Career Opportunities

The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) is staffed with approximately 2,100 police officers.  As a police officer, there are always opportunities to grow and advance in the law enforcement field. 

There are many patrol assignments in the eight districts that serve the island and other assignments that are just as rewarding.  The following are just some of the non-patrol assignments that are available:

• Tactical Officer in the Specialized Service Division
• Motorcycle Officer in the Traffic Division
• Undercover Officer in the Narcotics / Vice Division
• D.A.R.E. Officer in the Community Affairs Division

There are also opportunities for advancement in the HPD.  The next rank above patrol officer is sergeant, then lieutenant.  Officers with the rank of captain and above are considered executive management.  Even Chief Kealoha began his career as a metropolitan police recruit.

Our civilian staff has approximately 575 employees who are considered the backbone of the HPD.  Listed below are some of the available jobs:

• Evidence Specialists or Criminalists in the Scientific Investigation Section
• Emergency Response Operators or Police Radio Dispatchers in the Communications Division
• Computer Programmers in the Information Technology Division
• Mechanics in the Vehicle Maintenance Section

Working together we are committed to making Honolulu the safest city in the nation in which to live, work, and play.