NYS seeking 150 entry-level law enforcement officers for SUNY campuses, parks, DEC

An Aug. 14 deadline for applying to take the Civil Service exam for entry-level state law enforcement positions throughout New York is fast approaching.

The state Department of Civil Service is looking to fill 150 law enforcement positions for the state Department of Environmental Conservation, Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and SUNY campuses. Interested jobseekers must first apply and be approved to take the exam this fall.

The last time exams for these positions were open to job seekers was in 2022, according to the state. 

Fees for the exam are waived through 2025, a result of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s previous proposal for the fiscal year 2024 budget. Civil Service exams for entry-level law enforcement officers previously cost test takers a non-refundable processing fee of $35 when exams were last held on Sept. 17, 2022. 

“New York’s law enforcement officers provide the essential services that keep our schools, our neighbors and our communities safe,” Hochul said in a statement.

“New Yorkers looking to make a positive impact can apply for the free Civil Service exam to join their ranks and continue our work to make New York the safest place in the nation,” she said.

Applications to take the exam are due by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 14.

The opening of the exams this fall will also allow test takers to apply for positions at municipal police departments and sheriff’s offices across the state, depending on the availability of positions. Neither Nassau or Suffolk police departments are listed as currently accepting test takers for the exam for local positions, as of July 12.

The positions are spread throughout the state, and include openings on Long Island, dependent on need of state agencies in the region, Bryan Viggiani, spokesperson for the Department of Civil Service, said in a statement.

“There is a vital need to fill these positions at the state level to help protect and serve New Yorkers and our visitors, students, faculty and staff at our universities, institutions and natural, cultural and historic resources,” Viggiani said.

Job titles the state is looking to fill include environmental conservation police officer trainee and forest ranger with the DEC; park police officer trainee with the Office of Parks; and university police officers for the SUNY system.

“In our important effort with our partner agencies to recruit public servants that reflect and meet the needs of the Empire State’s communities, I encourage qualified and interested New Yorkers of diverse backgrounds to apply today,” Timothy Hogues, commissioner of the Department of Civil Service said in a statement.

Requirements for the open positions vary depending on agency and job title but can include a required amount of college credit hours, active military experience with honorable discharge, or an associate or higher-level degree in a field of biology, depending on the position.

Those approved to take the test will be assigned a test date for sometime in late September or early October, and will be notified of their acceptance beforehand.

For a full list of requirements or to apply for the exam, visit the state’s Civil Service website.