Detention Officers:
Secure Your Career
Become a Detention Officer
with PHX PD
Detention Officers perform a variety of tasks involved with booking, maintaining custody, transporting and releasing of prisoners. As well as respond across the city to help support crime suppression projects.
Minimum Requirements
- Upon hire, successful completion of the MCSO or PHX PD Detention Officer academy or requisite experience (previous experience may exempt a candidate from this requirement)
- Equivalent to a high school diploma or G.E.D.
- Other combinations of experience and education meeting the minimum requirements may be substituted
- Work nights, weekends and holidays
- Some positions require the use of City vehicles. Individuals must be physically capable of operating a motor vehicle safely, possess a valid driver's license and have an acceptable driving record
- Work in stressful situations with potentially harmful consequences
- Carry a firearm and maintain firearms proficiency throughout your career
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Perform physical tasks, including bending, reaching, kneeling and crouching - Stand and sit for extended periods
- Handle objects weighing up to 50 pounds, occasionally objects will be 100 pounds or greater
- Perform duties in various environmental conditions including heat, cold, rain, air pollution and dust
- Detention Officers must respond swiftly and effectively to physical confrontations and emergencies, potentially using legal force to restrain violent or combative prisoners
Preferred Qualifications
- Fluent in Spanish
- Experience with Customer Service
- Experience with Microsoft Outlook Suite
- Experience working in law enforcement, the criminal justice field or similar environment
Our hiring process is designed to identify individuals committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and service. Here’s what you can expect:
1. Apply
Visit the City of Phoenix jobs website and search “Detention Officer Trainee”
Complete the required information and attach, as one document, your cover letter and resume. Please include your experience as it relates to the qualifications stated above. The results of the resume screening process will be sent to your primary email address.
If eligible for the position you will be contacted via email to move on to the next step of the hiring process. Be sure to check your junk mail folder as well.
2. Job Interview
3. Background Process
Successful applicants will be notified via email when they are to begin the background process with the Phoenix Police Department Employment Services Bureau.
Please consider the following disqualifiers before applying for the position:
- Felonies: Conviction of a felony
- Misdemeanors: Conviction of a job-related misdemeanor within the last three years
- Drug Use: Illegal marijuana use occurring within the last 12 months
Other Illegal drug use occurring within the last five years - Financial: Job-related negative financial history occurring within the last five years
- Driving: Job-related negative driving history occurring within the last five years
- This is not an all-inclusive list. Other factors (poor driving record, immoral conduct, criminal activity, dishonesty, etc.) will also be assessed and may lead to disqualification. Individuals should consider all of these factors when applying. Exceptions may apply and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis
4. Polygraph Examination
You will be required to complete a polygraph examination administered by the Phoenix Police Department.
5. Controlled Substance Screening
Applicants will be required to submit to a urinalysis at some point in the hiring process
Please note: If you do not meet the Job Requirements for Detention Officer and are interested in this career field, you may apply for “Detention Officer Trainee”. Please see Job ID 51953 to apply.
Competitive Salary
Pay and Hiring Range:
$26.18-$35.08 hourly
after graduation
- Pay range is the entire compensation range for the position classification
- Hiring range is an estimate of where you can receive an offer. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses and or training
- Laterals applicants can negotiate pay based on experience
Benefits
A comprehensive benefits package includes:
- Traditional pension with employer and employee contributions, click here for more details: Pension Information
- 401(a) and 457 plans with employer contributions
- Choice of medical HMO, PPO or HSA/HDHP plans
- Medical enrollment includes a monthly $150 City contribution to Post-Employment Health Plan
- Wellness incentive of up to $720 annually
- Dental, vision and life insurance options
- Employer paid long-term disability
- Free bus/light rail pass
- Tuition reimbursement program up to $6,500 per year
- Paid time off includes 13.5 paid holidays, 12 vacation days and 15 sick days and personal leave days
- Paid Parental Leave for eligible employees up to 480 hours (12 weeks) of paid leave for the birth, adoption or foster care placement of a child during 12 months