The City of Margate offers many excellent employment opportunities within the police department. The department offers professional growth, while earning excellent pay and benefits. The Margate Police Department is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

About the Department

The police department is a state accredited law enforcement agency. The police department was first accredited by the Commission on Florida Accreditation (CFA) in 1997, and continues to receive exceptional accolades during re-accreditation.

The Margate Police Department is committed to providing professional law enforcement service to the citizens of Margate. Officers are encouraged to continue their formal education as well as attend career development classes at a variety of training venues including the Institute of Public Safety located at Broward College.

The department provides every officer with all the tools and equipment necessary to provide the best service to our community, including an assigned take-home ready response patrol vehicle and full duty gear.

Salary

Salary for police recruit candidates enrolled in the Police Academy is $51,000 and $60,863 upon graduation. Top pay for a patrol officer is reached after 15 years of service and is $94,351. Officers can also earn up to $1,560 per year in State educational incentive monies for completion of college and in-service training.

Patrol officers work an 11 1/2 hour day, four days on and four days off. Officers currently receive overtime pay at time and a half if they work over their scheduled hours. Court is paid at time and a half, with a three hour minimum (depositions, trials, traffic).

Retirement

The City Of Margate participates in the Florida State Retirement System (FRS). Members contribute 3% of their salary per pay period into their retirement plan. A retired officer can collect 3% per year of his/her average 5 highest years of salary at age 60 (with 8 years of service) or after 30 years of service. FRS members can participate in a Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP), which offers a lump sum in addition to monthly retirement payments.

Holidays

Employees receive 12 holidays per calendar year. Sworn police officers receive 120 hours of holiday compensatory time on October 1st of every year.

Vacation Leave

Officers accumulate vacation time as follows:

• 1 to 5 years: 2 weeks annually
• 5 to 10 years: 3 weeks annually
• 10 or more years: 4 weeks annually

Health Insurance

The City provides three plans from which an employee can choose. The City offers two HMO and one PPO Health Care Plan. The amount of pay period contribution depends on the plan selected, single or dependant coverage and the amount paid at the time of medical service. The City also has a prescription drug plan. The co-payments are based upon the type of medication that is prescribed. Retiree health care costs are some of the lowest in the industry.

Other Health Benefits

The City provides a $35,000 life insurance policy for members of the various collective bargaining units as well as a long-term disability plan. These policies apply to all members.

The City provides a death benefit which entitles the officer's spouse and children, or estate, to be paid 2-year's salary in the event the police officer is killed in the line of duty.

Sick Leave

Officers accumulate 3.69 hours of sick leave (12 days a year) per pay period (There are 26 pay periods per fiscal year).

Deferred Compensation

The City offers a 457 deferred compensation plan (similar to a 401K, but contributions are made solely by the employee). The contributions can be invested in several different accounts. The contribution is deducted each pay period by the City. Representatives from deferred compensation providers are available for consultation.

Bereavement Leave

Employees receive three days bereavement leave for the death of an immediate family member.

Credit Union

Credit Union enrollment is available through the Human Resources Department.

Tuition Reimbursement

The current collective bargaining agreements allow for tuition reimbursement up to $5,000 per officer per fiscal year providing the officer receives at least a "C" in a job related college course, or a required course as part of an Associate's, Bachelor's or Master's Degree program curriculum. Textbooks are reimbursed at 100% of cost.

Take Home Vehicle Program

In support of operational readiness and response efficiency, following successful completion of the Field Training Program, officers are assigned a take home patrol vehicle. Officers are permitted to utilize the vehicle off-duty and to transport family members based upon prevailing department policies.

Qualifications

The department is committed to hiring high quality officers. To become an officer, an applicant must meet the following minimum requirements promulgated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (CJSTC) and City policy :

1. At least 21 years of age
2. A citizen of the United States
3. A high school graduate or equivalent
4. Not have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, which involves perjury or a false statement
5. Be of good moral character as prescribed by Florida Statutes

How to Apply

Individuals wishing to apply for the position of police officer with the City of Margate are required to successfully complete the following:

1. The Criminal Justice Basic Abilities Test (CJBAT), administered by the Institute of Public Safety at Broward College. The score is valid for four years.
2. C.J.I. Motor skills test (valid for six months)
3. C.J.I. Swimming test (valid indefinitely)

These tests must be completed at the Institute of Public Safety at Broward College and the passing results must be submitted with a completed City of Margate application for police officer. All test scores must be kept current to be eligible for consideration.

*Applications will NOT be accepted if any of the above listed requirements are not included.*  

Applicants

The City accepts applications for police officer candidates only when a police officer job announcement is posted on the City of Margate Human Resources website. Applications are not accepted at any other time.

Intensive backgrounds are done on all applicants. A criminal history, driving history and employment history are done during each background investigation. Candidates are then given a truth verification test, physical examination, psychological test and an entrance screening examination.

Acceptance

Those appointed as a recruit police officer candidate will attend the Broward County Police Academy at the Broward College Institute of Public Safety (CJI) in Davie, Florida. After graduation, new officers spend approximately one week in orientation training, followed by fourteen weeks in a structured Field Training Program. The probationary period for all new City of Margate police officers is 18 months and starts on the date of appointment.

More Information

For additional information concerning the police officer application and hiring process, contact The City of Margate Human Resources Department. For additional information regarding the position of police officer or any other positions within the police department, contact Background Investigator Rodriguez.