How to Become a Police Officer in Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city in Oklahoma, with a population of over 710,000 spread across approximately 620 square miles.¹ The Oklahoma City Police Department (OKCPD) employs 1,169 sworn officers and 300 civilian employees to protect and serve this large city.² Men and women who want to join the OKCPD will find information on the application, selection, and training process below.

Oklahoma City Police Officer Requirements

To be considered for employment with the OKCPD, candidates must meet the following minimum qualifications:³

• Be between 21 and 45 years of age on the first day of the police academy
• Be a US citizen
• Hold a valid driver’s license with at least two years of driving history, a driving record that demonstrates safe vehicle operation, and proof of liability insurance
• Possess a high school diploma or GED
• Have no felony convictions
• Have a stable employment and credit history
• Be eligible for acceptance into the Oklahoma State Police Pension and Retirement System

Candidates begin the process by submitting an online application through the City’s employment system. Those who clear the minimum qualifications review complete a Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ) through the department’s background investigation software, along with supporting documents. Applicants then take the Frontline National written exam through the National Testing Network (NTN) — covering reading, writing, and situational judgment — and complete a Physical Ability Test (PAT) consisting of a timed obstacle course. Candidates who advance are scheduled for a polygraph examination and an extensive background investigation that covers personal, financial, employment, and residential history. Those who proceed appear before an Employment Assessment Board made up of department command staff; their recommendation goes to the Chief of Police for review. Candidates who receive a conditional offer of employment complete a medical examination and psychological evaluation, including drug and alcohol testing. The OKCPD maintains a revised tattoo policy — applicants should review the current OKCPD tattoo policy before applying.

For more information about becoming a law enforcement officer in a large city like Oklahoma City, see 10 Steps to Becoming a Police Officer on our home page. To apply, visit the OKCPD recruitment site.

Oklahoma City Police Department Academy

Candidates who receive an offer of employment join the department as police recruits and attend the Oklahoma City Police Department Academy, a non-residential program that runs approximately 28 weeks.⁴ Recruits are paid employees throughout the academy and receive all required uniforms and equipment at no cost. Training covers patrol tactics, constitutional and criminal law, emergency vehicle operation, firearms, self-defense tactics, de-escalation, principles of investigation, CPR and first aid, and bilingual law enforcement skills, among other subjects. Completing the OKCPD Academy satisfies the peace officer certification requirement set by the Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) for all Oklahoma law enforcement officers statewide.⁵ After graduating, recruits enter the Field Training Officer (FTO) Program for four to six months before beginning solo patrol assignments in one of the department’s four patrol divisions.⁴

Salary, Benefits, and Jobs Outlook

The OKCPD publishes the following pay ranges for fiscal year 2024/2025.² Recruits enter at Recruit Step A and advance to Officer Step A upon completing their one-year probationary period. Officers receive an additional step raise each year thereafter.

Officers receive a range of additional incentive pay. Education incentive pay begins one month after academy graduation: $75 per month for an associate’s degree, $150 per month for a bachelor’s degree, and $175 per month for a master’s or advanced degree. Officers who qualify for bilingual incentive pay receive $50 to $100 per pay period depending on language proficiency level. Each officer also receives a uniform allowance of $1,810 per year. Patrol shifts follow an eight-days-on, six-days-off schedule with 10-hour shifts; patrol officers receive nine special days off per year in addition to earned vacation and sick leave.²

Officers who complete the academy and field training program are eligible to apply for tuition reimbursement, which covers 100% of tuition for approved courses completed with a grade of C- or better, up to $1,250 per semester. Officers have access to a variety of health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance options. All officers are enrolled in the Oklahoma State Police Pension and Retirement System, which is currently 101.8% funded and provides retirement after 20 years of service regardless of age.²

Oklahoma employment of police and sheriff’s patrol officers is projected to grow 9.9% from 2022 to 2032, with approximately 900 new positions added each year on average, according to Projections Central.⁶ According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage for police and sheriff’s patrol officers in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area is $73,610.⁷ Find open Oklahoma City police officer listings on our jobs board.

Career Advancement at the OKCPD

All OKCPD officers begin their careers in patrol, assigned to one of the department’s four patrol divisions. After gaining experience in the field, officers may pursue specialty assignments in units such as Criminal Investigations, Special Operations, K-9, the Helicopter Unit, the Motorcycle Unit, the Lake Patrol Section, and the Airport Police Unit, among others. Promotion to sergeant is competitive and based on a departmental promotional process; sergeants at the OKCPD earn between $80,596.80 and $102,938.40 annually depending on step placement.² Officers pursuing higher education benefit from the department’s tuition reimbursement program and monthly education incentive pay, which together make it practical to complete a degree while working full time.

Cities and Police Departments Near Oklahoma City

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 2,860 police and sheriff’s patrol officers work in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.⁷ Law enforcement professionals in the region can also explore opportunities with the Edmond Police Department, the Norman Police Department, the Bethany Police Department, and the Shawnee Police Department. For more information about police departments across the state, see our Oklahoma page.

Additional Resources

• Oklahoma City Fraternal Order of Police — The local bargaining unit representing members of the Oklahoma City Police Department.
• Oklahoma Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (OSPOA) — A statewide professional association open to all levels and branches of law enforcement, offering training programs, networking events, and professional support.
• Oklahoma State Fraternal Order of Police — A statewide advocacy and fraternal organization representing over 6,000 law enforcement members across eighty lodges in Oklahoma.

OKCPD Contact

• 700 Colcord Drive, Oklahoma City, OK 73102
• (405) 316-5140
• OKCPD Website
• OKCPD Facebook
• OKCPD X

References:
1. US Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 Population Estimates, Oklahoma City: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/oklahomacitycityoklahoma/PST045224
2. Oklahoma City Police Department Recruiting, Pay Scale and Benefits: https://joinokcpd.com/contact
3. Oklahoma City Police Department Recruiting, Qualifications: https://joinokcpd.com/qualifications
4. Oklahoma City Police Department Recruiting, Academy: https://joinokcpd.com/new-page-1
5. Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training: https://oklahoma.gov/cleet/peace-officers-training.html
6. Projections Central, Long-Term Occupational Projections, Oklahoma: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm
7. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Oklahoma City, OK: https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/area/0036420