traits we look for in CMPD recruits.