• Entry-level starting salary: $70,000

• Lateral hire starting salary: $72,450 - $82,337, based on prior police experience

• Lateral hires are eligible to participate in the Personal Patrol Vehicle Program with take-home privileges up to 25 air miles (see map in the Documents section) from City limits while in the Field Training Program. Entry-level officers are eligible after successfully completing Field Training.

• Multilingual pay: $2,080 lump sum at the beginning of the fiscal year

• Hiring bonuses:

  • $5,000 for entry-level hires

  • $10,000 for Maryland Certified Hiring Bonus

• Employees are eligible to immediately enroll in all City retirement plans upon hire, with a total contribution of 26% (10% employee, 16% employer) into a 401K/457 plan.

• Direct deposit is required for all City employees.

• Patrol officers work four 10-hour shifts per week.

The role of a police officer involves protecting life and property, detecting and preventing crime, and apprehending violators within City limits. Officers enforce State, County, and City laws and ordinances while working closely with community members, businesses, and both elected and non-elected officials. Officers are expected to go beyond enforcement, serving as community role models and actively improving the quality of life for residents and visitors.

The position includes elements of danger and requires independent judgment during both emergency and non-emergency situations. Officers patrol in marked and unmarked vehicles, on bicycles, and on foot, and coordinate with Montgomery County Police and other agencies when needed. Duties also include issuing citations, conducting investigations, and preparing comprehensive reports.

Due to the nature of the work, applicants must be in good physical health and emotionally and psychologically stable to respond appropriately under stress.

To be considered for employment, applicants must:

• Be at least 21 years old at the time of appointment to Police Officer I, to be certified by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions.

• Be a U.S. citizen or a permanent legal resident who is an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces (with U.S. citizenship applied for and pending at the time of appointment).

• Possess a valid driver’s license with a good driving record.

• Be in excellent physical and mental condition, as determined by comprehensive examinations.

• Meet established vision standards, including passing tests for color vision (14-panel Ishihara), acuity, binocularity, stereopsis (depth perception), and other visual skills.

• Have graduated from an accredited high school, or hold a high school diploma recognized by the Maryland Department of Education or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED).

• Be of good moral character, with no felony convictions or misdemeanor convictions that could have resulted in a sentence of one year or more.

• Not be a current user of illegal drugs.

The Gaithersburg Police Department does not operate its own police academy. Entry-level recruits are sent to a local training academy certified by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission, which lasts approximately six months.

Upon graduation, recruits enter the Field Training Program, working alongside experienced officers for a period of 14 weeks.