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Pay and benefits
Officer Salary and Benefits
Base salary, $50,530
Figure as of August 2023. Full pay plus all equipment and transportation while at the Academy.
Increase after one year
A $1,000 increase on completion of the first year of service.
Certification bonuses
$5,000 after one year if you are already WV LET certified. $2,500 if you hold LET certification from another state and West Virginia accepts it.
College degree incentives
After one year: associate $1,200 per year, bachelor's $2,400 per year, master's a further $1,800 on top of the bachelor's increase.
Vacation and holidays
Vacation accrues at 80 hours the first year and maxes at 200 per year. Twelve legal holidays plus any other declared state or federal holidays.
Sick leave
Paid sick leave.
Retirement
After 20 years of service through the City of Beckley Policemen's Pension and Relief Fund.
Health, vision and dental
Individual or family coverage.
Life insurance
$20,000 at no charge to the employee.
Educational assistance
Half tuition reimbursement.
Fitness and wellness
In-house fitness center and wellness plan.
Additional payroll plans
Deferred compensation, long term disability, supplemental group life, credit union and direct deposit. Civil Service agency benefits apply.
What we look for
Background Evaluation
Beckley police officers are entrusted with keeping our city safe, so a history of ethical and moral behavior is of the utmost importance. Your background will be looked at very closely. Candidates with a history of unethical or immoral behavior will not be hired. You will be subject to an intensive background evaluation, which includes but is not limited to the following.
- Your past behavior and choices must demonstrate positive traits that support your candidacy and reflect favorably on your character.
- You must have a history of lawful conduct.
- You must possess high standards of honesty and integrity. Falsifying, misrepresenting or omitting information on any document during the selection process will be closely scrutinized.
- You must respect the rights of all people and appreciate diversity. A history of domestic violence, physical altercations, or discourteous, abusive or violent treatment of others may indicate a lack of self-discipline or a disregard for the rights of others.
- You must have a history of making responsible choices regarding the use of drugs and alcohol.
- Your employment, educational and military histories must demonstrate the motivation and success orientation needed to succeed as a police officer.
- Your financial and driving records must demonstrate responsible decisions and appropriate behavior.
The Beckley Police Department uses the National Police Officer Selection Test. Study guides and practice tests are available at applytoserve.com.
Advice for candidates
Steps to a Law Enforcement Career
Don't do drugs. If you do, stop now.
Most agencies allow for some experimentation, but beyond that a candidate may be disqualified.
Don't let alcohol use creep up on you.
Abuse of alcohol leads to a whole host of disqualifying areas: fighting, driving under the influence, and poor health.
Protect your driving privilege.
Agencies look at the number of tickets you have received, vehicle accidents, and license suspensions.
Make fitness a way of life.
Law enforcement is a strenuous job in which your safety can depend on being physically fit.
Pay your bills.
Agencies regard how you handle your finances as a way to determine your level of responsibility and maturity.
Honesty is its own reward.
Many candidates are eliminated for not maintaining high standards of personal conduct. The job of a police officer requires being honest and ethical.
Sharpen your writing skills.
People underestimate how important writing is to a police officer. Many candidates are unsuccessful in testing due to poor writing, grammar, punctuation and spelling.
Your job history is critically important.
No matter what job you have, make a good impression on your employer. It will pay off when background investigations are conducted. Avoid termination.
Strengthen your self-esteem and be true to your values.
We need officers who are assertive, self-confident, outgoing, personable and interact well with all people. Peer pressure is powerful, but the real test is the ability to be true to your own values.