SOMERSET — Police Chief Todd Costa announces that the Town of Somerset is accepting lateral transfer applications for the position of a full-time police officer within the Somerset Police Department.
Situated along the south coast’s busy Route 195 corridor, running from the City of Providence, Rhode Island in the west and the Cities of Fall River and New Bedford to the east, Somerset is a suburban community with a population of just over 18,000 residents.
The Somerset Police Department currently employs 33 full-time sworn officers, 13 sworn reserve officers, six full-time public safety dispatchers as well as two administrative and custodial staff members. A progressive agency, the Somerset Police Department is accredited by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission thereby attesting to its ongoing commitment to following established best practices in policing.
In addition to the patrol and detective divisions, residents are also served by the department’s School Resource Officers and Special Operations Division which includes the Traffic Enforcement Unit, Motor Unit, Bicycle Patrol Unit, Drone Unit and Problem Oriented Policing Unit. Committed to the policing philosophy, the Somerset Police Department has established numerous outreach programs which include a
Police Athletic League, TRIAD Program, Citizen’s Police Academy, Police Explorers Program and more.
The agency currently offers competitive pay and benefits which include education incentives of an increase in salary of 10% for an associate’s degree in criminal justice or a related field, 20% for a bachelor’s degree and 25% for a master’s or Juris Doctorate degree. Qualified lateral transfer candidates will have the opportunity to receive credit for years of service for purposes of pay and time off benefits.
Minimum Requirements
Applicants for the position must:
- Have completed a full-time Massachusetts Municipal Police Training Committee
(MPTC) or another state-certified police academy; - Be a United States citizen (birth or naturalized);
- Possess a high school diploma or GED;
- Be at least 21 years of age at the time of appointment;
- Have no record of a felony conviction (MGL 41-96A);
- Be able to receive and maintain certification by the Massachusetts POST Commission;
- Possess or be able to obtain a valid Massachusetts driver’s license;
- Possess or be able to obtain a valid Massachusetts License to Carry Firearms;
- Be able to perform the essential functions of a police officer, including being willing and available to perform said functions during nights, on weekends and holidays, and on an overtime basis or when staffing requires;
- Not smoke any tobacco products (MGL 41-101A)
The ideal candidate will:
- Possess or be working toward a minimum of an associate’s degree in criminal justice or a related field.
- Committed to the community policing philosophy.
All employment officers will be subject to the successful completion of a new hire screening process which includes a comprehensive background check, physical and psychological examination as well as successfully passing the Massachusetts physical abilities test.
Contact Information
Candidates meeting the above minimum requirements, who wish to be considered for
this position, should forward a cover letter, resume and supporting documentation to Captain William Tedford. This can be done in person at 465 County St. in Somerset, MA, or via email at w_tedford@somersetpd.org. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.
The Somerset Police Department is a non-civil service department and an Equal
Opportunity Employer.
###