At far left, Jamestown Police Department Deputy Chief Adam McKinley, and at far right JPD Chief Scott Forster stand with recent graduates of the citizens’ academy. Submitted photo

Jamestown Police Department is looking for new recruits.

If you have ever thought of becoming a police officer, the window is opening.

According to its Facebook page, the Jamestown Police Department is actively recruiting and encourages interested applicants to apply through Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Academy. Applications are now being accepted, and the deadline to apply is Aug. 18. Graduates earn the New York State Basic Police Training certification, which is required for municipal police officers across the state. Completion of the comprehensive program opens doors to employment with most police agencies in New York state, as well as agencies in other states that recognize the New York State’s Certified Basic Police Training.

“We are looking to attract as many (people) as we can,” said JPD Chief Scott Forster.

Forster added that JPD is recruiting to get people interested in law enforcement, and to teach them about law enforcement at JPD.

“We look to sponsor them, and help them through into the academy, get through the academy, and then for potential employment after,” Forster said.

Recruits can be men or women, from 20 to 43 or younger.

Qualifications include recruits must be a U.S. citizen, must have successfully completed high school or earned a GED certificate, must have no felony convictions, must exhibit a valid New York State operator’s license, must pass all Jamestown Community College admission criteria, and must pass the Civil Service Exam.

As part of JPD’s benefits, a starting wage for a rookie JPD officer is $63,599 per year, and after a one-year probation, the officer’s pay increases to $78,424 per year, and top step pay after four years is $97,800. Other benefits include longevity pay, lifetime health insurance, an indoor firing range, and a fully-equipped gym.

Specialty assignments available to JPD officers include patrol, school resource officer, member of the SWAT team, a K9 handler, a member of the forensic investigation team, a member of the drone team, a community resource officer, and a nuisance officer.

Forster said potential recruits can learn more about JPD by participating is a ride-along with an officer.

“They (potential recruits) get a firsthand view of what calls for service and what a daily shift looks like on any shift that they want to do,” Forster said.

The chief noted that some potential recruits already have jobs, so the ride-alongs help with showing what JPD officers do during their shifts.

“So we want to give them all the facts to say ‘this is what I’m doing now. This is what I have potentially going for me in law enforcement,’ and let them compare and make up their decision on if they want to take up a career in law enforcement,” Forster added.

In a related matter, the fourth annual citizens’ academy recently graduated 17 people.

According to Deputy Chief Adam McKinley, the academy is 16 weeks, covering the topics such as introduction to criminal justice, officer health and wellness, school resource officer, street encounters and interviews, vehicle and traffic law, crime scene management, and weapons and training safety.

The academy takes place every Wednesday night for three hours.

McKinley noted that instructors are from JPD with additional instruction provided by the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department, the Chautauqua County Probation Department, and the Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office. There were also appearances from city Mayor Kim Ecklund and Jamestown Fire Chief Ryan Roush.

“Instruction is given through lectures, hands-on activities and real life scenarios during reality-based training,” McKinley said. “Throughout the 16 weeks of instruction, the citizens get to do ride-a-longs with a JPD officer. The goal of the citizens academy is to educate the civilian population on what the Jamestown Police Department does on a daily basis, the challenges that officers are faced with, and to build community trust through education and transparency while getting to know numerous officers.”

If citizens are interested, they should check JPD’s Facebook page for announcements about the next citizens’ academy.

For more information on recruitment, call 716-483-7536 or email JPDrecruitingteam@gmail.com.