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Join Our Team (Police)
Becoming a police officer is much more than just a job or career; it is a calling. We focus on the growth and development of our team members. We want our team members to enjoy coming to work and achieve their professional goals while also contributing to the success of the organization. At the Tega Cay Police Department, we take pride in our relationships with the members of our community. Every day, we strive to deliver excellence and approach common tasks in a unique and exceptional way. We aim to establish ourselves as a well-respected and trustworthy organization that provides the Tega Cay Community with the highest standard of police services while maintaining our ethical and effective approach.
Come join a department that will invest in you in a variety of ways and enjoy the Tega Cay good life
APPLY NOW
Lt. Steven Timbs
803-578-4968 stimbs@tegacaysc.gov
Compensation
- Starting salary:
- Uncertified officer is $59,954 (Pay increases upon completion of the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy and the Field Training Officer Program.)
- Certified officer (In-State/Out-of-State) is $63,110
- Competitive pay with education and experience incentives.
- Extra Duty Employment Rate: $55 per hour
- Night Shift Differential Pay Incentive: Upon completion of the FTO program, receive a 5% differential pay on base salary.
- Field Training Officer Incentive: Officer who serve as an FTO receive additional compensation for each shift which they train a recruit.
City Benefits and Incentives
- South Carolina Police Officer Retirement System:
- Class II - Those with a membership date on or before June 30, 2012 are eligible to retire and receive vested benefits after completing 25 years of service in the retirement system, or after attaining age 55 with 5 or more years of service in the system
- Class III - Those with a membership date on or after July 1, 2012 are eligible to retire and receive vested benefits if the member has 8 years or more of earned service in the system, has reached the age of 55 or has 27 years of service credit, and has separated from service
- Insurance Benefits
- Medical Insurance - The City pays the employee’s premium for coverage, and currently subsidizes a portion of the dependents’ premiums.
- Vision Insurance - Tega Cay provides vision benefits at no charge to the employee and pays 50% of the cost of the plan for employee's dependents.
- Dental Insurance- Tega Cay provides dental benefits at no charge to the employee and pays 50% of the cost of the plan for employee's dependents.
- Prescription Coverage
- Other City Benefits; including Accrual rates, paid holidays, Flex benefit plans, deferred compensation (401K/457 plans), & worker's compensation.
Department Benefits and Incentives
- Take Home Car Program
- Permanent Shifts/No-Rotations
- Wellness program
- Free use of the department gym while on or off duty
- Mental Health Program
- Uniforms and equipment are provided by the department
- Patrol Rifle Program
- Advanced Training Opportunities
- Chaplin program
Minimum Requirements (South Carolina Minimum Requirements Act (23-23-60)
Applicants must meet all qualifications for employment consideration:
- Must be a minimum of 21 years of age
- Must have a clean driving history: No convictions for Driving Under Influence (DUI), Driving Under Suspension (DUS) within the past 5 years, and minimum convictions for speeding
- Must have a current South Carolina drivers license
- Must have good credit history, no judgments, no liens, no recent bankruptcy. Each applicants history will be considered prior to employment
- Must have a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) equivalent
- Must successfully complete a polygraph exam
- Must successfully complete a psychological evaluation
- Must successfully pass a background investigation
- Must successfully pass a medical physical exam and drug screening
- Must successfully pass an oral interview board
- Must successfully pass the Police Officer Entry Level exam
- No convictions of Domestic Violence
- No convictions of felonies, misdemeanor crimes or crimes of moral turpitude
Criminal History
- Adult commission of undetected crimes of a serious or repetitive nature
- Any conviction of domestic violence, including simple assault against a domestic partner, spouse, child or parent
- Conviction of any crime which carries a 6-months jail sentence or more, excluding traffic violations which are discussed separately, or the South Carolina State Law equivalent within the last 5 years
- Conviction of any felony or any crime involving moral turpitude (crimes contrary to justice, honesty, or good morals)
Traffic Violations
- Suspension of driver’s license within the past thirty-six (36) months (Non-traffic related suspensions, such as an insurance related suspension, shall be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.)
- Four (4) or more moving violations within the past thirty-six (36) months (regardless of adjudication withheld)
- Accumulation of eight (8) points or more within the past 36 months on a South Carolina Operator’s License or the equivalent for out of state licenses. Points may be negated by attending defensive driving school offered by the Division of Motor Vehicles prior to initial testing
- Conviction or case pending for DUI, DWI or Hit and Run within the last five (5) years.
- Any significant negative driving history, which shall be determined by management review of all relevant facts.
Drugs
- Any illegal possession/use of hallucinogens to include but no limited to: LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), PCP (phencyclidine), magic mushrooms (psilocybin), ketamine, mescaline (peyote cactus), PCP, MDMA. *Requires a review by TCPD Recruiter and Chief of Police to determine if the circumstances warrant an immediate disqualifier
- Any involvement in the sale or distribution of illegal drugs as an adult
- Illegal possession or use of anabolic steroids
- Illegal possession/use of marijuana or a derivative thereof within the last three (3) years. *Requires a review by TCPD Recruiter and Chief of Police to determine if the circumstances warrant an immediate disqualifier
- Juvenile involvement in the sale or distribution of illegal drugs is an area of concern which will be given careful scrutiny in the context of the full investigation/review.
Credit
- Demonstrated a history of financial irresponsibility. (Examples of areas of concern include unpaid collections or unsatisfactory judgments where no payment plan has been established. Bankruptcies will be evaluated based on the time frame, circumstances, other measures pursued, and restoration of credit).
Others
- Cheating on any examination or testing associated with the position
- Dishonorable discharge from any military service
- Untruthfulness and/or intentional withholding of information on any application, interview, or paperwork associated with the position. Examples of intentional withholding of information would include deliberate inaccuracies or incomplete statements.
- Currently in default on student loans when considered for employment.
* In accordance with the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.
Steps in the hiring process include:
Certified Applicant (In-state and Out-of-state)
- Application and release to conduct Background Investigation
- Applications reviewed for immediate disqualifiers
- Interview Panel: The applicant is scheduled for an interview with the Chief of Police and designated panel. The applicant is scored based on their responses to a series of questions.
- Background Investigation: A thorough background investigation is completed on all applicants. This includes (but is not limited to) employment history, driving history, credit check, and a criminal history check.
- Satisfactory completion of Psychological screening, Polygraph test, & Medical/Drug Examination.
- The South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy (SCCJA) will review prior training records to determine training needed for South Carolina Certification
Uncertified Applicants
- Application and release to conduct Background Investigation
- Applications reviewed for immediate disqualifiers
- Written Exam: Applicants must take a written exam and must score 70% or better on this exam.
- Physical Ability Test: After passing the written examination, the applicant will be required to complete the Physical Ability Test (PAT). This is required for admission into the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, and the course and all obstacles must be successfully completed in under 2 minutes and 6 seconds.
- Interview Panel: After successfully completing the written exam and PAT, applicants are scheduled for an interview with a designated panel. The Board scores applicants based on their responses to a series of questions.
- Background Investigation: A thorough background investigation is completed on all applicants. This includes (but is not limited to) employment history, driving history, credit check, and a criminal history check.
- Interview with the Chief of Police.
- Satisfactory completion of Psychological screening, Polygraph test, & Medical/Drug Examination.
In preparation and for the process to efficient, a list of documentation candidates will be required to provide is listed below. The Recruiter will not collect them personally. Applicants will be sent a link to Guardian Alliance Technology upon successful completion of the Physical Agility Test, Written Assessment, and Interview. This is for our candidate’s knowledge so you can be proactive in obtaining all your information.
- Applicant’s Birth Certificate (photocopy)
- Social Security Card (photocopy)
- Driver's License (photocopy)-all candidates must obtain a valid SC driver’s license to be hired by our agency.
- Certified driving record for all states in which the applicant was/is licensed
- Highest college degree earned (photocopy)
- High school diploma or transcript (photocopy)
- An official transcript from the college from which the applicant graduated, sent directly to the Tega Cay Police Department
- If the applicant served in the U.S. Military for any period of time, DD-214 (Member 4 Copy listing Characterization of Service, Separation and Re-Enlistment Codes) (photocopy) or Discharge Certificate (photocopy).
- Licenses or Certificate which show special qualifications or skills (photocopy). If the applicant is a certified law enforcement officer from outside South Carolina, a State Certificate and training academy curriculum with hours must be submitted (photocopy).
FOR OUT OF STATE CANDIDATES TO BE CONSIDERED PRE-CERTFIED OFFICERS IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. ALL OF THIS INFORMATION WILL BE OBTAINED BY THE TEGA CAY POLICE DEPARMENTS OFFICE OF RECRUITMENT.
- Certificate of Completion (BLET Course, Basic Corrections or Detention Course or Federal Training Course)
- Curriculum/Syllabus showing hours and topics of training
- A completed POST letter has been received from the out-of-state POST agency. POST Letter
- A Letter of Good Standing from the current or last agency the applicant was employed is required
- Indication that a Letter of Good Standing has been requested for Federal/Military candidates; or a Verification of Employment Letter for SCDC Correction candidates.
Prior to a candidate’s registration for training at the Academy, the Training Review Request Form along with the required documentation above should be submitted.
Upon receipt of the complete Training Review, an initial review will be conducted to determine eligibility and compliance in order for the training review to move forward for final recommendations by Certification & Compliance, Training Operations, Standards, Special Operations, and authorized approval by the CJA Director.
All certified out of state candidates with less than one (1) year of law enforcement employment/experience (one year begins upon completion of training and subsequent employment) or candidates with no law enforcement employment/experience will have to attend the 4 X 8 basic training course.