The Charleston Police Department is the largest municipal law enforcement organization in South Carolina and the first law enforcement organization to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). The Charleston Police Department’s application process consists of four major phases.
Phase I: Submitting an application and the necessary supporting documents, which include the following:
1. A photocopy of your birth certificate. U.S. Citizenship is required for a sworn position (Police Officer).
2. A photocopy of your Social Security Card.
3. A photocopy of your driver’s license.
4. A certified driving record for all states in which you are/were licensed.
5. A photocopy of your highest college degree earned AND a photocopy of your high school diploma or transcript. An official transcript from the college from which you graduated will need to be sent directly to the Charleston Police Personnel Office.
6. If you have served in the U.S. Military for any period of time, a photocopy of your DD-214 (Member 4 Copy listing Characterization of Service, Separation and Re-Enlistment Codes) or photocopy of your discharge certificate.
7. A photocopy of any licenses or certificate which show special qualifications or skills. If you are a certified law enforcement officer from outside South Carolina, a photocopy of your state certificate and training academy curriculum with hours.
8. The notarized Authorization to Release Information.
9. Signed Waiver for release of your consumer credit report.
10. Relative Waiver.
11. EEO Information.
Phase II: Once the application and necessary supporting documents are submitted your application is vetted. If you are selected for testing you would take part in a Charleston based three day testing battery consisting of the physical agility test, written exam, oral interview, and polygraph.
Phase III: If successful in passing all tests during phase II, you would then be placed in backgrounds. References listed on the background packet should be willing and able to respond to the background investigator in a timely manner.
Phase IV: If you pass backgrounds you are given a conditional offer of hire, contingent upon your medical and psychological exam. If you accept the conditional offer, you would be asked to come to Charleston, South Carolina once more to complete the medical and psychological. If you successfully complete the medical and psychological testing your conditional offer becomes your official hire date.
New hires take part in a twelve week Police Corps, eight week live in South Carolina Justice Academy, and fifteen weeks of field training. Lateral hires take part in the ten week pre-academy, two week live in South Carolina Justice Academy in Columbia, SC and six weeks of field training.