Memphis is a major city in western Tennessee, situated on the Mississippi River, with a population of over 610,000.1 The Memphis Police Department (MPD) fields over 2,000 sworn officers serving the city from nine patrol stations and more than 75 specialized units.2 Men and women who want to join the Memphis Police Department will find information on the application, selection, and training process below.

Memphis Police Officer Requirements

To join the MPD, candidates must meet the following minimum qualifications:

  • Be at least 21 years of age upon completion of the Police Basic Training program
  • Be a US citizen, or a permanent legal resident of the United States who is an honorably discharged veteran of the US armed forces (permanent residents must apply for citizenship within six years of hire)
  • Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license
  • Hold a high school diploma or equivalent, plus one of the following: 24 semester hours from a regionally or nationally accredited college or university recognized by the US Department of Education; two years of verifiable work experience within five years of the class start date; or two years of active or reserve military service within five years of the class start date
  • Have no felony convictions or guilty pleas

Applicants begin by submitting an online qualification profile through the City of Memphis applicant portal. Qualified candidates are invited to self-schedule a battery of entry tests, which includes a 1.5-mile run, an obstacle course, a written exam, and a behavioral interview — all conducted in a single testing session. Candidates who pass all four components advance to a background screening, psychological exam, clinical interview, medical assessment, and fingerprint submission before receiving a final job offer. The full hiring process typically takes two to six months. For more information about becoming a law enforcement officer, see our home page. To apply, visit the MPD recruitment page.

Memphis Police Training Academy

All MPD recruits complete 23 weeks of paid training at the Memphis Police Department Training Academy (MPDTA), a CALEA-accredited public safety training facility housed at the John D. Holt Training Facility. The curriculum addresses Tennessee law, departmental policy and procedure, human relations, report writing, investigation techniques, community policing, defensive tactics, vehicle operations, and firearms qualification. Upon graduation, newly sworn officers are assigned to one of the department’s nine patrol stations, where they serve as probationary patrol officers under the supervision of a field training officer for 12 months.

Salary, Benefits, and Jobs Outlook

Police recruits earn $54,611 per year during the 23-week academy. Salary rises to $57,937 upon graduation and assignment as a probationary officer. After the probationary period, sworn officers advance through the pay scale below based on years of service (figures effective July 1, 2023).3

Service TimeAnnual Base Salary
Officer II (1–2 years)$65,661
Officer II (2–3 years)$70,615
Officer II (3–5 years)$77,877
Officer II (5+ years)$79,413

Officers who have completed 85 or more semester hours of college coursework earn a 5% pay supplement; those with a four-year degree receive a 7.5% supplement. Additional pay programs include shift differential pay, bilingual pay, hazardous duty pay for assignments such as Bomb Technician, K-9, and Crime Scene, and an annual POST certification supplement. Longevity pay begins after five years of service. The city provides $3,000 per year in tuition reimbursement and participates in a student loan reduction program.3

Benefits include medical and dental benefit options, vision coverage, and life insurance. Officers are enrolled in the City of Memphis Hybrid Pension Plan — a combined defined benefit and 401(a) defined contribution plan — and are eligible to retire after 25 years of service. Officers with 10 years of service may be eligible for federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness.3

Tennessee employment of police and sheriff’s patrol officers is projected to grow 13.0% from 2022 to 2032, with approximately 1,110 new positions added each year on average, according to Projections Central.5 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 3,520 police and sheriff’s patrol officers are employed in the Memphis metropolitan area, earning a mean annual wage of $67,100.4 The number of officers hired by the MPD in any given year depends on the city’s budget and the number of officers who retire or separate. Find open Memphis police officer listings on our jobs board.

Career Advancement at the Memphis Police Department

New MPD officers begin as probationary patrol officers and, after completing their initial service requirements, may compete for specialty unit assignments. The department maintains over 75 specialized units and assignments, including Crime Scene Investigation, TACT, Canine, Mounted Patrol, Organized Crime, and Motorcycle, among many others. Promotion to sergeant is the first step on the supervisory track; sergeants at MPD earn $86,653 per year.3 Officers pursuing investigative careers can apply to divisions covering Personal Crimes, Property Crimes, Cold Case, and Organized Crime. The MPD also offers a lateral entry track for certified law enforcement officers with prior experience.

Cities and Police Departments Near Memphis

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 3,520 police and sheriff’s patrol officers are employed in the Memphis metropolitan area, earning a mean annual wage of $67,100.4 Officers in the region can also find opportunities with the Collierville Police Department and the Germantown Police Department. For more information about police departments across the state, see our Tennessee page.

Additional Resources

Memphis Police Department Contact

References:
1. US Census Bureau, QuickFacts, Memphis, TN: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/memphiscitytennessee/PST045224
2. Memphis Police Department: https://www.memphispolice.org/
3. JoinMPD, Benefits & Salary: https://joinmpd.com/benefits-salary/
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Memphis, TN-MS-AR: https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/area/0032820
5. Projections Central, Long-Term Occupational Projections, Tennessee: https://projectionscentral.org/longterm