Patrol Officer; Non-Certified - Locations

PATROL OFFICER (NON-CERTIFIED)

Location:

New Castle, DE;
Cape May, NJ;
Lewes, DE

Recruit Salary: $66,037 (annualized)
Completion of Academy Salary: $67,876 (annualized)
FTO Completion Salary: $69,763 (annualized)

Opening Date:
April 16, 2026
Closing Date:
June 16, 2026

The general responsibilities of a Patrol Officer include responding to calls for service, enforcing traffic and criminal laws, and operating police vehicles when on routine patrol.

• Engage in interpersonal communications with the public and co-workers by promoting a professional and courteous environment
• Participate with co-workers and supervisors in the advancement of the troop's goals and objectives
• Complete assigned and self-initiated workloads
• Analyze and organize information and evidence obtained during traffic and criminal investigations for prosecution purposes
• Deliver emergency services to the public by responding to calls for service safely and promptly and by providing assistance to those in need
• Protect the public, co-workers and themselves from harm and injury by following established safety and security practices and by correcting and/or reporting safety and/or security hazards or risks
• Responsible for the entire arrest procedure including examining, handcuffing, conducting a field search and guarding the arrestee to prevent escape or suicide
• Exercise discretion in the use of deadly and non-deadly force
• Arraign a defendant, and testify in court
• Make NCIC, DELJIS, SCIC and CAD inquiries, and conduct a full traffic collision investigation (interview witnesses, sketch and measure collision scenes, determine contributing factors and identify violations)
• Enforce motor vehicle laws
• Possess the physical ability necessary to engage in physical confrontations using offensive and defensive tactics to subdue combative subjects
• Work a 12-hour rotating shift and adapt to irregular working conditions
• Write different types of reports, including traffic reports, summonses and arrest reports
• Identify public utility problems and report other road hazards
• Assist motorists in need, or perform traffic direction and control
• Utilize a variety of equipment in the performance of their job duties, including an automobile, communications center equipment, baton, breath testing instrument, computer terminal, fire extinguisher, flashlight, handcuffs, portable radio, police car radio, radar/laser unit, semi-automatic pistol, shotgun, body armor and photographic equipment
• Instruct suspects on the process to obtain an attorney, enforce court orders, respond to civil disputes, and testify in Family Court
• Prepare search warrants, collect evidence, and inventory stolen property
• Stand/walk continuously for more than one-half of the work shift and walk on narrow, elevated surfaces
• Prepare interdepartmental memorandums and daily operational reports, and maintain daily logs
• Clean and inspect firearms and perform random equipment inspections
• Provide superior customer service to everyone by responding in a courteous and efficient manner

• Acquire knowledge of laws and departmental rules/regulations/procedures, and other resource materials
• Acquire knowledge of weapon craft and demonstrate usable knowledge of court decisions
• Acquire skill in the use of firearms, and non-lethal weapons
• Acquire driving skill in both emergency and non-emergency conditions
• Communicate orally and in writing, cope with stressful situations, evaluate a situation, respond correctly and apply appropriate discretion and common sense
• Provide excellent customer service

• United States citizen
• At least 21 years of age
• High school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) equivalent
• Minimum uncorrected vision not greater than 20/200 in each eye and correctable with lenses to 20/20; able to distinguish between the colors red, green and amber
• Height and weight in proper proportion; excellent cardiovascular physical condition

• Completion of at least 60 college credits from an accredited institution
• At least two years of active-duty military service with an honorable discharge