Job Announcement:

TOWNSHIP OF HOPEWELL

NOW HIRING

Probationary Police Officer

OPEN TO BOTH CERTIFIED AND NON-CERTIFIED CANDIDATES!!!

*PTC Full Certification Candidates (NJ Basic Police Officer) are EXEMPT from PT Test Phase*

SLEO II Candidates MUST take our PT Test

**********PT TEST TO BE SCHEDULED SHORTLY AFTER DEADLINE********

Hopewell Township Police Department is currently seeking qualified and motivated applicants for the position of Police Officer. The department is seeking to establish a list and hire multiple candidates in 2025 and 2026. Apply for the position to join a young, proactive, and community-oriented police department with forward-thinking leadership.

Once hired and trained, officer will have the opportunity to join one of our expanding specialty units consisting of Patrol Division, Traffic Unit, Detective Bureau, Drone Unit, K-9 Unit, Community Partnership Unit, Rapid Response Partnership, and Tactical Response Team. Other roles include Evidence Technician. Crisis Intervention Team, Field Training Officer, amongst others. 

We value education and training, both of which are promoted and funded by the department. Our officers are exposed to extensive training opportunities in an ever-evolving profession. Additionally, officers are encouraged to continue to their college education with 50% paid tuition towards degrees in Criminal Justice. 

Join our team!

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Must possess at least ONE of the following:

• Associates Degree or 60 College Credits, OR
• 2 Years Active Military Service w/ Honorable Discharge, OR
• NJ PTC Full Certification for Basic Police Officer, OR
• NJ PTC SLEO II Certification, OR
• Enrolled as Alternate Route in NJ Police Academy

Candidates must also:

• Be a citizen of the U.S., a resident of the State of New Jersey. 
• Be between the ages of 18-35 at the time of appointment
• Be able to read, write, and communicate effectively.
• Possess a high school diploma or its equivalent. 
• Be of good moral character, sound body and good health.
• Must possess a valid New Jersey driver’s license.  

SALARY

$57,869 - $133,182 (Paid through Academy at $50,652 - upgraded to 1st step upon graduation)

*NEW PBA CONTRACT IN 2027 

Great Benefits and Retirement Investment Packages

• Exceptional Personal Leave and Contractual Benefits
• 12-hour Pitman Schedule 
• 50% College Tuition for Approved Degrees
• Extra Duty opportunities 

HIRING/TESTING PROCESS

*Candidates possessing NJ PTC Basic Police Officer Full Certification are exempt from the PT Test*

*SLEO II Candidates eligible for waiver but MUST take the PT Test*

*Certified Corrections Officers will still need to attend the Police Academy for Basic Course for Police Officers certification

The hiring process for qualified candidates consists of a physical fitness test, initial internal interview with Police Administration, followed by a thorough and extensive background investigation of selected candidates. A second formal interview will be conducted amongst a panel consisting of Police Administration and other ranking officers, where a list of candidates will be compiled. Finally, selected candidates will interview with Hopewell Township Committee representation before final approval.

Physical Test Will Include: 

• 1 Minute Push-ups
• 1 Minute Sit-ups
• 300 Meter Run
• 1.5 Mile Run

ABOUT OUR DEPARTMENT

Hopewell Township is a rapidly growing community with a police department currently consisting of 34 officers and a Chief of Police. 

All newly-sworn officers will start their careers in the patrol division where they will be trained under the department’s 12 week FTO program, which provides the skills necessary for safe and active patrol work. Upon completion of the FTO program, HTPD promotes continued education and training funded by the department.

HTPD provides a work environment that revolves around teamwork. Every officer has a role. HTPD has a variety of specialty units and assignments including Patrol Unit, Detective Bureau, Traffic Unit, K-9 Unit, Community Partnership Unit, Firearms Range Instructors, In-Service Training / Rapid Response, Bike Unit, School Resource, Defensive Tactics / LE Jiu Jitsu, Crime Scene, Youth Police Academy, and others. Our department is continually exploring new ways to be involved in the community with a number of charity sporting events, toy drives, national night out, and various other events.

Hopewell Township Police Department’s goals are centered around proactive and community-based policing. 

ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY

Hopewell Township, a roughly 60-square-mile area in central NJ, is part of Hopewell Valley (along with Hopewell and Pennington Boroughs). Our police department patrols Hopewell Township and Borough, and our dispatch center also serves Pennington PD. We serve about 20,000 residents and expect growth due to ongoing development.

Hopewell Valley has four elementary schools, one middle school, a regional high school, plus vocational and private schools. Key locations in our jurisdiction include Capital Health Hospital, Princeton Place, Mercer County Jail, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals. We partner with these organizations for safety.

State Highways 31 and 29 run through Hopewell Township, and I-295 is nearby.

Our growing community features rural areas, farms, newly built suburbs, trails, and boroughs. The Delaware River forms our western border, the site of George Washington's 1776 crossing into Hopewell Township, an event reenacted annually at Christmas.

Hopewell Township and Valley are welcoming and inclusive; values reflected in our police department. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate.

Please direct questions regarding this position to recruiting@hopewelltwp.org