With a population of about 58,000 people and a metropolitan area of over 300,000, Pensacola is located on the Gulf of Mexico where winters are mild and the city averages 343 days of sunshine annually.

Pensacola is located in Escambia County, which has a 7.5 percent tax on retail sales or rentals of tangible personal property. Housing can range from rural settings to subdivisions and is available at a wide range of prices.

Potential police officers must:

• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Be at least age 21 or older at time of application.
• Have a high school diploma or GED equivalency.
• Possess official certification of compliance issued by the State of Florida or comparable certification from another state.
• Visual acuity must be at least 20/100 uncorrected, corrected to 20/30 in each eye and the applicant must have color vision.
• Applicants must have a current and valid motor vehicle operator's license.
• Applicants also must have ability to meet approved mental, physical, psychological, background, and medical requirements.
• Applicants must pass a written exam and oral interview in addition to a drug screen and Field Training Program.
• Applicants must be tobacco free for at least six months preceeding application. 

Individuals currently enrolled in a police academy may apply and be tested for a police officer's position provided they can show proof of enrollment at time of application. Applicants must then pass the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's mandated state certification exam. Applicants with current out-of-state law enforcement certification are eligible to take the FDLE mandated state certification exam.

The Pensacola Police Department has a career development policy that includes in-service training courses, counseling and career planning services offered by the city's Employee Services Department. In addition, up to 100 percent tuition is refunded to officers for job-related course work and remedial courses taken off duty at the employee's option. Benefits can be used at area colleges, universities and technical schools.

The starting salary for a police officer who possesses Florida standards is $32,968. A shift differential of 5 percent is paid, and officers are allowed to work extra jobs when off duty. Officers accumulate 20 hours of personal time off monthly.

All sworn officers are eligible to participate in a police pension plan in addition to the deferred compensation plan. Also, group health insurance is available to full-time employees. A Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) is available. Veterans, disabled veterans and spouses claiming veteran's preference must, at time of application, furnish a DD214 or equivalent certification.

There is a probationary period of 12 months before employees obtain permanent status in a position. Officers start their probationary period after they complete their field training.

Documents that may be required at time of application may include, but are not limited to, a high school diploma, birth certificate, DD214 if applicable, and any certificates of compliance and/or college transcripts depending upon the position for which one is applying.

The City of Pensacola is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

One way for people to find out if they might like to pursue a career in law enforcement is through the department's Ride Along Program. By riding with officers as they work regular duties in the field, the public can learn what it takes to become a Pensacola Police officer.

For more information about the Ride Along Program, call 435.1950.

For information on whether the City of Pensacola is accepting applications, contact the Civil Service Office at City Hall, 180 Governmental Center, Pensacola, FL 32501 or phone 850.435.1912.

Additional information can be obtained by contacting Officer Lonnie Isom at 850.435.1960. He also can be reached by email at Lisom@ci.pensacola.fl.us.

Officer Isom can also be contacted if people have participated in the Ride Along Program and want more information about becoming an officer or cadet.