Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Join Our Team

If you want a rewarding career in law enforcement with an emphasis on helping people and protecting the state's natural and historic treasures, consider becoming a New York State Park Police Officer. Our team works in some of the most beautiful places in the state. Contact a Park Police Recruiter in your area.

Qualifications

• Candidates must be at least 20 years of age at time of appointment. Candidates must not have passed their 35th birthday on the date of the written test. Time spent on military duty or on terminal leave, not exceeding a total of six years, shall be subtracted from your age if you have passed your 35th birthday.
• Minimum college education requirements: 60 college credit hours, 30 of those hours may be waived if candidate is an honorably discharged veteran with at least two years of active military duty.
• Must be a United States citizen and New York State resident at the time of appointment, and maintain a New York State residency after appointment.
• Must hold and maintain a valid New York State Driver license at time of appointment.
• Visual acuity should be correctable to better than, or equal to 20/30 (Snellen) in each eye; if correction is required, distant visual acuity should not be less than 20/100 without correction in each eye.
• Must pass a physical/medical examination.

Civil Service examinations are scheduled by the NYS Department of Civil Service. The next exam for the positions of Park Police Officer Trainee/Park Police Officer (Spanish Language) Trainee, has not been announced. For more information visit Career Opportunities in New York State Law Enforcement

Exam & Selection Process

The NY State Park Police does not keep an exam notification database at this time. To be notified about future exams, please sign-up for automatic e-mail notifications with the NYS Department of Civil Service.

• Agility performance test. Candidates may be contacted at any time to attend the agility test. They are urged to maintain a level of fitness that will enable them to meet the standards listed in the Cooper Norms.
• Extensive background investigation, including polygraph examination
• Medical examination, subsequent to a conditional offer of employment. See the Civil Service Physical/Medical Requirements Form (pdf).
  
• Psychological examination, drug testing
• Successfully complete a six month residential police basic school

Selection Process Frequently Asked Questions (pdf)

Tattoo Policy (pdf)

Salary & Benefits

The current starting salary for a NY State Park Police Officer Trainee, at SG-13, is $56,360. As a Trainee, you will participate in a one-year traineeship. Upon completion of the traineeship, you will advance to the Grade 14 Park Police Officer, with a starting salary of $65,798. This includes all contractual wages.

Appointees who work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester Counties will receive an additional $1,613 annual downstate adjustment. In addition, appointees who work in the following locations will receive an additional supplemental local pay in the following amounts: the counties of Orange, Putnam, and Dutchess - $1,343; the five boroughs of New York City, Rockland, and Westchester Counties - $2,017; and Nassau and Suffolk Counties - $2,352.

NEW: Additionally, appointees who work in the mid-Hudson region (Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, and Westchester counties) or downstate region (Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, or Suffolk counties) may receive up to an additional $15,000 in geographic pay differential. Learn more.

• Salaries do not include overtime.
• Retirement is at half pay after 25 years.
• Promotional opportunities by competitive examination processes.
• Accrue 13-24 vacation days, 12 holidays, 5 personal days and 13 sick days each year.
• Excellent health, dental and optical insurance coverage
• All uniforms and equipment are provided

Academy and Job Scope Frequently Asked Questions (pdf)

Contact

NY State Park Police
OPRHP
Albany, New York 12238
(518) 474-4029
email: PPOcareers@parks.ny.gov

For questions regarding employment with the New York State Park Police, please contact the appropriate region or headquarters listed below and ask to speak with the Recruiting Officer.

• Long Island/Metro - (631) 321-3700 (Nassau, Suffolk, NYC)
• Hudson Valley - (845) 786-2701 EXT. 209 (Palisades, Taconic, Saratoga/Capital)
• Mid-State – (315) 492-6422 (Central, Finger Lakes, Thousand Islands)
• Western New York - (716) 278-1777 (Niagara, Genesee, Allegany)
• Division Headquarters - Albany - (518) 474-4029