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Join NLRPD

The North Little Rock Police Department is always recruiting the next generation of North Little Rock’s Finest.


Salary Scale

2023 Salary Scale – Comprehensive

2023 Salary Scale – Comprehensive

Certified Officers will be Hired at Step 2 – 4. Step Placement is Based on Years of Prior Service.

Step 1 – Entry = $48,000 (Base) + $2,024 (Full Holiday Pay) = up to $50,024

Step 2 – Start Year 2 = $53,000 (Base) + $2,242 (Full Holiday Pay) + $1,728 (Degree) = up to $56,970

Step 3 – Start Year 3 = $56,000 (Base) + $2,368 (Full Holiday Pay) + $1,728 (Degree) = up to $60,096

Step 4 – Start Year 5 = $59,000 (Base) + $2,496 (Full Holiday Pay) + $1,728 (Degree) = up to $63,244

Step 5 – Start Year 8 = $67,000 (Base) + $2,834 (Full Holiday Pay) + $2,160 (Degree + Advance Cert.) = up to $71,994

Step 6 – Start Year 15 = $69,000 (Base) + $2,918 (Full Holiday Pay) + $2,520 (Degree + Senior Cert.) + $1,800 (Longevity) = up to $76,238

2024 Salary Scale – Comprehensive

2024 Salary Scale – Comprehensive

Certified Officers will be Hired at Step 2 – 4. Step Placement is Based on Years of Prior Service.

Step 1 – Entry = $49,440 (Base) + $2,091 (Full Holiday Pay) = up to $51,531

Step 2 – Start Year 2 = $54,590 (Base) + $2,310 (Full Holiday Pay) + $1,728 (Degree) = up to $58,628

Step 3 – Start Year 3 = $57,680 (Base) + $2,440 (Full Holiday Pay) + $1,728 (Degree) = up to $61,848

Step 4 – Start Year 5 = $60,770 (Base) + $2,632 (Full Holiday Pay) + $1,728 (Degree) = up to $65,130

Step 5 – Start Year 8 = $69,010 (Base) + $2,919 (Full Holiday Pay) + $2,160 (Degree + Advance Cert.) = up to $74,089

Step 6 – Start Year 15 = $71,070 (Base) + $3,006 (Full Holiday Pay) + $2,520 (Degree + Senior Cert.) + $1,800 (Longevity) = up to $78,396


Benefits

  • 15 Days of Paid Vacation / After 15 years of service it increases to 20 days
  • Paid Personal Leave Hours: 2-4 years = 16 hours, 5-9 years = 32 hours, 10-14 years = 40 hours, 15+ years = 48 hours
  • Health Coverage: 100% Paid for Employee / 75% Paid for Family
  • 11 Paid Holidays – Hourly pay rate x 88 hours paid in one check December of each year (this is in addition to base pay)
  • Yearly Education Pay (This is an addition to base pay after one year of service): Associate’s Degree = $864.00 / Bachelor’s+ = $1,728.00 or
  • Yearly Law Enforcement Certificate Pay: Officers can elect to receive LE Certificate Pay (This is an addition to base pay after one year of service)
    • General LE Certificate with 3 college English hours = $432.00
    • Intermediate LE Certificate with 6 college English hours = $864.00
    • Advanced LE Certificate = $1,500.00
    • Senior LE Certificate = $1,980.00 or
  • Yearly Law Enforcement Certificate & Education Pay: After one year of service Officers can elect to receive LE Certificate & Education Pay – (This is an addition to base pay after one year of service)
    • Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree with an Advanced LE Certificate = $2,160.00
    • Bachelor’s Degree with a Senior LE Certificate = $2,520.00
    • Master’s Degree with a Senior LE Certificate = $2,700.00 
  • Longevity Pay = $10 each month x years of service (This is in addition to base pay after ten year of service)
  • Yearly Bi-Lingual Pay = $3,000 (Must Pass Fluency Exam)
  • Yearly Clothing Allowance = $1,100.00
  • Take Home Car Program (rules apply)
  • Ample Overtime Opportunities
  • Specialized Unit Opportunities after 3 years of service *some exemptions may exist 
  • Promotion Opportunity after 5 years of service *some exemptions exist
  • LOPFI Retirement

Minimum Qualifications

  • U.S. Citizen
  • H.S. Diploma or GED
  • Current Valid Driver’s License
  • Must be 21 years of age by Date of Hire
  • No Felony Convictions
  • No Domestic Convictions

The Process

Overview of the Process
  • Apply Online at nlr.ar.gov/jobs
  • Complete and Pass the Computerized Written Test (Certified Officers will skip this step)
  • Complete and Pass the Physical Abilities Test
  • Pass the Structured Panel Interview
  • Pass the Background Investigation and Integrity Interview
  • Receive a Conditional Letter of Hire
  • Pass the Polygraph, Medical, Visual, Psychological and Drug Screening
  • Placed on the Civil Service Commission Hiring List for Police Officer
  • New Officers will attend the NLRPD Police Academy which lasts approximately 18 weeks. After graduation from the NLRPD Police Academy all Officers in Training (OIT) will undergo a 6 month Field Training Officer (FTO) program.
  • Certified Officers will attend 2 weeks of in house training and then begin a 2 month FTO program
    • Out of State & Federal Officers will obtain their Arkansas LE Certification through the NLRPD Training Unit
      • Federally Certified Officers can request to have their training evaluated to determine if they are eligible to become Arkansas LE Certified without attending a basic police academy (Most Federal Academies do Qualify)
  • All in house training will consist of a minimum of the following:
    • Daily physical fitness training, firearms training and qualifications, self defense and combatives training, policy and procedure, Arkansas law, etc.
Written Test

The Written Test

The North Little Rock Police Department utilizes the National Criminal Justice Officer Selection Inventory Exams. The exams consist of a series of multiple choice questions and rating scales designed to test important cognitive abilities and behavioral attributes that are necessary for effective job performance as a police officer. Ten abilities were determined to be necessary to perform the job-essential tasks, duties and responsibilities, they are:

  • Deductive Reasoning
  • Flexibility of Closure
  • Inductive Reasoning
  • Information Gathering
  • Problem Sensitivity
  • Selective Attention
  • Spatial Orientation
  • Verbal Comprehension
  • Verbal Expression
  • Visualization
Physical Abilities Test (PAT)

The Physical Abilities Test (PAT)

The North Little Rock Police Department utilizes the PAT to ensure all new hires are physically capable of performing the necessary duties of a Police Officer. The PAT consists of the following:

  • 1.5 mile run/jog – To Pass – Males: 18:37 – Females: 22:22
  • Maximum push ups in one minute  – To Pass – Males: 5 – Females: 1
  • Maximum sit ups in one minute – To Pass – Males: 17 – Females: 7
Panel Interview

The Panel Interview

The North Little Rock Police Department and the North Little Rock Human Resources Office will interview each applicant that has successfully passed the PAT. The interview is structured and is a pass or fail portion of the hiring process.

Background Investigation

The Background Investigation

This is considered the most strenuous part of the hiring process. The background packet will be started when an applicant applies and schedules their test date. It will be due prior to the test. After completion of the background packet, successful passing of the PAT and Panel Interview, the applicant will be interviewed by the background investigator. If the applicant successfully passes the background investigation and the Chief of Police authorizes the applicant to proceed in the hiring process, the applicant will receive a conditional letter of hire. The Conditional Letter of Hire is non-binding and does not guarantee an applicant will be hired. There are still several steps that must be passed to receive a Letter of Hire from the Chief of Police.

Start preparing for the background investigation by obtaining original copies of the following:

  • H.S. Diploma/Transcripts
  • College Transcripts
  • Military DD214 (If Applicable)
  • Police Certification (If Applicable)
  • Detention/Corrections Officer Certification (If Applicable)
  • Birth Certificate
  • Social Security Card
  • Naturalization/Citizenship Documents
  • Marriage License and Divorce Decree (If Applicable)
  • Personal Information for Five Character References
  • Personal Information for any Significant Others in your life (past and present)
  • Residence History Information
  • Employment History Information
  • Credit Report
Physical, Visual, Psychological Examinations, Drug Screen and Polygraph

Physical, Visual, Psychological Examinations, Drug Screen and Polygraph

All Applicants that have successfully passed the background investigation and integrity interview will be given a conditional letter of hire that allows us to schedule the applicant to complete each of the following; physical/medical examination, visual examination, psychological examination, drug screening and polygraph examination. All of which are pass or fail portions of the hiring process. If all portions of this process are successfully passed the applicant will be placed on the Civil Service Commission Hiring List. 

Hiring Eligibility

Congratulations! You’re Eligible to be Hired!

Once an applicant is placed on the Civil Service Commission Hiring List they will be hired in accordance with their ranking (as long as openings exist). The Hiring List is good for six months after being approved by the Civil Service Commission.

If hired, all new Officers are placed on a two year probationary period and Certified Officers are placed on a one year probationary period per State CLEST Standards.