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Police Captain Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Police Captain

Bartow, FL

$51.03 - $61.71/hr

Work is performed under the general supervision of the Deputy Chief of Police. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Provides overall leadership and direction to a self-contained division.

Police Captain

Bartow, FL · On-site

$51.03 - $61.71/hr

Police Opening Date: 06/25/2026 Closing Date: 7/27/2026 8:00 AM Eastern Job Summary Responsible, professional and administrative work supervising an assigned section of the police department.

Police Sergeant

Red Bluff, CA · On-site

$88K - $135K/yr

Works under the general direction of the Police Captain who is the Operations Division Commander. Is responsible to be the "Watch Commander" in the absence of the Police Captain and other ...

Police Sergeant

Red Bluff, CA · On-site

$88K - $135K/yr

Works under the general direction of the Police Captain who is the Operations Division Commander. Is responsible to be the "Watch Commander" in the absence of the Police Captain and other ...

Inform the Chief of Police, Captain, and the on-duty supervisor of all arrests as soon as practical. * Provide public service to all persons on campus, giving information, directions, assistance, and ...

Inform the Chief of Police, Captain, and the on-duty supervisor of all arrests as soon as practical. * Provide public service to all persons on campus, giving information, directions, assistance, and ...

Police Officer

Greendale, WI · On-site

$67K - $95K/yr

Continuous Under the general direction of the Chief of Police, Captain, Lieutenant and Sergeant, the Patrol Officer is responsible for assisting the Chief of Police in maintaining law and order ...

Works shifts designed to best supplement the department in their mission to provide safety to the campus population. 25% Reports directly to the Police Captain A and serves as acting supervisor of ...

Under the general direction of the Chief of Police, Captain, Lieutenant and Sergeant, the Patrol Officer is responsible for assisting the Chief of Police in maintaining law and order within the ...

Police Captain or designee. Examples of Work Arrive on time, attend all classes, complete assignments, meet or exceed all course requirements and pass the academy course of study; Meet all physical ...

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Police Captain information

See salary details

$49K

$130.2K

$210.5K

How much do police captain jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for police captain in the United States is $130,202.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $87,000.00 and $172,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are Police Captains?

Police Captains are senior law enforcement officers who oversee and manage the operations of a police department or a specific division within it. They are responsible for supervising personnel, developing policies, coordinating investigations, and ensuring that their units comply with laws and departmental procedures. Police Captains also serve as liaisons between upper management and lower-ranking officers, and often represent their department in community meetings or public events. Their leadership is crucial in maintaining discipline, efficiency, and public trust within the police force.

What does it take to become a police captain?

To become a police captain, candidates typically need several years of law enforcement experience, often starting as officers and progressing through ranks. A bachelor's degree in criminal justice or a related field is usually required, along with strong leadership, communication, and management skills. Additional certifications or training in areas like criminal law or leadership may also be beneficial.

How does a Police Captain typically support the professional development of their team members?

A Police Captain plays a pivotal role in mentoring and evaluating officers, providing regular feedback and guidance to promote both individual and team growth. Captains often identify training opportunities, facilitate workshops, and encourage officers to pursue specialized certifications or leadership programs. They also help set career goals during performance reviews and foster an environment where team members feel empowered to advance within the department. This supportive approach not only enhances team effectiveness but also strengthens retention and morale.

What actor was a cop in real life?

Several actors who portrayed police officers in films or TV shows have also served as real-life law enforcement officers. Notable examples include Fred Williamson, who was a police officer before becoming an actor, and Michael Madsen, who trained as a police officer in his youth. These experiences can enhance their authenticity in portraying law enforcement roles.

What Does a Police Captain Do?

A police captain is a high-level officer in a police department who is typically responsible for an entire district or precinct. As a police captain, you answer to the police chief. Your job duties include allocating budget resources to each section of your division, analyzing crime data to determine trends in your area, and providing information to the press about ongoing or resolved investigations. You need strong leadership skills and significant experience as a police officer to be eligible for a job as a police captain.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Police Captain, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Police Captain, you need extensive law enforcement experience, strong leadership abilities, and typically a bachelor's degree in criminal justice or a related field. Familiarity with police management systems, incident reporting software, and completion of advanced supervisory training or certifications such as FBI National Academy are often required. Exceptional communication, conflict resolution, and decision-making skills help you lead teams effectively and maintain public trust. These competencies are essential for ensuring operational efficiency, upholding departmental standards, and fostering community safety.

What is the difference between Police Captain vs Police Lieutenant?

AspectPolice CaptainPolice Lieutenant
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or GED, police academy training, supervisory experienceHigh school diploma or GED, police academy training, supervisory experience
Work EnvironmentOversees multiple precincts or divisions, administrative dutiesManages specific units or shifts, field supervision
Employer & Industry UsagePolice departments, law enforcement agenciesPolice departments, law enforcement agencies
Common Search & ComparisonPolice Captain vs Police Lieutenant

The main difference between a Police Captain and a Police Lieutenant lies in their level of responsibility and scope of oversight. Police Captains typically oversee entire divisions or multiple precincts and focus on administrative and strategic planning. Police Lieutenants usually manage specific units or shifts, with a more direct role in field supervision. Both roles require similar credentials and are integral to law enforcement hierarchies, but their duties and areas of focus differ significantly.

What does a captain do in the police?

A police captain oversees police operations, manages personnel, and ensures departmental policies are followed. They often coordinate with other law enforcement leaders, handle administrative duties, and may be responsible for budgeting and strategic planning within their division.

Is a police captain a high rank?

A police captain is a high-ranking position within a police department, typically overseeing multiple precincts or divisions. It is usually above the ranks of lieutenant and sergeant and below the chief of police, requiring leadership skills and experience in law enforcement. The rank signifies significant responsibility and authority within the department.
What cities are hiring for Police Captain jobs? Cities with the most Police Captain job openings:
Who are the top companies hiring for Police Captain jobs? The top employers for Police Captain jobs are:
What states have the most Police Captain jobs? States with the most job openings for Police Captain jobs include:
What are popular job titles related to Police Captain jobs? For Police Captain jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Police Captain job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, and 5% Part Time. Highlights an 100% Physical job distribution, with an average salary of $130,202 per year, or $62.6 per hour.
Police Captain

$51.03 - $61.71/hr

Full-time

Posted 1 hour ago


Job description

Job Summary Responsible, professional and administrative work supervising an assigned section of the police department. Independent decision making is required. This position performs related tasks and assignments.

Work is performed under the general supervision of the Deputy Chief of Police. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Provides overall leadership and direction to a self-contained division. Collaborates with department director and City Manager's Office as needed to create and understand the vision/direction for the City.

Recommends strategies for achieving City of Bartow's vision and mission; participates in efforts to embed values into the organization. Recommends ways to control operating/capital expenditures; leads efforts to define strategies to increase level of service, reduce costs, and improve services and processes. Develops and ensures implementation of policy.

Establishes performance measures and reports outcomes to Department Director. Presents reports, information and data to the Commission, Senior Management, and Advisory/Community groups. Serves as a mentor, advisor, and resource to colleagues, managers, and staff members.

Explores, and challenges, the status quo; strives for excellence in all operations. Keeps Department Director abreast of all issues as appropriate. Provides direction and management of activities of assigned section.

Plans, organizes, controls, and directs the day-to-day operations of all law enforcement functions within the section. Ensures appropriate service and staffing levels. Ensures appropriate care and maintenance of vehicles and equipment of assigned section.

Coordinates the conduct of crime investigations of assigned section. Prepares, reviews, and analyzes reports, statistics, documents, data, and other information necessary to police planning and management. Assists with the development of goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards for the department.

Investigates and resolves problems with requests for services or complaints regarding police functions. Plans, assigns, and directs work of directly supervised staff Ensures that the required section orientation and training and applicable on-the-job training is completed. Assists in the development of the fiscal budget approves of assigned section for the upcoming year(s).

Makes recommendations on disciplinary actions for subordinate personnel. Screens applicants for employment and makes hiring recommendations. Performs related tasks as required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions. Supervisory Responsibilities: Supervision is exercised over sworn and civilian personnel, pursuant to the organizational chart. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Ability to lead and oversee a work unit.

Ability to provide accurate information and sound advice of a specific nature across the organization. Ability to think and communicate strategically/analytically. Ability to listen, comprehend information, put in appropriate context and communicate effectively.

Ability to negotiate with good outcomes/results. Ability to communicate the mission and vision to the dept. Ability to follow and model the values of the organization.

Knowledge of current trends, resources, legislation, etc. Ability to assist and advise director/managers with budget, staffing and business plan preparation. Knowledge of the budgeting processes.

Ability to make fiscally, sound financial recommendations. Ability to define and recommend strategies to increase level of service while controlling or reducing costs. Comprehensive knowledge of approved principles, practices and procedures of police work.

Comprehensive knowledge of pertinent federal and state laws and municipal ordinances. Comprehensive knowledge of FLSA and FMLA and the knowledge and ability to interpret contracts required. Ability to assign, direct, supervise and evaluate the work of subordinate officers.

Ability to analyze complex police problems and to adopt effective and reasonable courses of action with due regard to surrounding hazards and circumstances. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with law enforcement agencies, association, and the general public. Ability to prepare and present detailed reports.

Ability to communication ideas effectively both orally and in writing. Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; Certification from the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training of Florida is required or obtained within six months of appointment; Advanced training such as the FBI National Academy, University of Louisville Southern Police Institute's Administrative Officers Course (AOC), Northwestern's School of Police Command and Staff, Leadership in Police Organizations (LPO), and/or Police Executive Research Forum's Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP), or graduate-level training in leadership, law or public administration is also preferred. Seven (7) years of experience in the supervision and deployment of police personnel; or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience which provides the necessary knowledge, skills, abilities and other competencies necessary for the position.

Licenses, Certifications, Special Requirements: Possess a valid Class "E" Florida Driver's License. Possession of a Certification from the Florida Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training. Must meet all qualification requirements and training required by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the City of Bartow.

Physical and Mental Demands: The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, as established in the Americans with Disabilities Act. Essential Physical Skills: Requires work that involves walking, running, and/or standing, exerting up to one hundred fifty (150) pounds of force intermittently, and routine keyboard operations.

Requires the ability to continuously wear/carry up to 30 lbs. of equipment. Requires the ability to operate a vehicle in routine and emergency conditions, daytime, night-time, and adverse weather.

Requires dexterity and grip strength to operate law enforcement equipment such as firearms, handcuffs, radios, batons, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Requires the ability to successfully qualify with department-issued weapons. Requires the ability to chase on foot in the course of law enforcement/criminal apprehension activities.

Requires the ability to physically restrain persons in the course of law enforcement activities. Requires the ability to lift and/or move heavy objects or persons in the course of rescue activities. Requires the ability to wear and/or operate personal protective equipment, including, but not limited to, belts, ballistic vests, shields, and helmets.

Requires the ability to sit and stand longer than six (6) hours. The job risks exposure to traffic, high-stress levels, electricity, violence, extreme weather conditions, pollen, dust, pathogens, chemicals, bodily fluids, heights, and unknown chemicals. The job requires normal visual acuity, field of vision, hearing, speaking, color perception, sense of smell, depth perception, and texture perception.

Requires the ability to maintain awareness and vigilance commensurate with officer safety responsibilities. Requires the ability to use various communication skills to interact formally and informally with various community and ethnic groups. Mental Demands: Required to use written and oral communication skills.

Requires the ability to read and interpret data, information and documents. Requires the ability to solve complex problems. Requires the ability to work under deadlines with constant interruptions.

Supplemental Information Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Works regularly in an indoor office environment and works outside in various weather conditions.

Work risks exposure to traffic, high levels of stress, electricity, violence, extreme weather conditions, pollen, dust, pathogens, chemicals, bodily fluids, heights, and unknown chemicals. Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Performs other related duties as assigned. All City of Bartow employees are considered EOC essential in times of emergency. An e-role will be provided to each employee when an emergency is declared.

As a City of Bartow employee, you are a public servant of a local entity and are responsible to adhere to the Florida State Statute governing the Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees Florida State Statute Chapter 112. Additionally, all Bartow employees are subject to Chapter 119 of the Florida State Statutes which governs public records.