VALDOSTA — The Valdosta Police Department will hold an open testing hiring event at 6 p.m. April 10 at the police station, 500 N. Toombs St. This test is the initial stage of the hiring process.

Candidates can enter 30 minutes prior to the testing time.

Applicants taking the test will need to bring their driver’s license and $15 cash, which is the testing fee.

The VPD will send successful candidates to the police academy as City of Valdosta employees, which means you will be getting paid while attending training.

If you are already a sworn law enforcement officer, you do not need to attend the testing. Simply turn in an application for employment.

The VPD offers a competitive salary as well as great medical and retirement benefits, the agency said.

Minimum requirements:
— Applicant must be at least 20 years of age.
— Applicant must be a United States Citizen.
— Applicant cannot have any felony convictions according to O.C.G.A 35-8-8.
— Applicant cannot have any family violence-related convictions according to O.C.G.A 19-13-1
— Applicant must have a High School Diploma or GED.
— Applicant must have valid Driver’s License.

Salary information:

Minimum starting pay is $49,182.52 annually, with incentives. Earn up to $53,182.52 annually based on additional incentives.

Incentives include:

— $1,000 annually for partial college or partial military.

— $2,000 annually for both partial college and partial military.

— $2,000 annually for full college or military.

— $3,000 annually for a combination of partial military/college and full military/college.

— $4,000 annually for both full military and full college

The Valdosta Police Department is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Applications for the position of police officer remains open and dates and times of entry level test will be posted periodically on the City of Valdosta website www.valdostacity.com.

For more information, email Lt. Chris Crews at ccrews@valdostacity.com or call him at 229-293-3113.