About the Lateral Employment Program
Police officers hired on or after January 1st, 2026 must meet all the requirements listed below to be eligible for entering the lateral employment program:
- Must have/had been a full-time sworn law enforcement officer with powers of lawful arrest and authorized to carry a weapon.
- Must possess an Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) Certification for successfully completing the Tier 1 Basic Course or be in the process of obtaining, or be eligible to obtain, an ILEA Waiver that is equivalent to the Tier 1 Basic Course.
- Must meet the requirements of the 1977 Indiana Police and Fire Pension Fund (“PERF”), and be accepted into the Pension Fund. Out-of-state applicants, and other applicants not currently a member of this fund, must not have reached their 40th birthday upon commencement of employment or be a veteran with 20 years of armed forces service with a maximum age of 40 years and 6 months.
We will accept applications from individuals employed within any of the following listed categories or agencies of police/law enforcement:
- Federal Police/Law Enforcement Agency
- State Police/U.S. Territory Police/Law Enforcement Agency
- County Police/Law Enforcement Agency
- State/County Sheriff’s Department (does not include those employed exclusively within the area of correction or detention)
- City/Police/Law Enforcement Agency
The hiring process for eligible candidates will be the same as the standard police officer hiring process, with the following exceptions for candidates who are currently members of the 1977 Indiana Police and Fire Pension Fund (PERF):
- The written aptitude test
- The physical fitness test
- The medical examination
- The emotional stability/psychological fitness examination(s)
Benefits of being hired under the lateral employment program
- Receive starting pay that is equivalent for each year of full-time service, up to, and including 8 years. The starting pay is based upon base pay plus longevity pay for each year of service.
- Receive Personal Time Off (PTO) that is equivalent for each year of full-time service, up to, and including 8 years.
- The calculation for years of service will not include partial/seasonal years of service. Additionally, this does not and will not provide for the lateral transfer of rank or rights to any seniority status in the department or at the City. Years of service evaluation is for pay and PTO purposes only.
- The calculated years of service for longevity, plus years of service with the Columbus Police Department shall not exceed 20 years.
Lateral Hire Pay Structure
As a lateral hire at the Columbus Police Department, you qualify for a higher salary, based on previous experience as a law enforcement officer. For example, if you join CPD with 5 years of experience, your base pay is $77,896, instead of $72,800.
The table below represents the pay scale from 2025. The 2026 pay scale will be voted on by the Columbus City Council later this year.
| Years of Service | Base Salary | Longevity | Total Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $72,800 | $1,019 | $73,819 |
| 2 | $72,800 | $2,038 | $74,838 |
| 3 | $72,800 | $3,058 | $75,858 |
| 4 | $72,800 | $4,077 | $76,877 |
| 5 | $72,800 | $5,096 | $77,896 |
| 6 | $72,800 | $6,115 | $78,915 |
| 7 | $72,800 | $7,134 | $79,934 |
| 8 | $72,800 | $8,154 | $80,954 |
*New officers rotate for one year before becoming eligible to bid on shift assignments.
Police
Dispatch
(812) 379-1689
Front Desk
(812) 376-2600
Records Division
123 Washington Street
Columbus, IN 47201
(812) 376-2653
Monday – Friday
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
