June 27, 2016 -- Want to be a police officer in Westchester County?
Applications are being accepted now through July 25, 2016, for the Civil Service exam for Police Officer. The exam will be administered on Nov. 19, 2016, and anyone interested in taking it must apply by July 25 with the Department of Human Resources. Go to Police Officer Exams.
“Westchester is served best when its police ranks are filled with the best, brightest and most dedicated men and women from all our communities across the county,” said Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino. “If you are interested in becoming a police officer, or know someone who is, don’t let this opportunity slip by. This exam can be the start of an exciting and rewarding career.”
Typically, the exam is given only once every four years, so those who want to be a police officer must take the exam now or likely wait until 2020.
To be eligible to take the exam, applicants must, at the time of the examination and for at least one month prior to the exam, be legal residents of Westchester County and possess a high school diploma or equivalency. On the day of exam, they may not be over the age of 35, unless they are a veteran of the Armed Forces as defined by New York State law. Police officer candidates cannot be appointed until they turn 20, but can take the test before then.
Those who pass the test are put on a list ranked by test score, and the list is used to hire police officers as positions become available. The Westchester County Department of Public Safety and all local police departments with the exception of Yonkers, White Plains, New Rochelle and Mount Vernon hire from this list.
The test will be administered at various locations within the county. Specific locations will be announced prior to the November exam.
The exam application fee is $100. Waivers may be available for some applicants.
There is also a separate application for the title of Police Officer (Spanish Speaking). We encourage those who are bilingual in English and Spanish to apply for both titles, requiring two separate applications and fees. This is the only way to appear on both lists and have the possibility of being hired for whichever title becomes available, even though there is only one written exam in English. There will be an oral proficiency Spanish exam for those who pass the written exam.
Details about the fee waivers, the language proficiency examination and other information are described in the official examination announcement. For more information, contact the county Department of Human Resources by e-mail at or by phone at (914) 995-2123.