The City of Upper Arlington is a premier, mostly residential community, centrally located within the Columbus, Ohio region. Reflective of the friendly, educated, family-oriented and engaged community that we serve, the City is committed to exceptional, innovative service delivery. Our goals extend beyond the basics, aspiring to make Upper Arlington one of the best communities in the U.S. – a place that is welcoming, inclusive and supportive for all who live here, work in or visit our community.
In community surveys, safety consistently ranks as a top priority and a primary reason residents choose to live here, and approximately half of the City’s annual operating budget is dedicated to our police and fire safety services. Considered one of the premier agencies in the region, our Police Division prioritizes community engagement as much as it focuses on law enforcement activities. Career opportunities within the agency are extensive.
Our organization adheres to the highest standards of professionalism and dedication to service. When combined with our commitment to creativity and engagement with the community, we need to attract the best employees from the widest set of backgrounds. We strive to be a diverse and supportive workplace where every employee can make a difference. As a result, we seek team members of the highest caliber, and we offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package for successful candidates.
The Upper Arlington, Ohio Division of Police provides 24-hour service and is an integral part of developing and maintaining a safe and secure community through the cooperative efforts of many departments and community organizations. The division proudly provides a wide range of police services and programs to residents, visitors and members of the business community.
“Contendite Ductum” is the Latin inscription on the seal of the Upper Arlington Police Division patch. This motto means “Strive for Leadership” and it represents the attitude held by those associated with this agency. The division is staffed by 53 sworn officers who are professionally trained and certified by the State of Ohio; and, by law, are also declared to be law enforcement officers of the State and conservators of peace with the authority to arrest. In addition to sworn staff, seven full-time civilian staff who provide other support to the division’s operation.
2025 Salary Range
$68,461.95 – $107,961.36 (Annualized Based on 2,080 hours in a Work Year)
- Paid Leave: Vacation, Sick, Personal, Holidays, Bereavement
- Health Insurance: Choice between Traditional PPO Plan and High Deductible Plan with a Health Savings Account
- Vision & Dental Insurance
- Excellent Pension Program
- Group Term Life Insurance: With option to purchase supplemental coverage
- Education Incentives
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Service Credit Compensation
- Deferred Compensation Savings Plans
- Wellness Program
- Employee Assistance Program
- Accident Investigation Technician
- Bicycle Patrol Officer
- Community Relations Officer
- Detective
- Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Officer
- Evidence Technician
- Patrol Officer
- School Resource Officer (SRO)
- Police Desk/Holding Facility Officer
- Training Officer
- CARES Team Officer
Interested in a career with the Upper Arlington Police Division?
Apply for a Non-Lateral Officer or Lateral Officer position today.
Lateral Candidates can choose to participate in the written examination. If you choose not to take the exam, you will proceed to the next step with the lowest examination score. You will still be eligible for additional points under Civil Service.
Non-Lateral Candidates must complete the written examination at www.nationaltestingnetwork.com. Candidates are responsible for the cost of the examination (currently $65.00) The written examination is worth 100% of the final grade on the eligible list.
The Physical Fitness Examination is conducted by Police Department staff who have received the proper training to conduct such an examination and is based on the ‘Cooper Institute for Physical Fitness.’ Candidates are tested according to age and gender minimum scores by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission.
Candidates who pass the physical fitness exam are invited to complete a written exercise comprised of 4 open-ended questions with 10 minutes to write a response. This is being conducted on the same day as the Physical Fitness Examination.
Police investigator(s) conduct a complete and thorough investigation of each applicant’s background to determine suitability for employment as a Police Officer. Investigators may contact family, friends, neighbors, current and former employers, fellow employees, school officials, physicians, firms with which they have done business, courts, credit agencies, local law enforcement agencies, etc. as a part of this investigation. All candidates’ social media presence shall also be investigated during this process.
An in-depth interview is held with the applicant and each applicant is asked to submit to a Computerized Voice Stress Analysis (CVSA) or polygraph examination.
The completed background information and CVSA is given to a Review Board, which reviews the total application and makes a recommendation on the candidate’s acceptability.
Candidates complete the Personal History Questionnaire online, which is reviewed for any immediate disqualifications.
The top candidates are interviewed by the Oral Review Board which is chaired by a Lieutenant and consists of five members comprised of Lieutenants, Sergeants, detectives and officers. The Oral Review Board questions are structured, and the same questions are asked of each candidate. Additional questions may be asked regarding specific information appearing in the background investigation.
The members of the Board score the candidates based on their responses to the questions and their apparent fitness for the position of Police Officer. Candidates must receive a passing grade of at least 70% in order to be considered for employment.
When all the successive steps are completed, the police will provide HR with the final scores from the oral panel. HR compiles the score from the written examination (the video portion) and the oral panel interview score for all passing candidates. Additional points will be added per the Civil Service Rules.
The Chief’s Interview is held between the Police Chief and the top eligibility lists (the number of those interviewed shall remain within the Chief’s discretion based upon the number of vacancies available to fill).
Using the information collected during the Oral Board Interview and the Chief’s Interview, the Chief will send appointment recommendations to the City Manager, the appointing authority.
Candidates selected by the Chief are offered a conditional position of Police Officer contingent on passing physical and psychological examinations required by the Division.
In compliance with Ohio Revised Code Section 124.41, a licensed physician must certify that all candidates for Police Officers are free of cardiovascular and pulmonary disease and that he/she meets the physical requirements necessary to perform the duties of a Police Officer as established by the Civil Service Commission. The medical exam consists of tests described in General Order 32.2.7.
Psychological assessments are needed to eliminate candidates who cannot carry out their responsibilities or endure the stress of the working conditions. The assessments are conducted by a qualified psychologist and may be comprised of, but not limited to, the following elements:
- Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
- Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
- Law Enforcement Assessment and Development Report
- Psych/Eval Personality Questionnaire
- Personality Assessment Inventory
- Personal interview between the psychologist and the candidate
Only qualified professionals are used to assess the emotional stability and psychological fitness of candidates. The psychologist’s final report identifies the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate.
After the successful completion of preliminary examinations, candidates will be sworn in by the City Manager and Police Chief.
The City of Upper Arlington is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Questions? Email: [email protected] | Phone: 614-583-5174