Careers: Police Officers
Additional Information:
Unified Police Department
Unified Police Department is committed to hiring and retaining the highest quality law enforcement personnel. The Unified Police Department is a diverse group of employees and volunteers that are united in a common goal to provide the safety and welfare of the citizens of Salt Lake County. Explore your options to either become employed full-time as a career, or volunteer to make a difference in your community.
Police Officer Recruitment
Lateral, Entry-Level & LEO Certifiable Police Officers
The Unified Police Department is pleased to announce the continuous recruitment for Entry Level and Lateral Police Officers.
Police Officer Application Process
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Salary
UPD Pays on a bi-weekly pay cycle with 26 pay periods per year.
Experienced law enforcement officers (Laterals) will receive one-year credit for each year of completed service in a category one LEO capacity for purposes of pay.
Completed Years of Service UPD Equivalent Beginning Salary
| 0 completed years | $31.18 per hour or $64,854 annually |
| 1 completed years | $32.03 per hour or $66,622 annually |
| 2 completed years | $33.83 per hour or $70,366 annually |
| 3 completed years | $34.75 per hour or $72,280 annually |
| 4 completed years | $36.69 per hour or $76,315 annually |
| 5 completed years | $37.70 per hour or $78,416 annually |
| 6 completed years | $39.80 per hour or $82,784 annually |
| 7 completed years | $40.90 per hour or $85,072 annually |
| 8 completed years | $43.18 per hour or $89,814 annually |
| 9 completed years | $44.36 per hour or $92,269 annually |
| 10 completed years | $46.83 per hour or $97,406 annually |
| 11 completed years* | $48.12 per hour or $100,090 annually |
Insurance
- Health Insurance: Providers are through Public Employees Health Plan (PEHP) (IMC and Uof U health plans)
- Dental Insurance: Provider is Educators Mutual Insurance (EMI)
- Life Insurance & LTD: Provider is Public Employees Health Plan (PEHP)
Vacation, Holiday & Sick Leave Accruals
(based upon completed UPD years of service)
• Vacation / Holiday:
• Year 1 thru 8 = 192 hours annually (344 hour annual carryover maximum)
• Year 9 thru 16 = 240 hours annually (344 hour annual carryover maximum)
• Year 17 and above = 288 hours annually (344 hour annual carryover maximum)
• Sick leave: 96 hours annually (unlimited accrual / no maximum)
Retirement
- Retirement: Utah Retirement Systems Public Safety Retirement (URS)
- 401(k): UPD puts 6.2% of your pay into a 401(k) for each member, no matching contribution required
Tier II 401(k) contribution: UPD contributes up to an additional 5% into a 401(k) to help make up the difference between the Tier I and Tier II URS retirement plans. (**no match required)
| Status | URS Tier 1 UPD Contribution | URS Tier 2 UPD Contribution | 401k Contribution for Tier 2 (Difference rounded down to lowest whole #) |
| Sworn | 32.20% | 21.72% | 5% |
Tuition Reimbursement
- Upon successful completion of probation any classes taken from that point forward may have 100% of tuition costs reimbursed upon successful completion of the class(s) up to the annual maximum.
- Must pass each class with a “C” grade or better
- Annual Maximum reimbursement of $5,250 or a total of $21,000 per degree
Education Incentive Pay
- Master’s Degree = $75.00 per month
- Bachelor’s Degree = $50.00 per month
- Associates Degree = $25.00 per month
Take Home Vehicle
- Sworn members are assigned a “take home vehicle” which may be used for commuting to/from work or other authorized activity within 35 miles of the center of Salt Lake County (defined as 4748 S. 440 W.) No additional fee is charged for the use of the “take home vehicle.”
- Members are allowed “reasonable personal use” of their take home vehicle within Salt Lake County. (*supplemental insurance coverage is required)
- Members who reside outside of Salt Lake County are not authorized for off duty personal use.
Assignments/Transfers
After your initial 2.5 years of service in a patrol assignment you will be eligible to submit a transfer request to any patrol precinct or specialty assignment with the UPD. The UPD is comprised of the following 5 patrol precincts:
- Kearns Precinct: (27 Officers & Detectives)
- Magna Precinct: (29 Officers & Detectives)
- Midvale Precinct: (42 Officers & Detectives)
- Millcreek Precinct: (42 Officers & Detectives)
- Holladay Precinct: (30 Officers &Detectives)
Each patrol precinct houses an investigative squad which contains:
- Property Crimes Detectives
- Community Oriented Policing Detectives
- School Resource Officers
- Traffic Officers
In addition to the patrol precincts the UPD has several specialized divisions including: Special Operations
- K9 4 Officers
- SWAT (1 Full-Time Officer, 40 Secondary Assignments
Investigations Division:
- Violent Crimes Unit 8 Detectives
- Special Victims Unit 8 Detectives
- Domestic Violence / Fraud Unit 7 Detectives
Professional Standards
- Training Officer 3 Officers
Technical Services
- Fleet Coordinator 1 Officer