Employment

To see if the Richmond Police Department is currently hiring, check PoliceApp, where you can also submit an application. Sign up to be notified when the Department is hiring through Notify Me.

Qualifications

To be considered for employment as a probationary police officer, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

• Must be a citizen of the United States;
• Must be at least twenty (20) years of age at the time of hire;
• Must possess a valid motor vehicle operator’s (drivers’) license;
• Must be a high school graduate or have a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) issued by a State Department of Education;
• Must be a Rhode Island resident or reside within a thirty (30) mile radius of 1168 Main Street, Richmond RI 02898

The Richmond Police Department utilizes Fit2Serve for the physical fitness assessment. All candidates must schedule testing through Fit2Serve RI and possess a valid certificate that they have passed the assessment.

Salary & Benefits

• Salary: The starting salary for a probationary patrol officer as of January 2025 is $55,867 - $72,900 (top step patrol currently), not including additional pay for overtime and holidays. Employees are paid bi-weekly based on an average of thirty-seven and a half (37.5) hours per week. Patrol officers are assigned to an eight (8) hour shift, working a rotation of four (4) days on, followed by two (2) days off. Employees assigned to 2^nd shift (3pm-11pm) and 3^rd shift (11pm-7am) receive “shift differential”.
• Holidays: Thirteen (13) paid holidays per year.
• Sick Leave: Twelve (12) paid sick leave days per year accruing to a maximum of 100 days.
• Vacation: Probationary employees are not eligible for vacation days in their first year but can earn compensatory time as paid leave in lieu of overtime pay. After successful completion of one year of service, employees earn between five (5) and twenty-three (23) days depending on years of service, separate and apart from three (3) “personal days”, which equate to paid leave days after five years of service.
• Longevity: After four (4) years of service, employees receive 3% of their base pay as a longevity increase. There are additional longevity increases of 2% after ten (10) years, 4% after thirteen (13) years, 6% after eighteen (18) years, and 7% after twenty-five (25) years.  
• Healthcare: Full-time employees are eligible for Blue Cross Health Insurance/Delta Dental, in a single plan, two-party plan, or a family plan, with a 20% co-pay.
• Health Saving Account (HSA): $2,000 Single Plan, $4,000 Family Plan
• Life Insurance: The Town provides a $50,000 life insurance policy for loss of life on duty.
• Military Leave:  Eligible employees are afforded two (2) weeks of military leave for annual military training.
• Pension: Police officers are entered into the State’s Municipal Employee Retirement System (MERS), which provides a minimum of 50% of the employee’s salary upon retirement after twenty-five (25) years of service. Members contribute 9% of their salary to their pension plan.
• Post-Retirement Healthcare (Medical Benefits): A sworn officer who is eligible for and takes a retirement under the MERS of Rhode Island with at least twenty-five (25) years of continuous service to the Town's Police Department shall be eligible for medical benefits in retirement as specified in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The Richmond Police Department is a member of the IBPO Local 425 Union.

Selection Process

The Richmond Police Department is committed to equal employment opportunity throughout the recruitment and selection process. Candidates must prove to be successful in all the following:

• Physical agility
• Written examination
• Oral interview
• Medical examination
• Psychological examination and interview
• Final approval by the Richmond Town Council and Chief of Police
• Complete the Rhode Island Municipal Police Training Academy
• Complete a one-year probationary period upon graduation from the Police Academy

Probationary Police Officers

• New officers are on probation for the first year of their employment with the Town of Richmond and are not covered by contract during this period.
• Officers must have successfully graduated from the Rhode Island Municipal Police Training Academy during the first year of employment. This is a special condition of employment and no overtime will be paid for attendance.
• An officer's salary for the probationary period is the pay listed above, not including overtime. Upon successful completion of the probationary period, an officer's salary increases to the next step, with annual step increases. Permanent officers also receive longevity pay equal to 3% of their annual salary after four years of service. The Town of Richmond will pay for dry cleaning of uniforms.
• If a probationary police officer leaves the Department during their first year after having attended the Municipal Training Academy, that officer will be required to pay the Town of Richmond the salary that was paid to them while attending the Academy plus expenses. If a police officer leaves the Department between the first and second year, that officer will be required to pay the Town of Richmond two-thirds of the salary that was paid to them while attending the Academy plus expenses. If a police officer leaves the department between the second and third year, that officer will be required to pay the Town of Richmond one-third of the salary that was paid them while attending the Municipal Training Academy, plus expenses.

The Town of Richmond is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer