Employment
Officers are at the Gulfport Casino during a swearing in ceremony
Gulfport Police Department offers among the finest Florida law enforcement employment opportunities available. Our benefits package, training, equipment, and work assignments are competitive in not only the Tampa Bay area, but throughout Florida. Whether you are a current resident or are looking to relocate to the Sunshine State, consider this gem of a community and its full-service but family-sized agency in your search.
Salary Information
Base Pay (2184 hours at $24.87 per hour) |
Signing Bonus* |
Compensation for Holidays |
Shift Premium Pay |
Uniform Maintenance Allowance |
Shoe Allowance |
Education Incentive** |
Total Minimum Pay--First Year |
$54,316.84 |
$9,694 |
$3,282.84 |
$1,120 |
$400 |
$100 |
$360 |
$62,579.68 |
* $3,000 paid by the City of Gulfport and $6,694 paid by the state of Florida. Click here for further details
**$30 per month paid to officers with an Associate's Degree from a regionally accredited college or university
**$30 per month paid to officers with an Associate's Degree from a regionally accredited college or university
Left to right: Commander Farrand, Officer Palazzolo, Officer Ramos, Detective Crowson and Sergeant Wiltse.
Additional Benefits
-Police academy sponsorship available.
-84 hours annual vacation, increasing after three years.
-Two paid personal days off.
-Annual sick leave of 96 hours with rollover accrual.
-Officers who reside in Pinellas County are assigned a take-home vehicle.
-All uniforms and equipment issued, including body armor and AR-15 rifle.
-Comp time can be earned in lieu of overtime; up to 84 hours may be banked.
-Employee health insurance coverage provided at NO COST.
-Life insurance equal to one year of base salary provided at NO COST.
-AD&D, and long term disability coverage provided at NO COST.
-Tuition reimbursement for qualifying coursework at accredited institutions.
-Up to $400 annual reimbursement for Life Scan comprehensive physical exam
-$1,000 reimbursement for training for qualified out-of-state officers or military special operations members.
-Up to four weeks paid parental leave for the birth, adoption, or foster care intake of the employee's child per year**.
**Employee must have exhausted all accrued sick time prior to this benefit being applied.
Retirement Benefits
-The Gulfport Municipal Police Officers Trust Fund is an independent retirement fund overseen by a local board of trustees.
-The monthly benefit shall equal 2.88 percent of average final compensation times the number of years of credited service.
-Officers may retire at age 50 with at least ten years of credited service.
-Example: an officer who starts at age 21 and retires at age 50 would be eligible for a pension benefit equivalent to approximately 84% of his or her salary at the time of retirement.
-Upon retirement, officers are paid up to 400 hours of accumulated sick leave
-The City also offers a deferred compensation program.
-Police academy sponsorship available.
-84 hours annual vacation, increasing after three years.
-Two paid personal days off.
-Annual sick leave of 96 hours with rollover accrual.
-Officers who reside in Pinellas County are assigned a take-home vehicle.
-All uniforms and equipment issued, including body armor and AR-15 rifle.
-Comp time can be earned in lieu of overtime; up to 84 hours may be banked.
-Employee health insurance coverage provided at NO COST.
-Life insurance equal to one year of base salary provided at NO COST.
-AD&D, and long term disability coverage provided at NO COST.
-Tuition reimbursement for qualifying coursework at accredited institutions.
-Up to $400 annual reimbursement for Life Scan comprehensive physical exam
-$1,000 reimbursement for training for qualified out-of-state officers or military special operations members.
-Up to four weeks paid parental leave for the birth, adoption, or foster care intake of the employee's child per year**.
**Employee must have exhausted all accrued sick time prior to this benefit being applied.
Retirement Benefits
-The Gulfport Municipal Police Officers Trust Fund is an independent retirement fund overseen by a local board of trustees.
-The monthly benefit shall equal 2.88 percent of average final compensation times the number of years of credited service.
-Officers may retire at age 50 with at least ten years of credited service.
-Example: an officer who starts at age 21 and retires at age 50 would be eligible for a pension benefit equivalent to approximately 84% of his or her salary at the time of retirement.
-Upon retirement, officers are paid up to 400 hours of accumulated sick leave
-The City also offers a deferred compensation program.
Eligibility Requirements (You must meet these, or your application will not be accepted)
1. Be a citizen of the United States
2. Be at least 21 years of age
3. Have at least three points from a combination of the following:
A. 1 point for every 20 credit hours of post-secondary education from a regionally-accredited college or university
B. 1 point for each year of prior, full-time law enforcement or corrections service
C. 1 point for each year of active duty service in the United States Armed Forces
D. 1 point for each full year of service in a BSA-affiliated law enforcement Exploring program
4. Possess a valid US driver’s license or ability to obtain a Florida driver’s license prior to hire date. (Applicants without out of state driver’s license will need to get a Florida license within 30 days of hire.)
5. Have no felony convictions or misdemeanor convictions involving perjury
6. Have no dishonorable discharge from any of the armed services of the United States
1. Be a citizen of the United States
2. Be at least 21 years of age
3. Have at least three points from a combination of the following:
A. 1 point for every 20 credit hours of post-secondary education from a regionally-accredited college or university
B. 1 point for each year of prior, full-time law enforcement or corrections service
C. 1 point for each year of active duty service in the United States Armed Forces
D. 1 point for each full year of service in a BSA-affiliated law enforcement Exploring program
4. Possess a valid US driver’s license or ability to obtain a Florida driver’s license prior to hire date. (Applicants without out of state driver’s license will need to get a Florida license within 30 days of hire.)
5. Have no felony convictions or misdemeanor convictions involving perjury
6. Have no dishonorable discharge from any of the armed services of the United States
Application Process
1. To apply for employment with the Gulfport Police Department, please click here to complete the initial application. If you meet minimum qualifications, a recruiter will contact you to proceed with the next steps:
2. In-person, oral board interview with GPD command staff members.
3. POST test, which will be administered by GPD staff.
4. Physical abilities test (click here for details).
5. Background investigation including employment and education verification, law enforcement records checks, military record checks, credit check, driving history, etc.
6. Polygraph examination: A certified examiner will ask questions about your application, PHQ, and background.
7. Psychological evaluation: A licensed practitioner will evaluate your fitness for duty.
8. Medical evaluation: A licensed practitioner will evaluate your fitness for duty, including an 8-panel drug screen.
Applicants may be required to complete the Pinellas Police Applicant Screening Service*
*This process may be waived in certain circumstances. Contact the recruiter for more information.
1. To apply for employment with the Gulfport Police Department, please click here to complete the initial application. If you meet minimum qualifications, a recruiter will contact you to proceed with the next steps:
2. In-person, oral board interview with GPD command staff members.
3. POST test, which will be administered by GPD staff.
4. Physical abilities test (click here for details).
5. Background investigation including employment and education verification, law enforcement records checks, military record checks, credit check, driving history, etc.
6. Polygraph examination: A certified examiner will ask questions about your application, PHQ, and background.
7. Psychological evaluation: A licensed practitioner will evaluate your fitness for duty.
8. Medical evaluation: A licensed practitioner will evaluate your fitness for duty, including an 8-panel drug screen.
Applicants may be required to complete the Pinellas Police Applicant Screening Service*
*This process may be waived in certain circumstances. Contact the recruiter for more information.
For more information
Detective Chris Priest, recruiter and background investigator
727-893-1123
727-893-1123
The city of Gulfport is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or other non merit factors.