Pittsfield - Entry Level Police Officer

The Pittsfield Police Department is a full-time municipal law enforcement agency consisting of 97 budgeted sworn personnel and 30 civilian support staff. Sworn personnel include 1 Chief, 4 Captains, 6 Lieutenants, 13 Sergeants, 8 Detectives, 4 Drug Investigators, 3 Crime Scene Investigators, 3 School Resource Officers, 1 Safety (Community) Officer, 1 Training Officer and 53 Patrol Officers (which includes Traffic and K-9 Officers). Civilian support staff includes 12 full-time Dispatchers, 2 Animal Control Officers, 5 Mental Health Co-Responders, 1 Social Worker, 1 Administrative/Finance Director, 5 Administrative Support Staff, 1 Crime Analyst, and 4 additional civilian staff.

The department comprises of four divisions

Uniformed Patrol Division
This division is responsible for response to calls for service from the community, traffic enforcement, and routine patrol. Members of the patrol division utilize various equipment (motorcycles, bicycles, off-road motorcycles, downtown foot patrol, and boat patrol) to perform patrol functions and directly interact with citizens in the community.

Detective Bureau
This division is responsible for investigations into major crimes such as homicides, shootings, robberies, sexual assaults, home invasions, arsons, drug distribution, larcenies, and other crimes. The division is responsible for all evidence handling and storage, collection of all digital evidence and court liaison functions.

Operational Support Division
This division is responsible for overseeing the school resource officers, emergency communications center (dispatch), radio equipment, special events, community outreach and engagement, and department personnel health and wellness.

Administrative Division
This division works with civilian staff for all budgetary tasks, ordering and management of uniforms and equipment, supervising the training division, records management, firearms licensing, and internal affairs.

Special Assignments/Units

The Pittsfield Police Department offers a wide range of career development and specialty positions to include Detective Bureau, Crime Scene Services, Digital Forensic Evidence Unit, Drug Unit, Traffic Enforcement/Crash Investigation, Drone Unit, K-9 Unit, Anti-Crime Unit, School Resource Officers, Bicycle Unit, Motorcycle Unit, Off-Road Motorcycle Unit, Downtown Patrol, Berkshire County Special Response Team (SWAT), Training Division, and assignment to the Berkshire County Law Enforcement Task Force and Federal Task Forces. 

The Pittsfield Police Department engages with the community by conducting Coffee with a Cop events, Citizen’s Police Academy, Popsicle Truck events, Shop with a Cop, Police Explorers, and other community events.

The Pittsfield Police Department strives to be the most progressive, proactive, and professional police agency that we can be for the residents of our City. The Pittsfield Police Department embraces not only the philosophy, but the practice of community policing by continuing to partner with residents, businesses, other City departments and our state and federal counterparts to address not only crime, but neighborhood quality of life issues. As an agency, we believe that the best way that we can accomplish our goals of preservation of life, crime prevention, problem solving, arrest and prosecution is to work together with all our residents to improve the quality of life in Pittsfield. We continue to work aggressively to identify new technologies, equipment, programs, and opportunities for collaboration in order to positively affect the quality of life in the City of Pittsfield.

The City of Pittsfield is located several miles from the border of New York State in Western Massachusetts and serves a resident population of 43,900 with a daytime population of 60,000. Pittsfield is the central hub of Berkshire County and is known for its cultural, commercial and medical commerce. Pittsfield boosts a downtown area consisting of retail stores, restaurants, art galleries, beauty and wellness businesses, a movie theater, a museum and performance arts theaters. Pittsfield has an area of 42.5 square miles and is located 48 miles West of Springfield, MA and 39 miles East of Albany, NY. Pittsfield is the home of 2 large lakes used for boating, fishing and recreation, miles of hiking/biking paths, several golf courses and the Pittsfield State Forest consisting of 11,000 acres for camping, hiking, and fishing.

Job Description/General Duties:

• The professional responsibilities of police officers/employees include but are not limited to:
• The protection of life, safety and the safeguarding of property
• The prevention and control of crime
• The investigation of crime, the apprehension of criminal offenders and the recovery of stolen property
• The preservation of public peace and good order
• The immediate response to public emergencies
• The creation of a sense of safety and security for the entire community through crime prevention, patrol and community policing
• The accomplishment of all police objectives within the law and the constitutional guarantees of all citizens
• The performance of such other police related services, duties, functions and responsibilities required of the officer by the Department and/or the community
• The advancement of a cooperative relationship with the general public
• The creation of awareness through the implementation of educational programs.

Salary

$55,902 (during academy) up to $86,094 (after completion of academy w/EMT, Master's Degree, Language and Shift Differential). Top pay $126,433** (10 years - EMT, Master's Degree, Language and Shift Differential)   ** does not include special assignment/ specialized services pay or instructor pay that officers could be eligible to receive.

Incentives

• Shift Differential (10% evenings & up to 15% midnights)
• Educational pay (15% Associate's, 20% bachelor's and 30% master's degree) **Criminal Justice or related field (related field approved on case-by-case basis)
• 16% pay for Crime Scene Investigators
• 14% pay for Safety Officer
• 12% special services pay (Detective, Drug Investigator, Traffic, K-9, SRO)
• 10% special assignment pay (Drone Operator and Training Officer)
• 6% special assignment pay (Anti-Crime Unit, Special Response Team Operator, Dive Team)
• 4% language proficiency, 4% EMT/Paramedic, 2% instructor pay
• Tuition Reimbursement - $1,500 per semester
• $1,500 Physical Fitness Assessment Stipend
• $300 Boot Allowance
• $900 Uniform Allowance and $150 Court Attire Allowance
• Overtime available
• Road details available

Hiring Process:

• MCOPA Written Testing - 70% Click here for registration page
• Employment Application Submission: All candidates are required to complete the application to the best of their ability, provide all supporting documentation, be accurate and truthful and ensure that no information is withheld or missing from the application. Honesty and candor in answering questions is valued above all else.
• Application Review and Meeting with Hiring Staff: Candidates meet with a member of the hiring staff to review the application and supporting documentation.
• Physical Fitness Assessment Test: Candidates will participate in a physical fitness assessment that consists of (4) fitness exercises (push-ups, plank, 1.5 mile run and 300m run) based on the Cooper standards and require a 30th percentile score based on gender and age. The test is pass/fail based on the score and can be re-tested once to attempt a passing score.
• Background Investigation: The department performs a thorough and in-depth investigation into the background of the candidate. Candidates will be disqualified from the hiring process if they do not meet the standards and character for the position of police officer for the City of Pittsfield.
• Chief's Interview: The candidates who successfully passed the background investigation will have an interview with the Chief of Police and members of the Command Staff.
• Medical Examination: All candidates receiving a conditional offer of employment must pass a medical examination and drug screening.
• Psychological Test: Candidates are required to pass a psychological test via zoom or in-person.
• Massachusetts Human Resources Division Physical Abilities Test (PAT):  All candidates must successfully pass the Massachusetts Human Resources Division Physical Abilities Test conducted in Hudson, MA.  This test is a timed course simulating the tasks performed by law enforcement officers on a daily basis.  This test is pass/fail.
• MPTC Police Academy: Candidates will attend a 22-week MPTC Police Academy where they will learn all aspects of the job of a police officer to include criminal law, procedures, motor vehicle law, firearms, emergency vehicle operations, defensive tactics, and more. Candidates must successfully complete all requirements of the academy to graduate.
• Field Training Program: All candidates must compete a 15-week Field Training Program to learn the policies and procedures of the Pittsfield Police Department and demonstrate the ability to perform the job functions of a police officer. This program may be shorter than the 15-weeks if all tasks are complete and proficiency is demonstrated.

The City of Pittsfield is an Equal Employment Opportunity/ Affirmative Action employer. All persons are encouraged to apply.