Police Officer/Recruit

Job Title
Police Officer/Recruit

Requisition Number
RE53072

Working Title

Department Name
3HL00:UK Police

Work Location
Lexington, KY

Grade Level
44

Salary Range
$21.06-33.69/hour

Type of Position
Staff

Position Time Status
Full-Time

Required Education

HS

Click here for more information about equivalencies:
https://hr.uky.edu/employment/working-uk/equivalencies

Required Related Experience

No experience required.

Required License/Registration/Certification

Valid Driver’s License

Physical Requirements

Lifting, pushing, or pulling of objects up to 50 lbs.; sitting/ walking/standing for long periods of time; handling intermittent periods of high levels of stress; engaging with potentially violent or combative people.

Shift

Police Recruits work (5) 8-hour days: Monday – Friday with occasional overtime opportunities to include UK sporting events.

After Police Training Academy graduation, Police Officers will be assigned to one of the following 12 hour shifts to include rotating weekends off:

7:00am – 7:00pm
7:00pm – 7:00am

Officers work days, nights, weekends, holidays, and mandatory overtime to include UK sports and other university events.

Job Summary

University of Kentucky Police Officers are responsible for providing the University community with a safe and secure environment in which to work, live and learn. Our department is service oriented and specializes in meeting the needs of the campus’ population of students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

The major job responsibilities of the University of Kentucky Police Officer include patrol and investigations, public relations and service, community oriented policing, professional development and training, and report writing.

Specific duties include foot, bike, and mobile patrol, responding to service calls, investigating crimes, preparing and presenting testimony in court, community relations with students and campus partners, providing security and traffic control for special University events, writing reports, completing training, and engaging in professional development, and preparing written records including but not limited to citations, criminal reports, and internal documentation.

Below is the next required step of this hiring process for you to plan in advance. All qualified applicants are invited to attend the written test.

• Written Test Information •
The written test is to be completed online. Please watch for an email, to the email address you provided on the application, which will provide instructions for scheduling and taking the test.

The written test has four sections – math, reading comprehension, grammar, and writing skills. If you are interested in study materials, study guides, and practice tests to prepare for the National Police Officer Selection Test (POST) please visit: applytoserve.com/Study/

To learn more about who we are and what we do for the University and our community, Click Here.

Feel free to reach out with any additional questions at JoinUKPD@uky.eduMultiple positions available. Review of applications will begin immediately, and applications will be accepted until the deadline date or until all positions are filled which could be prior to deadline date listed.

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

Per Kentucky Regulations, this position has several minimum requirements to qualify as indicated below.
• Citizen of the United States
• At least twenty (20) years of age to test and at least twenty-one (21) years of age at the time of basic graduation
• High school graduate or has successfully completed a General Education Development (G.E.D.) examination
• Possess a valid driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle
• Has not been convicted of a felony
• Has not been convicted of any misdemeanor or inchoate offenses under KRS Chapter 510
• Has not received a dishonorable discharge, bad conduct discharge, or general discharge under other than honorable conditions
• Not prohibited by federal or state law from possessing a firearm
• Not had certification as a peace officer permanently revoked in another state

Must complete Department of Criminal Justice Training (DOCJT) Basic Training Academy within one year of hire date if not already certified.

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?
No

Preferred Education/Experience

Deadline to Apply
03/04/2026

Our University Community

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.