To attract more applicants to the force, the Montgomery County Police Department will adjust requirements to join the next class of police officers.
On Thursday, MCPD announced they will no longer require a candidate have 60 college credits to apply. Instead, through a partnership with University of Maryland Global Campus, once a recruit completes the Police Training Academy Entry Level Training and Field Training and Evaluation Program, they will earn 60 college credits. This will uphold the force’s longstanding commitment to a solid academic foundation for working as a police officer.
This change opens a more accessible career path for those who want to apply to the academy.
The new policy hopes to refill the ranks of more than 160 sworn officer vacancies. Impending retirements threaten to thin those numbers even more. Over the past three years, patrol staffing dropped by 24%.
To attract more candidates the department offers a $20,000 signing bonus and has hired a recruitment firm.
Applications for Police Officer Candidates – Session 81 – opens today online.
