The South Bend Police Department Recruiting and Training Bureau will be hosting an open house for those interested in a career as a police officer in South Bend. The open house will be held on July 20, 2019 at the South Bend Fire Department Training Center located at 710 E. Sample Street from 9am to 11am. The current application is still open and the deadline to apply is August 12, 2019. The application and requirements to be an officer can be found here. To date, there have been more than 70 applications completed for this hiring process.
The first step in becoming a South Bend Police Officer is a physical agility test. Recruiters have found many of those who apply never show up for the test because they feel unprepared. This open house will allow applicants to ask questions, receive tips, and attempt some of the elements of the test. The open house is also open to anyone who may have questions about a career in law enforcement or the hiring process.
“We’ve taken many steps to increase the applicant pool of qualified candidates interested in a career in law enforcement,” said Chief Scott Ruszkowski. “Those steps include this open house, an online application, and practice tests. It is vital that the department reflects the community we serve. We are looking for the best of the best to meet our high standards to be a South Bend police officer.”
South Bend police officers make $48,096 per year while attending the academy and make $53,060 (before shift incentives) in their first year on the force. Officers also receive health and life insurance, bonuses for living in South Bend, paid vacations and sick leave, and more. A full list of benefits can be found here.