Police Officer Recruit - Hiring Process Dates

When applying for a Police Officer Recruit position at the Tucson Police Department, there are typically three Southern Arizona Law Enforcement Academies each year. Below is a guideline with approximate timing of each step in the process. Contact a recruiter for current timelines by emailing your inquiry to recruit1@tucsonaz.gov .

Academy Dates

January Academy: Application open in July-August the year prior

June Academy: Application open in December-January (12/7/2026 - 1/19/2027)

September Academy: Application open in March-April

Dependent on when you apply during the open process, your start date will be approximately 4-6 months from time of application.

In-Person Testing

• Based on review of your application and questionnaire, Qualified Applicants will be invited to attend the in-person written test.
• Testing dates will be approximately 1 month after the application process closes. Testing dates will be listed in the job posting.

If you pass the written test, you will move forward to the background process to include: completing eSoph application, polygraph, fingerprinting, and an interview with your background investigator. If selected, you will receive a contingent job offer based on passing a medical and psychological evaluation. Once you pass both, you will receive your final job offer to start the academy.

These are dates and timelines are all approximate and subject to change.