Careers at MPD

Salary Range: $68,349.78-$100,022.00 annually

• Lateral officers have the ability to start at a higher step depending on background & experience levels.
• Max salary step is achievable in just 8 years.

Benefits

• $1,800 Uniform Allowance (Additional $450 for Special Assignments)
• 10 Paid Holidays & 3 Floating Holidays
• Paid Vacation Leave Starting at 88 Hours Per Year
• Paid Sick Leave up to 120 Hours per Year with Unlimited Accrual
• Special Assignment Pay
• Court Overtime
• Call Out Pay
• Ability to Hold Up To 100 Hours In a Comp Time Bank
• Zero-cost employee medical, dental, and vision plans (low-cost options for family coverage)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Qualified Employer for the Department of Education's Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Employer Paid Term Life and AD&D Insurance
• Short Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Account & Health Savings Account
• Free Employee Membership to Copper Sky Multigenerational Center
• Wellness Program Incentives
• Employee Assistance Program
• Voluntary Benefits such as Life Insurance and Supplemental Plans

See the latest benefit options(PDF, 3MB).

Minimum Entrance Qualifications

Meet all minimum qualifications of Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZ POST) for a certified Peace Officer.

AZ POST requirements:

• Applicants must be United States citizens.
• At least 21 years of age by graduation from the Police Academy. No upper age limit.
• Requires graduation from high school or GED.
• Undergo a complete Background Investigation that meets the standards of AZ POST.
• Undergo a complete medical examination that meets AZ POST standards.
• As outlined by AZ POST, vision is acceptable if it is 20/20 uncorrected or 20/20 or better corrected by glasses. If vision is uncorrected at 20/80 or better, and can be corrected to 20/20 by use of glasses or hard contacts, it is acceptable. If vision is uncorrected at 20/20, it must be corrected to 20/20 with soft contacts. An eye examination by an optometrist of the City's choice will be required prior to the appointment. Radial keratotomy may be accepted once visual acuity is stabilized.
• Applicants may not have been convicted of a felony or any offense that would be a felony if committed in Arizona. Applicants must not be under any indictment for any felony in any state or jurisdiction.
• The applicant may not have been previously denied, revoked, or have had their certification suspended.
• Applicants may not have been dishonorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces.
• Must possess an Arizona Class D Driver's License by the hire date. No license or registration suspensions within the last 3 years from the date of application.

Prior to appointment or attending an academy, an applicant shall meet the following minimum qualifications:

• Must not have illegally sold, produced, cultivated, or transported for sale marijuana; Not have illegally used marijuana for any purpose within the past 6 months; Not have illegally used marijuana other than for experimentation.
• Must not have illegally sold, produced, cultivated, or transported for sale a dangerous drug or narcotic; Not have illegally used a dangerous drug or narcotic, other than marijuana, for any purpose within the past seven years; Not have illegally used a dangerous drug or narcotic other than for experimentation; Not have a pattern of abuse of prescription medication.
• Due to the nature of the position, driving is required to perform the duties of a Police Officer. Factors that could prohibit a candidate from moving forward in the testing process include Loss of license due to driving violation points and/or two Chargeable accidents within the previous 3 years.

Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job, may be substituted at the discretion of city management

In-state lateral hires complete an interview then go onto the background check, polygraph, file review, and medical reviews.

Out-of-State lateral hires are welcome to attend a testing session and then participate in an oral interview.

If candidates are unable to attend a testing session in person, the process can begin virtually. After submitting an application, they will be contacted for an oral interview (virtually) and then go into the background check, polygraph, file review, and medical reviews. Once a job offer is received, the candidate will complete the AZPOST waiver process which includes the PAT Fitness Test, Driving Course, Firearm Qualification (day and night), and then complete the comprehensive final exam (CFE) or certain portions of the CFE depending on what training records they can provide).

Lateral Officers do have the ability to transfer prior experience to MPD. This allows lateral officers to start at a higher pay step than recruits. 

MPD encourages all of its officers to take control of their careers and pursue their passions. We are proud to offer the following specialty areas.

• K9
• Traffic
• Detective
• School Resource Officer (SROs)

Although we do not recruit and/or assign personnel directly into special assignments, experience, and expertise will be considered for a future appointment.

As MPD grows to meet the needs of the city of Maricopa, we expect additional specialty units/positions will be added on an annual basis.

The Maricopa Police Department strives to hire, retain and empower women in our organization. Currently, women make up 16.8 percent of sworn officers in our department (as of March 2026). The national average is just 13.3%.

Women on our team play an integral role throughout all ranks of our department to meet the expectations of our diverse community.

Our Mission: Unlock the full potential of the city of Maricopa and create a thriving and durable community.

City Demographics

• City Population: Approx. 75,000+ and growing
• Median Age of Maricopa: 35
• Education Level: Approx. 30% of residents hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.
• Homeowners: Approx. 73% of Maricopa residents are homeowners.
• Median Income: $86,000 - Higher than the national average.
• Number of City Employees: 569 Full-Time
• Number of City of Employees that live in Maricopa: 415

Top 5 Reasons to Live in the City of Maricopa

1. Rapid Growth: Maricopa is one of the fastest-growing cities in Arizona, offering plenty of opportunities for career advancement.
2. Attractive Location: Maricopa is located in the Sonoran Desert, offering a unique blend of natural beauty and urban amenities.
3. Affordable Cost of Living: The cost of living in Maricopa is lower compared to many other cities in the region, making it an affordable place to live and work.
4. Access to Outdoor Recreation: Maricopa is surrounded by beautiful parks and lakes, providing plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation.
5. Strong Sense of Community: Maricopa has a strong sense of community with a variety of events and festivals throughout the year that bring people together.

Application & Testing

How long does the hiring process take?

Currently, the average time from application submission to a conditional job offer is approximately 60-90 days. The more thorough your application is, the faster we can get you through the process.

What should I wear to my testing day?

In most cases, applicants will be completing their fitness and written test on the same day. For this reason, we encourage you to come dressed in proper fitness attire and running shoes. Avoid jewelry, glasses, and hats. Casual observers are not allowed to enter the testing area.

Are there any age limits in order to become an officer?

There are no age limits on becoming an officer, but all candidates must be 21 years of age by the completion of the police academy.

When do I take my physical fitness test?

Recruit applicants will take the written test and in-person physical fitness test on the same day.

What classifies an applicant as a lateral officer hire?

To be considered a lateral police officer, you must currently be Arizona POST certified and have worked at least 2080 hours (1 year full-time) post-academy for an Arizona law enforcement agency.

What classifies an applicant as an out-of-state lateral officer hire?

To be considered an out-of-area lateral police applicant, you must currently be employed as a police officer, or have been actively working for two of the past three years: or have (1) served solely as Tribal officers and have not been certified by another state, or (2) Federal officers who have served solely in agencies with limited or specialty enforcement missions.

Academy

How long is the academy?

The Maricopa Police Department partners with other Phoenix Metro agencies in order for our officers to attend a police academy. Most run 26 weeks.

As a lateral officer do I need to attend the Police Academy?

No. Once hired, the applicant will attend a (minimum) 8-week Lateral Field Training Officer Program. During the program, the applicant will be familiarized with the policies and procedures of the Maricopa Police Department.

Out-of-state laterals will also need to successfully complete the AZ Post required proficiency skills (Tactical Driving, Firearms, and PAT) and the AZPOST Waiver Exam with a minimum score of 70%.

Are you paid as a police officer recruit while attending the Police Academy?

Yes. While attending the police academy you receive a bi-weekly salary and health benefits.

Life as an Officer

Do you currently have a policy regarding tattoos for police officers?

We do not currently have a policy regarding visible tattoos for sworn police officers.

What are the policies regarding facial hair for male police officers?

While in the police academy and while in field training officers need to be clean-shaven. Once a solo capable officer conservative-styled mustaches and beards are allowed.

Where is the police department located?

The Maricopa Police Department is located at 18135 N Park Plaza, Maricopa, AZ 85138.

What are officers’ work schedules like?

Our officers work four 10-hour shifts. Once a year officers are able to submit shift bids for one of three shifts: 0530-1530, 1300-2300 & 2000-0600.

Do I have to live in Maricopa or can I live in another city?

While we believe the City of Maricopa has so much to offer employees and their families, there is no requirement to live within city limits. We do ask that our officers live within a reasonable distance that allows an adequate response time if needed.