Your Department, Our Community
We joined to make a difference for you and me. Meet some of our personnel in the video below. Consider a career where you can make a difference every day and join our team.
Reasons to work for the City of Topeka
- Competitive Pay: Starting pay of $29.93/hr or $62,254/yr. This includes an increase of $1/hr for each year of service up to 15 years. Additional shift differential pay of +$1/hr for shifts starting after noon. Bonuses for completed degrees, physical incentive and certified bilingual personnel.
- Paid Training: Topeka Police boasts an accredited regional training center in the Capital City of Kansas. If hired as a City of Topeka employee, you will be paid throughout the course of the police academy.
- Educational Credits: 24 Criminal Justice course credits at Washburn University for attending the Topeka Police Academy. Tuition reimbursement up to $1,000/year and monthly bonus for completed higher education.
- Shortened Work Weeks: Officers work rotating 4-day shifts consisting of 10-hour workdays.
- Department-Issued Gear: to include footwear, duty weapons, clothing and winter gear.
- Health & Wellness: For those who take advantage of our health, dental, and prescription insurance plans, the City of Topeka is pleased to maintain a free onsite health and wellness clinic. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers employees a wide range of reduced cost or free benefits. The Law Enforcement Center maintains a gym for on-duty and off-duty weight and cardio training.
- Paid Time Off: Staff will enjoy time at home with their family during the standard 11 paid holidays per year, unless assigned to work. Those employees will earn double-time pay on holidays. Employees will also be given 2 full days off yearly, 1 day per quarter for perfect attendance, 96+ hours per year of vacation, and 96+ hours per year of sick leave.
- Union Stewardship: TPD employees enjoy union benefits in association with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #3.
- Elevated Pay: Certified law enforcement officers may receive compensation for up to 8 years of previous law enforcement experience, amounting up to $42.51 per hour.
- Shortened Hiring Process
- Shortened Training Period
- No Residential Requirement: Must live within an hour of Topeka city limits.
- Military and Veteran Preference: Individuals may receive GI bill benefits for going through the police academy. Those with prior military service or educational records will be afforded preference in promotions and selection to specialty units.
- Promotional Opportunities: Personnel receive premium detective and sergeant pay.
- Mentorship Opportunities: $2/hour incentive pay will be provided to those officers and sergeants designated as field trainers, who act as a mentor to new or newly assigned employees.
- Specialty Unit or Extra-Duty Assignment Opportunities: to include Accident Investigations, Accident Reconstruction, ATV, Behavioral Health, Bomb Squad, Community Policing, Crime Scene Investigations, Crisis Negotiations, Defensive Tactics Instruction, Emergency Vehicle Operations Instruction, Firearms Instruction, Honor Guard, K9, Motorcycle, Narcotics, Pipe & Drum Corps, Polygraph Examiner, Recruitment, Response Team, School Resource, Security Preservation, Task Force, Training, UAV, and more.
- Medical Expense Reimbursement: Up to $1,300 annually.
- Full Retirement: Under Kansas Police & Fire after 25 years of service & age 50.
- View all City of Topeka benefits
Join Our Team
Are you ready to be TPD? Start by registering for the next entry-level police officer exam. We will send text updates as your application is processed. You may also apply directly at https://www.topeka.org/hr/current-openings/.
We will reach out to get you signed up for the next written police officer exam and make a Study Guide and Practice Questions available to you. Upon successful completion of the written exam, you will be scheduled for a physical agility test and given instructions on how to prepare.
The next step is an intensive background investigation and formal interview process by members of our senior staff and a civilian board. You must also complete a psychological, polygraph and medical exam.
If you have questions, feel free to reach out to our recruitment team at tpdrecruiting@topeka.org or by calling 785-368-2419.