Police Officer

Become a Cambridge Police Officer - City of Cambridge, MA Skip to Navigation Skip to Main Content Skip to Footer Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Home > I Want To > Become a Cambridge Police Officer Useful Documents & Resources Application More Information About Exam Health and Wellness Preparation Guide View Document Library Contact Cambridge Police 617-349-3300 Email us Visit Website 125 Sixth St. Cambridge, MA 02142 Hours of Service Mon: 8:30AM - 8PM Tue - Thu: 8:30AM - 5PM Fri: 8:30AM - 12PM Few careers offer more opportunities for self-fulfillment than service as a police officer. Our officers play a vital role in maintaining safety and welfare in the City of Cambridge, but understand that law enforcement is a service career at its core. Policing is as much about helping people and maintaining and enhancing quality of life as it is about enforcing laws. Here at the Cambridge Police Department, community policing is part of our culture and one that views community engagement, rather than response to specific crimes or incidents, as the core of our police work. Many of the issues our officers face are community problems in need of a solution often best achieved outside of the criminal justice system. This is reflected in our nationally renowned Safety Net Collaborative and Homeless Court Sessions, as examples. By hearing and understanding the causes of community concern, dedicated and compassionate officers find workable, sustainable, and cost-effective resolutions to issues as minor as a noise disturbance or as complex as a mass protest. Our officers are often viewed as partners in continual touch with the communities they serve. This requires officers who are adept at fostering relationships and building connections between people and groups. Officers should come prepared to think and solve problems with a broad community and be connected with the community in a way that facilitates their ability to collect, analyze, and share critical information and resources. Policing is a job that will bring out the best in you and offer you exciting and challenging opportunities. It is one of the few careers where you can truly make a difference in the community and in someone's life. While it comes with serious responsibilities, the reward is having a job that really counts, particularly here in Cambridge. Important Dates The next exam will take place in March 2025. Applications will not be accepted after January 28, 2025. Apply for the exam . In advance of the next police exam, the Cambridge Police Department and Massachusetts Association of Women in Law Enforcement (MAWLE) held a virtual session that is focused on supporting women in Cambridge who are interested in pursuing a career in policing. Watch replay . We have a Police Cadet Program . The two-year paid program is geared for high school graduates (ages 18-23) interested in pursuing a career in policing and gaining insight and experience into the Cambridge Police Department's community policing model. Visit https://www2.cambridgema.gov /jobopenings.cfm for current non-sworn job openings. Contact personnel@cambridgepolice.org if you have any questions about joining the Cambridge Police Department. Learn More & FAQs Process Examination Process Requirements The state typically holds a civil service exam every year to become an officer. The next exam period is scheduled to begin March 15, 2025, but may be extended depending on the number of candidates. The current application period opened November 19, 2024 and closed January 28, 2025. A new application period will likely be posted in November of 2025 with an exam date in March of 2026. To become a police officer, you need to first take a written test. You also need to meet the following requirements: You must be at least 19 years of age on the date of the exam.* You need to have a high school diploma or a GED certificate. You can also satisfy this requirement with three years of military service and an honorable discharge. To claim residency preference, you must be a Cambridge resident (lived in the city) at least one year before the date of your exam. Please see the below for those active in the military. You must meet minimum fitness requirements. A fitness test measures a candidate’s overall level of fitness through structured activities that assess strength, endurance, and cardiovascular health. With enough training and determination, anyone can achieve success. * You can take the written exam when you turn 19, but you won't be considered for a position until you turn 21. Military Residency Preference For military personnel who were on full-time active duty during any part of or the entire 12-month period required to establish residency in Cambridge, you may still be eligible to claim residency preference if you meet the following conditions: You must have served a period of full-time military active duty (for which you received or will receive a DD214) during any part of the 12 month period. You must have been a Massachusetts Resident at the time of entry into full-time active duty or your Home of Record on your DD214 for this period of active duty must be a city or town in Massachusetts. See more at https://www.mass.gov/service-details/residency-preference . Registration To register to take the civil service exam to become a police officer, you need to create an account online. The state's website has more information about the Civil Service exam. Civil Service Application The early application fee for the exam is $75 and the late application date fee is $125. You can pay on the state’s website with a credit or debit card. Fee Waiver The exam fee may be waived for candidates receiving certain state or federal public