Phoenix, Arizona is home to over 1.6 million people, making it the fifth-largest city in the United States.1 The Phoenix Police Department (PPD) employs over 2,700 sworn officers and serves residents across seven patrol precincts.2 The process for becoming a Phoenix police officer is detailed below.

Phoenix Police Officer Requirements

The requirements to join the PPD are outlined below. Candidates must:

  • Be at least 20.5 years old at the time of application and 21 years old prior to completing academy training
  • Be a US citizen
  • Have a high school diploma or GED
  • Have a valid driver’s license that has not been canceled, refused, suspended, or revoked for a moving violation within the past 36 months
  • Meet Arizona Peace Officers Standards and Training Board (AZPOST) drug standards
  • Have an honorable discharge, if a military veteran
  • Have no commission or conviction of a felony; misdemeanor arrests are considered on a discretionary basis

Candidates begin the process by submitting an online application through the PPD’s recruitment portal. The selection process includes a written exam, background investigation and interview, polygraph exam, physical agility test (the Peace Officer Physical Aptitude Test, or POPAT), psychological evaluation, medical examination, and drug screening. AZPOST-certified lateral officers from Arizona agencies may be eligible for streamlined processing. Candidates who clear all steps are appointed to an upcoming academy class.

For more information about becoming a law enforcement officer, see our guide on how to become a police officer. To apply, visit the Phoenix Police Department application page.

Phoenix Police Regional Academy

Candidates appointed to the PPD enter the Phoenix Police Regional Academy as paid employees. Recruits are not required to live at the academy, and training is provided at no cost to the candidate. Classes run Monday through Friday, 8.5 hours per day, for 20 weeks. Upon successful graduation, recruits are promoted to the rank of police officer. New officers then complete a field training program to familiarize them with PPD procedures and equipment before beginning patrol duties.

Salary, Benefits, and Jobs Outlook

Officer recruits earn $68,661 annually ($33.01/hour) during academy training. Upon graduation and promotion to officer, base pay scales to a maximum of $105,539 annually ($50.74/hour).3 Officers assigned to bilingual translation duties receive an additional $10 per hour during translation activities, including related paperwork and court appearances.3 A $7,500 hiring bonus is paid in three installments: $2,500 at initial hire, $2,500 upon completing the academy, and $2,500 upon successful completion of the probationary period.3 Officers also receive shift differential pay ($2.00/hour for shifts ending after 10:00 p.m.; $1.00/hour for weekend shifts).3

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage options, up to $6,500 per year in tuition reimbursement, and up to 480 hours of paid parental leave following the birth or adoption of a child. Officers accrue vacation leave at a rate of eight hours per month during their first five years, with the rate increasing incrementally to 15 hours per month over a career. Officers are enrolled in the Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS), a defined-benefit pension plan for public safety employees.3

Arizona employment of police and sheriff’s patrol officers is projected to grow 3% from 2022 to 2032, with approximately 800 new positions added each year on average.4 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, police and sheriff’s patrol officers in the Phoenix metro area earn a mean annual salary of $87,870.5 Find open Phoenix police officer listings on our jobs board.

Career Advancement at the PPD

All PPD officers begin their careers in patrol. After completing field training, new officers work in one of the department’s seven patrol precincts. The PPD offers more than 80 specialty details and a broad range of promotional opportunities for officers who advance through the ranks.2

To be eligible for promotion to sergeant, officers must have at least four years of service with the PPD and hold a bachelor’s degree.2 Promotion above sergeant follows a structured process through lieutenant, captain, and command ranks. Officers may also pursue assignment to specialty units–including investigations, SWAT, K-9, and others–after accumulating patrol experience.

Cities and Police Departments Near Phoenix

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 7,750 police and sheriff’s patrol officers work in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler metro area.5 Law enforcement professionals in the Phoenix region can also explore opportunities with the Chandler Police Department, the Glendale Police Department, the Mesa Police Department, the Scottsdale Police Department, and the Surprise Police Department. For more information about police departments across the state, see our Arizona page.

Additional Resources

  • Arizona Fraternal Order of Police — The Arizona Fraternal Order of Police advocates for the law enforcement profession and organizes networking, social, and charitable events throughout the year.
  • Arizona Police Association — The Arizona Police Association is a state-level advocate for law enforcement, active in the areas of politics and labor relations.
  • Phoenix Law Enforcement Association — The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association provides legal representation, legislative advocacy, and other benefits to Phoenix-area police officers.

Phoenix Police Department Contact

References:
1. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-Year Estimates, Phoenix city, Arizona: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/phoenixcityarizona/PST045224
2. Phoenix Police Department, JoinPHXPD: https://joinphxpd.com/
3. Phoenix Police Department, Salary and Benefits Summary: https://www.phoenix.gov/police/joinphxpd/salary-and-benefits-summary
4. Projections Central, Long-Term Occupational Projections, Arizona, via O*NET: https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/33-3051.00?st=AZ
5. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler-Scottsdale, AZ: https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/area/0038060