State of Maryland

A Police Officer Trainee is the entry level of law enforcement work learning to enforce laws, rules and regulations governing the safety and protection of personnel and State property.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive close supervision from a Police Officer Supervisor or Police Chief I.  Employees may be assigned to day, evening, night or rotating shifts which may include holidays and weekends.  Employees may be subject to call-in and overtime based on staffing needs.  Employees may be required to work outdoors in all types of weather conditions.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Police Officer Trainee, Police Officer I and Police Officer II are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Police Officer Trainee learns to perform duties under close supervision. The Police Officer I performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed.  The Police Officer II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Learns to enforce laws, rules and regulations governing the protection of personnel and State property;

Learns to perform safety, patrol and security duties in motor vehicles or on foot;

Learns to confront prowlers and suspicious persons;

Learns to direct vehicular traffic and enforce parking regulations;

Learns to issue warnings or summonses and make arrests;

Learns to investigate accidents and criminal acts;

Learns to prepare clear and accurate reports of accidents and unusual incidents in accordance with agency guidelines;

Learns to render emergency first aid;

Responds to disturbances and emergencies;

Assists in transporting suspects and patients in State vehicles;

Performs other related duties.

Ability to learn Maryland State criminal, civil and traffic laws;

Ability to learn investigative techniques;

Ability to learn agency policies, rules and regulations concerning police duties;

Ability to learn to care for and use firearms;

Ability to learn to prepare clear and accurate reports;

Ability to follow specific instructions;

Ability to react quickly and calmly during emergency situations;

Ability to endure vigorous physical activity;

Ability to communicate effectively and tactfully with employees, volunteers, supervisors, volunteer and civic organizations and the general public.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or high school equivalency certificate acceptable to the Maryland State Board of Education as described in the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission regulation. 

Experience: None.

Note: The above educational requirement is set by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission in accordance with Public Safety Article, Section 3-207, Annotated Code of Maryland.  

1. Employees in this classification who have not already done so must successfully complete the Entrance Level Police Training Course required by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission during the probationary period.

2. Employees in this classification will be required to secure a Police Officer certification as required by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission during the probationary period.

3. Employees in this classification may be required to possess or obtain a special police commission in accordance with Public Safety Article, Section 3-209, Annotated Code of Maryland, .

1. Selection standards for Police Officer certification are established by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission in accordance with Public Safety Article, Section 3-207, Annotated Code of Maryland.  These selection criteria are listed in detail in the Code of Maryland Regulations 12.04.01.04 and include the following:

U.S. Citizenship

Must be at least 21 years of age

Satisfactory background investigation, including a check of criminal history

Oral interview

Physical examination

Possession of a driver's license valid in the State of Maryland.

2. Employees in this classification are subject to call-in and, therefore, will be required to provide the employer with a phone number where they can be reached.

3. Employees in this classification may be required to bear firearms and to demonstrate practical knowledge and proficiency in the safe use and care of firearms on a periodic basis as required by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit I- Sworn Police Officers classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial, and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime, as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.