Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

New York State Park Police: Employment

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Join Our Team

If you want a rewarding career in law enforcement with an emphasis on helping people and protecting the state's natural and historic treasures, consider becoming a New York State Park Police Officer. Our team works in some of the most beautiful places in the state. Contact a Park Police Recruiter in your area.

Become a Park Police Officer

Didn’t take the test? You can still apply!

If you took the exam in September 2024, see information below.

Thanks to the many candidates who took our Park Police Officer Trainee examination on Saturday and Sunday, September 28 and 29, 2024. Please note that as soon as the civil service eligible list is established, we will schedule you for an agility test. Please be prepared by getting yourself in the best shape possible to pass the agility test, to be held in April 2025. Please see the following link for the Physical Agility Standards for Park Police Officer Trainee which includes sit-ups, pushups and run.

Instructional video about the Physical Agility Test: https://youtu.be/3f8AXW5oYiw

If Agility Testing is successfully completed, travel will be required to complete the next steps in the hiring process - psychological and physical/medical testing.

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The Hiring Process

Considerations For Eligibility

Professional Police Act of 2021

Age Requirements:

  • Candidates must be at least 20 years of age at time of hire. Candidates must not have passed their 35th birthday on the date of the written test.
    • Time spent on military duty or on terminal leave, not exceeding a total of seven (7) years, shall be subtracted from your age if you have passed your 35th birthday.

Education Requirements:

  • Minimum college education requirements: 60 college credit hours; 30 of those hours may be waived if candidate is an honorably discharged veteran with at least two years of active military duty.
  • At the time of appointment, you must have a high school diploma, high school equivalency diploma issued by a recognized educational authority, or a USAFI GED high school level diploma.

Additional Requirements:

  • Must be a United States citizen and a New York State resident at the time of appointment and maintain a New York State residency after appointment.
  • Must hold a valid New York State Driver license at time of appointment and maintain it after appointment as a term and condition of employment.

Next Steps

  • Agility performance test
    • Candidates are urged to maintain a level of fitness that will enable them to meet the standards listed in the Cooper Norms (pdf).
  • Review of Tattoos according to the Tattoo Policy (pdf).
  • Background investigation, including polygraph examination and fingerprinting.
  • Medical examination, after a conditional offer of employment. See the Civil Service Physical/Medical Requirements Form (pdf).
    • Visual acuity should be correctable to better than or equal to 20/30 (Snellen) in each eye; if correction is required, distant visual acuity should not be less than 20/100 without correction in each eye.
    • Drug testing.
  • Psychological examination

Once the above is completed, candidates who are hired will start as Park Police Officer Trainees Grade 13 and will:

  • Be enrolled in a six-month residential police academy located in Rensselaerville, NY.
  • Be assigned to a Park Police Zone within New York State upon graduation.
  • Complete Field Training and the remaining 6 months of their probationary period.

After successfully completing the traineeship, candidates will advance to Park Police Officer Grade 14.

If you have additional questions, please review the Hiring Process Frequently Asked Questions (pdf) and call or email with any additional questions.

To learn more about the Park Police Academy and working as a Park Police Officer, click here: Academy and Job Scope Frequently Asked Questions (pdf)

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Salary & Benefits

Salary

The current starting salary for a NY State Park Police Officer Trainee, Grade 13, is $61,587. As a Trainee, you will participate in a one-year traineeship. Upon completion of the traineeship, you will advance to the Grade 14 Park Police Officer. Please see the chart below to learn more about Park Police Officer salaries.

Additional Geographic Pay:

Officers who work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester Counties will receive an additional $1,763 annual downstate adjustment.

In addition to the downstate adjustment, Officers who work in the following locations will receive an additional supplemental local pay in the following amounts:
The counties of Orange, Putnam, and Dutchess - $1,468
The five boroughs of New York City, Rockland, and Westchester Counties - $2,204
Nassau and Suffolk Counties - $2,570.

NEW: Additionally, Officers who work in the mid-Hudson region (Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, and Westchester counties) or downstate region (Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, or Suffolk counties) are eligible to receive an additional $15,000 in geographic pay differential. Learn more.

Work Location**
Base Salary* Upstate Orange/ Dutchess NYC/Rockland/ Westchester Nassau/ Suffolk
SG-13 Trainee (at the Academy) $61,587 X X X X
SG-13 Trainee (after 6 months) $63,192 $63,192 $79,660 $82,159 $82,525
SG-14 Hiring Rate $64,796 $73,796 $90,264 $92,763 $93,129
Step 1 $67,085 $76,085 $92,553 $95,052 $95,418
Step 2 $69,374 $78,374 $94,842 $97,341 $97,707
Step 3 $71,663 $80,663 $97,131 $99,630 $99,996
Step 4 $73,952 $82,952 $99,420 $101,919 $102,285
Step 5 $76,241 $85,241 $101,709 $104,208 $104,574
SG-14 Job Rate $78,530 $87,530 $103,998 $106,497 $106,863
*Without any additional contractual or geographic pay included.
**Work Location is determined by the needs of the agency.

Benefits

  • Accrue 13-24 vacation days, 12 holidays, 5 personal days, and 13 sick days each year.
  • Excellent health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
  • Salaries do not include overtime.
  • Retirement is at half pay after 25 years.
  • Promotional opportunities are available by competitive examination processes.
  • All uniforms and equipment are provided.

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Contact Us

NY State Park Police
OPRHP
Albany, New York 12238
(518) 474-4029
email: PPOCareers@parks.ny.gov

For questions regarding employment with the New York State Park Police, please contact the appropriate region or headquarters listed below and ask to speak with the Recruiting Officer.

  • Long Island - (631) 321-3700 (Nassau, Suffolk)
  • Hudson Valley - (845) 786-2704 (Palisades, Taconic, NYC)
  • Mid-State – (315) 492-6422 (Central, Finger Lakes, Thousand Islands, Saratoga/Capital)
  • Western New York - (716) 278-1777 (Niagara, Genesee, Allegany)
  • Division Headquarters - Albany - (518) 474-4029

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