1. How do I become a police officer?

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     To act in the capacity of a Police Officer in New York State, an individual must be "sworn" under NYS Criminal Procedure Law Section 1.20(34) and they must be "certified" by completing training in accordance with NYS General Municipal Law 209-q.

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      There are a few ways to become "sworn."  Generally, an individual must take a written test developed by New York State Civil Service and administered by the Personnel Department of each county, although there are some agencies that have the ability to hire from a resume / interview process and others (usually those with complex jurisdictional boundaries) are authorized to develop their own internal testing processes.  In Rockland County the tests are administered approximately every four years with the most recent having been spring of 2021.

     Approximately 6 months after a test is administered, the Personnel Department begins physical fitness testing of those who passed the written exam.  Those who pass the physical fitness test are placed on an "eligible" list, grouped by written test score.  When a police agency is ready to fill a vacancy, they request a copy of the list of eligible candidates.  Any agency requesting the list has the option of adding specific requirements to the list; for example one agency might require that a candidate live within Rockland County as of the date the candidate is hired while another agency might require that a candidate has lived within a certain town for a year prior to being hired.  Those extra requirements are spelled out in the initial announcement of the test which is available from the Personnel Department.

     Once an agency requests a copy of "their" list, the agency conducts interviews and a background investigation which may include medical exams, psychological exams, a polygraph, criminal history checks and more.  The agency must certify that they are in compliance with state rules regarding the hiring process and the physical and moral fitness of candidates.  Those rules are spelled out here.

     Only after this entire process is complete will a successful candidate be offered employment.  The agency, must notify New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services that the individual is "sworn" using a form known as a "2214a" which must bear the signature of the Chief of the agency, the Clerk of the municipality, the Commissioner of County Civil Service Authority and the newly-hired Recruit Police Officer.  Once New York State receives the form, the individual's name appears on the Police Officer Registry, under New York State Executive Law 845. 

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     Then, the agency will send the Recruit to the academy for a little less than six months of training.  After graduation, the Recruit must be successful in completing 160 hours of Field Training at the employing agency.  Passing both the academy and Field Training earns the individual the certification in the Basic Course for Police Officer (BCPO) under NYS GML 209-q.

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     The Rockland County Police and Public Safety Academy conducts a program in conjunction with Rockland Community College that allows non-sworn candidates to take most of the Police Academy Basic Course for Police Officers for college credit.  Candidates who complete this program - known as the Pre-Employment Program must still go through a hiring process (i.e., take the civil service exam, etc.) to become employed and sworn, however the second phase of their training is only about one month long.

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2. What is the address of the Police Academy?

     We are located on the grounds of the Yeager Complex in Pomona, New York

          50 Sanatorium Road

          Building G

          Pomona, NY 10970

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3. How do I contact you?

     You can email us at rcpa@rcpin.net or call 845-364-8700

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4. Can my agency use the academy building?

    Law Enforcement Agencies can request space using our contact form here.