Port Authority NY/NJ - Police Officer

All candidates are required to have one of the following by the determined date for the Background Event:

• 21 years of age and have not yet reached their 35th birthday at the start of the Police Academy
• If you are a military veteran or a spouse of a disabled or deceased veteran who is 35 years of age or older at the start of the Police Academy, the Port Authority will allow veterans to deduct up to six years of military service from their age

To determine who is invited to participate in the written exam, we will conduct a random selection process from the pool of eligible applicants. Those selected and who qualify throughout the various stages of the evaluation process will have a chance at placement into the next Police Academy.

As a bi-state Agency, the Port Authority will strive to achieve a balance of candidates from the bi-state jurisdiction that we serve.  Applicants who are residents of the following New York and New Jersey counties are eligible to apply and will be moved to the random selection:

NY Counties:  New York (Manhattan), Kings (Brooklyn), Queens, Bronx, Richmond (Staten Island), Westchester, Rockland, Nassau

NJ Counties: Hudson, Essex, Bergen, Passaic, Morris, Union, Somerset, Middlesex, Monmouth

Those who are residents outside of the counties identified above are INELIGIBLE TO APPLY and will not be included in the random selection. 

All candidates are required to have one of the following by the determined date for the Background Event 1:

OPTION 1: Education-Based Qualification 

• Official transcript signifying completion of a minimum of 60 college credits from a college or university accredited by a regional accreditation organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Association (CHEA) and/or accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) or WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
• Note:
  • All college credits claimed through job training programs (e.g. FEMA) must be reflected on an official transcript issued by an institution accredited by one for the above commissions by the determined date for the Background Event.  
  • An applicant must have completed all academic, financial, and administrative obligations required to obtain an official transcript by the determined date of the Background Event. Unofficial transcripts will not be accepted. 

OPTION 2: Military-Based Qualification 

• High School Diploma or GED   

AND one of the following: 

• Official Proof of Service Letter or DD214 demonstrating honorable discharge from the United States Military, Reserve Component (Selective Reserve or Inactive Ready Reserve) or National Guard (Army or Air) after serving a minimum of two years of active duty.  

OR 

• Official Proof showing candidate is the spouse of a member of the United States Military, including the Reserve Component and National Guard, who was either killed while on active duty or incurred a disability as a result of active-duty service.  

 OPTION 3: Experience-Based Qualification 

• High School Diploma or GED

AND  

• Have at least 2 years (104 weeks) of satisfactory employment and is currently employed in one or more of the following occupational categories with no more than 90 days break in service:Sworn
  • Law Enforcement or Corrections
  • Port Authority of NY & NJ Employee
  • Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Agent
  • Licensed Security Guard

Candidates must be a United States citizen at the start of the Police Academy.

Candidates must have a current, valid driver's license at the start of the Police Academy.

Alcohol Use

• Let go/fired from a job for alcohol use in the last 2 years 
• Arrived to work intoxicated in the last 2 years 
• Constant/habitual alcohol abuse in the last 5 years

Drugs

• Sold illegal drugs 
• Uses or used illegal drugs in the last 5 years 
• Constant/habitual illegal drug use 

Driving Violations

• Had 2 or more DUI’s in the last 5 years 
• Had 5 or more separate moving violations in the last 5 years 

Convictions

• Convicted of felony or indictable offense  
• Convicted of property theft  
• Convicted of 2 or more separate misdemeanors or non-indictable offenses  
• Convicted of illegal possession of a firearm 
• Convicted of or plea agreement to any offense that would preclude applicant from legally owning and/or carrying a firearm 
• Convicted of a crime with groups classified as conducting illegal or hate related activities  
• Convicted of domestic violence or restraining order 
• Convicted of child abuse or neglect 
• Currently on probation for a felony or indictable offense or has been on probation for a felony or indictable offense at any time. 

Miscellaneous

• Dishonorable discharge from any branch of military service 
• Terminated from any law enforcement agency for disciplinary reasons. 
• Adjudicated by a court or found by an employer to have violated any person's civil rights. 
• Bench warrant issued for failing to appear in court for a motor vehicle charge or criminal charge on more than two occasions. 

Candidates may also be disqualified if they demonstrate a history of disregard for the law, a tendency toward violence, substance abuse, termination from a job for poor behavior, or not adjusting to discipline. 

• $20 Written Exam fee
• $20 Physical Performance Test fee
• $35 Background Investigation fee

All fees will be waived for qualified candidates who request and meet the specified criteria for a payment waiver. Details on the fee waiver request process will be provided when the application period opens. All fees are non-refundable / non-transferable.

Join our Police Recruitment Network to stay informed on the different stages of the selection process.