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What it's like being a Maryland Natural Resources Police Officer?

Maryland Natural Resources Police - Officer Candidate

This position is the first step towards becoming a Maryland Natural Resources Police Officer. Employees in this position attend the Maryland Natural Resources Police Training Academy to learn how to enforce State and Federal laws as they apply to conservation, boating, DNR-managed lands, criminal law, civil law, and traffic violations.

The Maryland Natural Resources Police is recognized nationally as a leader in the field of conservation and boating law enforcement.

Basic Recruit Class 68

All interested candidates can:

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Volunteer as a Reserve Officer

Sign up for a Recruitment Question-and-Answer Session

Email us at [email protected]

Apply for a Ride-Along

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Maryland Natural Resources Police Officer.

Ride-Along

Interested applicants can request a ride-along once every six months.

To request a ride-along:

Complete the NRP ride-along liability waiver.
Email the completed waiver to [email protected]
In the email state which county you would like to request a ride-along in.

Our Ride-Along policy can be found here:
Ride-along Policy

Salary & Benefits

For a comprehensive list of benefits please refer to the attached State Law Enforcement Officers Labor Alliance Memorandum of Understanding 2022-2025.

Salary

The pay scale for the Maryland Natural Resources Police can be found in the candidate information section under “Salary”.
The salary for the Maryland Natural Resources Police is negotiated by the State Law Enforcement Officers Labor Alliance (SLEOLA). Details about upcoming cost of living adjustments (COLA) and steps can be found in the “SLEOLA MOU” in the candidate information section.

Leave

Annual Leave

Annual leave may be accumulated to a maximum of 75 days or 600 hours and carried into a new calendar year.
Employees will earn annual leave at the following rates:
Years of Service
Days Earned Per Year
Less than 5
Up to 10
5 - 10
Up to 15
11 - 19
Up to 20
20 or more
Up to 25

Personal Leave

Employees are awarded 6 personal days per calendar year.

Holidays

Employees receive 12 holidays each year, and an additional holiday on election years.

Sick Leave

Employees earn 15 days of sick leave every calendar year and accumulate on a bi-weekly basis.
Unused sick leave hours are carried over into subsequent calendar years.

Military Leave

Employees in the armed forces are entitled to 15 days of military leave per calendar year for training

For more detailed information on the previously mentioned types of as well as other types of leave offered you can also refer to the Maryland Department of Budget and Management's leave information page here.

Vehicles

Officers are issued state vehicles that can be used for off-duty use under certain restrictions.

Fitness Bonus

Officers who successfully pass the fitness test each year will receive a $1,000.00 bonus.

Clothing Allowance

Officers receive a $1500.00 per fiscal year clothing allowance.

Education Bonus

Associate’s Degree: $125
Bachelor’s Degree: $250
Master’s Degree: $375
Doctorate: $500

Health Insurance

Employees can participate in the State of Maryland Benefits package.
Open enrollment occurs yearly
Health options include: Vision, prescription drug, dental, life, accidental/death, behavioral health, child care
Spending, and health care spending. See individual plans for specific packages.
The state subsidizes medical, prescription drug, and dental benefits.
For details regarding our health insurance plan, please visit this site.

Retirement

Pension

Our officers participate in the Law Enforcement Officers Pension System (LEOPS)
This system provides officers with a lifetime benefit.
Normal service retirement is age 50 or 25 years of eligibility service at any age.
Officers will receive 50% of their salary at 25 years of service.
Officers can receive a maximum of 65% of their salary at 32.5 years of credible service.

DROP

The Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) provides another path to retirement for eligible members of the Law Enforcement Officers’ Pension System. Under this voluntary program, you can “retire” (and begin accumulating your retirement benefits in a DROP account) while you continue to work (and draw a paycheck) with your same employer. While in DROP, your monthly retirement benefits are deposited in a DROP account within the Law Enforcement Officers’ Pension System and earn compounded interest for as long as you remain in DROP.

401K

Officers are offered the opportunity to open an unmatched 401K with the department.

457

Officers are offered the opportunity to open a 457 deferred compensation plan with the department.

A copy of the Benefits Handbook - Law Enforcement Officers’ Pension System can be found here.
Visit the State Retirement Agency online at sra.maryland.gov or call 410-625-5555 for specific information.

Minimum Requirements

Age Requirement

Shall be 21 years old or older to be eligible for provisional certification; and
May attend an academy while younger than 21 years old but may not perform law enforcement duties until the applicant is 21 years old and provisionally certified. (COMAR 12.04.01.04A)

Citizenship Requirement

Be a United States citizen
or a permanent legal resident of the United States who:

Is an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Armed Forces; and
Has submitted an application for United States citizenship that is pending approval. (COMAR 12.04.01.04B)

Education Requirement

An applicant for the position of police officer shall possess a:

High school diploma issued by a high school or recognized by the State Board of Education; or
General Education Development (GED) certificate or diploma:

Issued by Maryland or another state, or
Recognized by the State Board of Education.

The law enforcement agency may accept a college degree in place of the requirements under §C(1) of this regulation. (COMAR 12.04.01.04C)

Physical and Mental Health Requirement

Before an applicant may be selected for a position as a police officer, the applicant shall be examined by and receive a recommendation from a licensed, trained, and qualified medical doctor indicating that the applicant is physically able to:

Perform the duties of a police officer as determined by the employing law enforcement agency; and
Participate in the entrance-level training program.
Applicants should be in excellent physical condition and
have 20/25 eyesight and possess binocular far and near visual acuity, with or without correction

Before an applicant may be selected for a position as a police officer, a mental health professional shall conduct a psychological evaluation of the applicant and offer a positive recommendation indicating that the applicant is:

Emotionally and mentally fit; and
Able to perform the duties of a police officer as these duties are determined by the law enforcement agency. (COMAR 12.04.01.04F)

Driver's License and Driving Record Requirement

The applicant shall possess a valid driver's license.
The agency head hiring the applicant shall:

Perform a check of the applicant's driving record and maintain a copy of the results; and
Record on the AFC the applicant's driver's license number, the state of issue, and an indication that the driving record has been reviewed. (COMAR 12.04.01.04I)

Background Requirement

An agency head or authorized agency under §A(7) of this regulation shall perform a comprehensive background investigation to determine if an applicant:

Is of good moral character and reputation;
Is emotionally stable; and
Displays the behavior necessary to perform the duties of a police officer. (COMAR 12.04.01.05A)

Record of Criminal Conviction

If the results of the criminal history records check reveal that an applicant has been convicted or otherwise found guilty of a felony, or a misdemeanor for which a sentence of imprisonment for 1 year or more could have been imposed, the Commission shall include available information concerning the conviction with Commission records related to the applicant’s AFC.
Applicants should not be under a court order related to domestic violence. (COMAR 12.04.01.05B)

Drug Use

An individual is ineligible for initial certification as a police officer in Maryland if the individual has:

Been convicted or otherwise found guilty of selling, manufacturing, or distributing a controlled dangerous substance, narcotic drug, or marijuana;
Ever illegally sold, produced, cultivated, distributed, or transported a controlled dangerous substance, narcotic drug, or marijuana;
Illegally used a controlled dangerous substance or narcotic drug for any purpose within the 36 months before application for certification; (NOT MARIJUANA)
Illegally engaged in the use of marijuana for any purpose within the 12 months preceding the date of application for certification;
Ever illegally used a controlled dangerous substance, or narcotic drug for other than experimentation as specified under §D of this regulation; or
Ever illegally used a controlled dangerous substance, narcotic drug, or marijuana while employed to enforce federal, State, or local law by any government entity. (COMAR 12.04.01.16C)

Application Submission

Basic Recruit Class 68
All interested candidates can subscribe to our newsletter for updates.

Testing

Initial Background Screening

Applicants will be asked to complete an NRP 571 Initial Personal Information Sheet. The information disclosed in this sheet will be utilized to begin an applicant’s background investigation. Applicants must answer the questions in this form honestly. Failure to honestly answer the questions on this form will result in the disqualification of the applicant.

Law Enforcement Aptitude Battery (LEAB)

The Law Enforcement Aptitude Battery Test (LEAB) is the proposed written test for entry-level hiring. More information will be provided at a later date.

Background Investigation

Applicants must undergo a background investigation in accordance with COMAR 12.04.01.05.
Applicants must pass a polygraph examination in accordance with COMAR 12.04.01.16F(2).
For questions on drug use please refer to COMAR 12.04.01.16.

Interview

Applicants will be interviewed by the hiring board
Applicants must pass an oral interview in accordance with COMAR 12.04.01.04G.

Psychological and Medical Examination

Applicants must pass a psychological examination in accordance with COMAR 12.04.01.04F.
Applicants must pass a medical evaluation in accordance with COMAR 12.04.01.04F.
Applicants must pass a drug screening in accordance with COMAR 12.04.01.04H.

Selection

The hiring board will rank the remaining applicants. Approximately two weeks before the academy, the highest-ranked applicants will be offered an opportunity to accept a slot at the academy. Alternates will also be selected at this time.
If an applicant becomes injured or resigns, an alternate may take their place.

Policy