Police Officer Cover Letter Example

In your police officer cover letter, it's important that you emphasize education, work experience, a clean background, and community service. Use the example below to learn how to highlight these four details.

September 3, 2024

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An example cover letter for an experienced police officer.

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Police Officer Cover Letter Template

Copy-paste Police Officer Cover Letter (Text Format)

Entry
Mid
Senior

FIRST AND LAST NAME

Email: your.email@email.com

Phone: (123) 456-7891

Address: Street, City, State

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yourproﬁle

[Today’s Date]

[Hiring Manager’s Name]
[456 Company Address]
[Company City, State XXXXX]
[(XXX) XXX-XXXX]
[hiring.manager@gmail.com]

Dear [Mr./Mrs./Ms./Mx.] [Hiring Manager/Police Chief’s Name],

I am writing to apply for the Police Officer position with the Oakville Police Department. As a recent graduate of the Criminal Justice program at State University and a lifelong resident of Oakville, I am eager to serve and protect the community that has shaped me.

My passion for law enforcement began at a young age, inspired by the dedicated officers I saw working tirelessly to keep our neighborhoods safe. This passion led me to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice, where I gained a solid foundation in criminal law, ethics, and community policing strategies.

As a volunteer at the Oakville Youth Center, I worked with at-risk teenagers, developing my communication skills and ability to build trust with diverse groups. This experience reinforced my belief in the importance of community engagement and the positive impact law enforcement can have on young lives.

During my internship with the Oakville Sheriff’s Department, I shadowed deputies on patrol, assisted with paperwork, and observed booking procedures. This hands-on experience gave me valuable insights into the day-to-day realities of police work and strengthened my resolve to pursue this career.

I am excited about the opportunity to begin my law enforcement career with the Oakville Police Department. I am ready to bring my energy, dedication, and fresh perspective to your team, and I am committed to upholding the high standards of professionalism and service that your department represents.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how I can contribute to the safety and well-being of our community as a member of the Oakville Police Department.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

August 31, 2021

Hiring Manager’s Name
341 Company Address
Palo Alto, California, 94301
(xxx)xxx-xxxx
hiring.manager@gmail.com

Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I am excited to submit my application for the full-time police officer position at the New Haven Police Department. I have two years of experience working as a police officer for the Charleston Police Department, and am a graduate of the West Virginia State Police Academy. I believe that I have the requisite skills and abilities to perform the duties you’ve stipulated exceptionally well.

During my two years as a police officer, I performed area patrols on foot, bicycle, and in patrol cars, responding to traffic incidents, domestic disputes, and reports of criminal activity. My performance was above standard, and I was frequently praised for my calm and authoritative demeanor even during moments of tension and hostility.

I am aware that the rate of crime in New Haven is higher than average, and I am keen to use my skills to assist and protect the community to the fullest extent possible. My training and personal characteristics make me a perfect fit to handle both tough situations and present a pleasant face to the New Haven community.

For all of the above reasons, I am confident that you will find me to be a compelling candidate. You can contact me at victoriaclark@gmail.com or by phone at 123.456.7895. I am available any time for an interview, as I am now a permanent resident of New Haven. I look forward to discussing this opportunity with you in detail.

Sincerely,
Your Name

[Today’s Date]

[Hiring Manager’s Name]
[456 Company Address]
[Company City, State XXXXX]
[(XXX) XXX-XXXX]
[hiring.manager@gmail.com]

Dear [Mr./Mrs./Ms./Mx.] [Hiring Manager/Police Chief’s Name],

I am writing to express my interest in the Senior Police Officer position with the Lakeside Police Department. Throughout my career, I have consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence in all aspects of policing. My experience spans a wide range of law enforcement duties, including patrol operations, criminal investigations, community outreach, and crisis intervention. In my current role as Sergeant, I lead a team of eight officers, focusing on proactive policing strategies and building strong community relationships.

During my tenure as a Detective in the Narcotics Division, I played a crucial role in dismantling a major drug trafficking operation, resulting in over 30 arrests and the seizure of significant quantities of illegal substances. This operation highlighted my investigative skills, attention to detail, and ability to collaborate effectively with multiple agencies.

As the Community Liaison Officer, I initiated a successful youth mentorship program that paired at-risk teenagers with police officers. This program has seen a 20% reduction in juvenile delinquency rates in targeted neighborhoods over three years.

I am confident that my extensive experience, leadership skills, and unwavering commitment to public service would make me a valuable asset to the Lakeside Police Department. I am excited about the possibility of contributing to your department’s mission of ensuring public safety while fostering trust and cooperation within the community.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my experience and skills can contribute to the continued success and evolution of the Lakeside Police Department.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Average police officer salaries in the US

The following table includes information from O*NET Resource Center by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data is presented based on the top states by downloads in the USA.

Average police officer annual salaries by state

State	Salary / Year
New York	$85,460
Texas	$74,010
California	$113,460
Florida	$68,240
Pennsylvania	$85,390
Illinois	$98,430
Ohio	$74,300
Georgia	$53,730
North Carolina	$52,380
Michigan	$69,240
National Average	$69,798

Police officer cover letter writing tips

Policing is a tough job, and doing it well requires exceptional patience, social skills and level-headedness. While there will always be a need for quality police officers, getting hired for a full time position is not necessarily easy.

Police departments are looking for officers who have the skills and experience needed to do their job safely and effectively. An outstanding cover letter can be the difference between landing the top job or being left waiting for a response.

Below are three tips for writing a strong police officer cover letter:

1. Highlight relevant skills

A day in the life of a police officer might involve responding to domestic disputes, traffic accidents, violence, theft, or any number of issues.

Because the action needed in these situations can vary as wildly as the behavior of the civilians involved, the skills required of a successful police officer are complex.

To show police departments that you have the expertise needed for the job, highlight some of these key police officer skills on your cover letter:

Community outreach
Youth education
Active listening
De-escalation techniques
Squad leadership skills and supervision
Interpersonal skills
Self-defense and martial arts skills
Specialized weapons training
Military experience
Officer training
Proficiency in more than one language
Fitness certifications
Crisis leadership
Data security and processing
Academic background in law or criminal justice

The ideal candidate for any policing position ultimately depends on the unique challenges facing the city or town hiring for that job. With that in mind, include skills in your cover letter that address the needs of the department you want to work for. This helps employers know that you have what it takes to excel in the role.

2. Show your passion for police work

Police work isn’t a casual day job. Officers are responsible for a community’s well-being and are regularly put in potentially dangerous situations. So police departments need to know they’re hiring someone who’s seriously passionate about the work they do.

Use your cover letter to show employers that you’re personally invested in providing excellent police work, and that they can rely on you to exceed the minimum of what’s expected of you.

If you have life experiences that made you want to become a police officer, highlight those experiences in your cover letter to show that you’re dedicated to doing excellent work. Let departments know your personal values inspire your dedication to law enforcement.

3. Make sure your cover letter is the right length

Police departments in bigger cities have to sort through stacks of cover letters whenever they hire new officers.

To make sure that your application doesn’t go overlooked, your cover letter needs to communicate all your strengths while being short enough to keep the hiring manager’s attention.

The most effective cover letter length for police officers is between 200 and 400 words, which should all fit on one page with standard size text.

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Written by

Ida Pettersson

Committed to empowering job seekers of all experience levels to take the next step in their careers, Ida helps professionals navigate the job hunt from start to finish. After graduating from New College of Florida with a B.A. in Philosophy and Chinese Language and Culture, Ida moved to Hong Kong to begin her own career journey and finally settled in Taiwan. Her insights on resume writing, interview strategies, and career development have been featured on websites such as LawCareers.net, Digital Marketer, and SheCanCode.