POLICE OFFICER RECRUIT - Range 35 / APD [ 12/4/2026 Academy ]

Posted: 02/02/2025

Fire, Law Enforcement, and Security

POLICE OFFICER RECRUIT - Range 35 / APD [ 12/4/2026 Academy]

If you are interested in the position, please apply at the link provided below:
POLICE OFFICER RECRUIT - Range 35 / APD [ 12/4/2026 Academy ] | Job Details tab | Career Pages

Job Information

Open to the general public and any current Municipal employee.

This position is represented by the Anchorage Police Department Employees Association (APDEA) and is subject to the provisions of the current contract between the Municipality of Anchorage and the APDEA.

DEPARTMENT: Anchorage Police Department
HOURS OF WORK: 4/10's schedule
LOCATION OF WORK:3760 W. Dimond Blvd, Anchorage, Alaska

To be considered for employment, applicants must be legally authorized to work and accept employment in the United States. The Municipality of Anchorage is not able to provide any type of sponsorship, including Student Visas and Employment Visas, under any circumstances.

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*** This announcement is for Police Officer Recruits ***

ACADEMY START DATE: 12/4/2026

Applicants who are successful in the testing and selection process may be added to the eligibility list to be considered for positions that become available in the future.

Selected hires will advance to a sworn Police Officer after the successful completion of the Police Academy.

Example of Duties

Anchorage Police Officers/Senior Police Officers perform a wide range of police services and a variety of tasks including; maintain order, enforce codes and ordinances, identification and apprehension of violators within the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA). Respond to complaints and requests for police assistance and intervene in various situations as required. Promote safety and wellbeing through the enforcement of local, state, and federal laws in a manner consistent with the mission and goals of the MOA. Conduct preliminary investigations; collect and preserve evidence. Ability to coordinate with other agencies, maintain records and daily reports; prepare cases for court testimony and testify in court as required. Perform other required duties as assigned.

Additional Information:

Enforcement of all criminal and traffic laws including the identification and apprehension of violators. Perform a variety of crime prevention and enforcement duties as assigned. Respond to complaints and requests for Police assistance and intervene in various situations as required. Enforce traffic regulations, direct traffic, investigate collisions and complete detailed collision reports. Conduct preliminary investigations; collect and preserve evidence. Maintain records and daily reports; prepare cases for court testimony. Testify in court as required. Coordinate with other agencies as required.

The duties and requirements of a Police Officer include, but may not be limited to, performance of the following activities: use of firearms, driving emergency vehicles, handcuffing prisoners, administering first aid, rescue operations, lifting and carrying 0-70 lbs, directing traffic, subdue prisoners, pursue suspects, walking-lateral mobility, walking over rough terrain, bending, stooping, crouching, sitting, standing, standing for long periods, kneeling, twisting body, pushing, pulling, running, sense of touch, reaching, gripping hands and fingers, climbing stairs, climbing ladders, hearing alarms, hearing voice conversation, color identification, close vision, far vision, side vision-depth perception, night vision, maintaining balance, finger dexterity, speaking English, physically control combative and disruptive persons.

Minimum Qualifications / Substitutions / Preferences

High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.

Must be a citizen or US National of the USA by date of hire.

Must be at least 21 years old by date of hire.

Must possess a valid State of Alaska driver's license at date of hire.

Must meet Alaska Police Standards Council (APSC) and Anchorage Police Department (APD) standards regarding misdemeanor and/or felony convictions, traffic violations and use of controlled substances at time of hire. Such as:

No felony convictions after reaching the age of 18.
No marijuana uses within the past one (1) year.
Refer to the Background Investigation information in the Notice Section for further, specific details.

Alaska Public Safety Information Network (APSIN) / National Crime Information Center (NCIC) certification within thirty (30) days of hire.

Must be able to obtain APSC certification within 13 months of hire (AS 18.65.240).

Satisfactory Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) background check at time of hire.

Applicants for this position will possess the following qualities:

Unquestionable character and integrity
Free of cultural and ethnic bias
Strong ethical code in both personal and professional life
Desire to diligently protect and serve the community through courage, compassion and respect.
Personal conduct above reproach

Additional Important Information

TESTING INFORMATION AND NOTIFICATION

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, have acceptable employment records, and meet Municipal standards related to driving guidelines and criminal conviction history may be invited to participate in the Police Officer Testing process.

Applicants invited to test will be notified of the testing dates, times, and locations via email and/or phone. Ensure the email and phone number provided on the application are valid and current. Testing notifications will only be sent to the email address listed on the application.

An APD Police Officer is a professional and highly sought after position. Applicants should consider every step in the process as part of a professional job interview. Appearance and conduct during the process should exude professionalism. Applicants with unprofessional attire, such as jeans, shorts, t-shirts, or tennis shoes, may be turned away from testing or disqualified. This does not apply to the Job Task Simulation Test (JTST); appropriate workout clothing is required for this test.

If during any portion of the application, entry level testing or background process it is discovered that the applicant falsified any material fact, or intentionally omitted or modified material facts, the applicant will not be eligible to re-apply or be considered for any position with the Anchorage Police Department.

Entry Testing Information

All applicants must pass the entry level Police test by I/O Solutions. For information regarding the written test, study guides and practice tests, go to www.publicsafetyrecruitment.com. Any cost related to this information is at the expense of the applicant.

Applicants must meet the minimum passing score of 70% to be advanced to the Job Task Simulation Test (JTST). The written test results are valid for two (2) years. Unsuccessful applicants are not eligible to re-apply for six (6) months from the date of testing.

Job Task Simulation Test (JTST)

The Job Task Simulation Test (JTST) is physically demanding, and a certain fitness level is required to pass and prevent injury.

When given the signal from a test administrator, the applicant will exit the driver's seat of a patrol vehicle and run a total distance of approximately 400 yards. During the run, the applicant will encounter and navigate numerous obstacles, including zigzagging through a series of cones, ducking under obstacles, scaling a fence, long-jumping a specified distance, going up and down stairs, a push/pull simulation, and a victim rescue drag. Applicants will perform the test while wearing a weighted belt and vest, equivalent to the weight a Patrol Officer carries while performing job-related tasks.

Applicants must complete the JTST in 3 minutes and 36 seconds.

A diagram and video of the JTST can be viewed at https://www.joinapd.org/jtst. Remember, all applicants are encouraged to reach out to APD recruiting if they have any concerns about the test.

Each applicant will be given two attempts to pass the test on the same testing day. If unsuccessful, the applicant may try again at the next available testing date.

CONDITIONAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT – BACKGROUND PHASE

Applicants who successfully complete the Job Task Simulation Test (JTST) will be given a "Conditional Offer of Employment". The six (6) Steps and conditions of employment are listed below.

Step 1: Preliminary Interview

The preliminary interview is a structured interview focused on behavior relevant to the essential job elements required for the position of Police Officer. The applicant's interview skills, employment history, driving history, illegal substance abuse history and other relevant information will be assessed to determine if the applicant meets Anchorage Police Department standards.

Step 2: Background Investigations

The Background Investigation is a critical examination of an applicant's past work and personal history. The Background Investigation phase takes the majority of time in the application process.

Applicants who are not successful during the Background Investigation phase are eligible to re-apply two (2) years from the date of the conditional offer unless otherwise indicated.

If during any portion of the process/background investigation it is discovered the applicant committed an act or acts which would constitute felonious conduct under Statutes, except the specific exclusions regarding simple possession and/or use of a controlled substance, the applicant will not be eligible to re-apply or be considered for any position with the Anchorage Police Department.

The investigation consists of:

Employment history
Criminal and civil history checks
Military records
Driving history checks
Credit history checks

Interviews with:

Spouses/significant others
Employers, co-workers
Neighbors
Secondary developed references

Eliminating Factors are listed below. Includes but is not limited to:

CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS

Conviction of a felony crime by a civilian court of a US State, Federal Court, Territory, or Military Court or any other Country for an offense which would be classified as a felony under Alaska Statue.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Illegally manufactured, transported or possessed with intent to sell or distribute, or who has sold a controlled substance and/or an imitation controlled substance, unless under 21 years of age and the act occurred more than 10 years before the date of hire.

Illegally used any controlled substance, other than marijuana, including scheduled prescription medications not prescribed to you within five (5) years of the date of hire (unless under the age of 21 at the time). Exception: immediate, pressing or emergency medical circumstance existed to justify the use of a prescription controlled substance not specifically prescribed to the applicant.

Used marijuana to any degree within one (1) year of the date of application, regardless of marijuana's legal status at the time.

To any degree, used an illegal controlled substance while employed as a certified Municipal, State, or Federal peace officer, or correctional officer.

Step 3: Psychological Assessment

The Psychological Assessment is a two-part process, and is used to determine suitability for the position. The first part is a written exam, and the second part is an interview with a State of Alaska licensed Psychologist. The written exam can take approximately 4 – 6 hours to complete.

Applicants must successfully complete the Psychological Assessment in order to continue in the selection process. Unsuccessful applicants may re-apply after two (2) years.

Step 4: Polygraph Examination

Successful applicants will be required to submit to a Polygraph Examination.

Applicants must successfully complete the Polygraph Examination in order to continue in the selection process. Unsuccessful applicants may re-apply after two (2) years.

Step 5: Command Review and Chief's Selection

After passing all previous steps and phases, applicant files will be forwarded to a command review, where a panel of no less than three command level officers will review applicant files before they are forwarded to the Chief for final selection. Unsuccessful applicants may re-apply after two (2) years.

Step 6: Final Conditional Offer of Employment

The Municipal Employment Office will contact the selected applicants to make a final conditional offer of employment. The final conditional offer of employment is based upon successful completion of the remaining conditions of employment:

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

Medical examination by an MOA designated licensed physician to determine if the applicant is physically sound and free from physical defects that would adversely affect the performance of duties required by a Police Officer.
- Physical audio/visual requirements include normal color discrimination, normal binocular coordination, normal peripheral vision, and corrected visual acuity of 20/30 or better in each eye. Normal color discrimination is defined as having the ability to discern the primary safety colors of red, green and yellow. Requires normal hearing or having no hearing defect which would adversely affect performance as a Police Officer.
Satisfactory drug screen result.
Valid State of Alaska Driver's License and satisfactory Driving Record.
- Submission of a current (dated within 30 days from the date requested) copy of the applicant's Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) Driving Record, including a driving record from previous states if the Alaska driver's license was first issued within one year prior to application, documenting an acceptable driving history. The processing fee(s) are the responsibility of the selected applicant.

Selected hires will advance to a sworn Police Officer after the successful completion of the Police Academy.

EDUCATIONAL PAY BENEFIT

In accordance with the APDEA CBA, after successful completion of probation, employees are eligible for educational pay benefits of the below amounts for college degrees issued by an accredited institution as recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA):

4% for an Associate's Degree
8% for a Bachelor's Degree

POLICE OFFICER RECRUIT - Range 35 / A...