Police departments that accept out of state lateral transfers

Out of State Lateral Officer

Police departments that accept out of state lateral transfers

Click HERE for application information



ONE DAY TESTING PROCESS

Applicants may now complete the entire initial testing process in one day.  Testing consists of a Physical Assessment Exam, an Oral Board Interview, and a Written Essay.  The next available testing date is...

Friday, December 16, 2022

Once all applications have been received and screened, applicants will receive an email allowing them to schedule their testing.

Starting Salary Range

The starting pay for police officer is $29.66 hourly / $61, 706 annually. Based on a candidate’s years of prior law enforcement service, a higher starting step may be available. 

Click here for full salary range.

Shift differential and bilingual pay are also available.

Lateral Transfer

$15,000 signing bonus for lateral transfers with 2+ years’ experience & California P.O.S.T Certificate

The San Diego Police Department will accept applications from any individual who has any of the following experience:

  • Full-time paid sworn peace officer with a City Police, County Sheriff, State or Federal law enforcement agency
  • Currently working as a peace officer in California
  • Has prior police experience with a California law enforcement agency within the last year
  • Has completed a California P.O.S.T. certified police academy within the last year
  • Requirements 

Testing Waivers

Lateral applicants will be able to waive the Written Test. Lateral applicants will also be able to waive the PAT testing if they have been employed within the last year as a full-time Peace Officer AND possess a California Basic Peace Officers Course Certificate; OR California Basic P.O.S.T. Certificate; OR California Basic P.O.S.T. Requalification Certificate; OR California P.O.S.T. Basic Course Waiver letter dated within one year of applying.

PO2 (Lateral entry)

Individuals with more than two years of full-time paid sworn police officer experience may apply for PO2 status. Experience must include service with a law enforcement agency within the last year. Time served in a training capacity as a recruit/trainee as part of a Police Academy does NOT qualify for the experience requirement.

NOTE: Qualified out-of-state applicants who lack the required California P.O.S.T Certificate may apply. If hired, you may be required to attend a paid Police Academy to satisfy California state certification requirements. This certification is necessary to work as a police officer for the City of San Diego.

Apply Here - Police Officer II

PO1

Graduates of a California Law Enforcement academy within the last year as an open enrollment student or individuals with less than two years of full-time paid police experience (not including academy time) with a California law enforcement agency within the last year may apply for PO1.

Apply Here - Police Officer I


If you have any questions please contact .

Background Office 619-531-2148

City of San Diego Personnel Department
1200 3rd Avenue, Suite 101A
San Diego, CA 92101-6467

Hours: Monday, Wednesday, or Friday - 8 a.m. to 5  p.m.
Phone: 619-236-6467

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:

Police departments that accept out of state lateral transfers
What are the minimum qualifications for the Lateral Entry program?

-- A minimum of at least 2 years of full-time experience with a sworn law enforcement agency, post academy graduation. You must reach your 2 year full time experience requirement at least 30 days prior to the Academy start date.

-- 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.

Police departments that accept out of state lateral transfers
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.

Police departments that accept out of state lateral transfers
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.

Police departments that accept out of state lateral transfers
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:

Police departments that accept out of state lateral transfers

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 Background Investigators - Inv. Burnett | Inv. Frazita |

    The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.


Can you transfer locations as a police officer?

This can be either in-state or out-of-state. In-state transfers are generally easier and quicker than out-of-state moves. A lateral transfer is when a sworn police officer leaves one police agency to work for another, usually at the same or greater rate of pay.

Does the NYPD do lateral transfers?

In addition, this experience does not count as an exception towards the education requirement. Does the NYPD accept lateral transfers from other police departments? No, you still have to take and pass the written police officer entrance exam and meet the education requirement.

Does Orlando PD take lateral transfers?

Lateral Transfer Program Candidates with 2 or more years of law enforcement experience will start at a base salary of $55,857.52 (plus incentives: $57,702).

What does lateral mean in police terms?

Lateral entry is the ability of a police officer in one geographic location to enter employment in another area, with the officer's salary at the new department based on experience, job knowledge, and ability to do the job.

Does military service transfer to police?

Military veterans often enter into police training ahead of the curve. As a veteran, you'll bring a degree of experience working within a regimented code of conduct, under a chain of command, and in service to the public, all of which translate directly to your work in law enforcement.