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BOWLING GREEN, CITY OF - POLICE DIVISION 305 N. MAIN STREET BOWLING GREEN, OHIO 43402 4193546202
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Updated: February 19, 2026
POSITON POSTING
CITY OF BOWLING GREEN 305 N. MAIN STREET BOWLING GREEN, OH 43402
Posting Period: 01/19/2026 to 02/18/2026
Job Classification: Entry Level Police Officer
The City of Bowling Green is testing to fill vacancies in 2026. These positions are open to candidates who possess:
· Associate’s Degree or 96 quarter-hours or 64 semester-hours towards a Bachelor’s Degree. Post-secondary education must be obtained from an accredited college or university. Proof of education is required at the time of application;
OR
· Current Ohio Peace Officer Training Council Certification or currently enrolled in an OPOTA Peace Officer Training program. Proof of certification or enrollment is required at the time of application;
· Two (2) or more years of active duty military service occurring within five (5) years of application with Honorable Discharge. A candidate’s DD Form 214, documenting an honorable discharge, is required at the time of application.
Job Description: The job description for the position of Police Officer is available at www.bgohio.org/DocumentCenter/View/391/Police-Officer-PDF. Please visit the Bowling Green Police Division’s webpage for more detailed information on our agency (www.bowlinggreenpolice.org/) or follow us on Facebook, X or Instagram.
Union Contract: The Bowling Green Police Patrolman’s Association OPBA collective bargaining agreement (herein after referred to as “Union Contract”) is available at https://www.bgohio.org/DocumentCenter/View/314/Bowling-Green-Police-Patrolmans-Association-OPBA-PDF
Salary Information: The 2024-2027 Union Contract provides for a starting base rate of $34.32 per hour ($71,385.60 annually) with a top-out pay of $42.31 per hour (after 4 years of service), PLUS training incentives of up to $2.34 per hour (totaling $92,872.00 annually). Shift differential of $0.50 per hour for afternoon and midnight shifts and an additional $0.50 per hour for all shifts worked on the weekends.
Officers hired with prior experience may, at the City’s discretion, be placed anywhere within the appropriate pay grade, pursuant to the Union Contract. Officers have additional opportunities for regular and contract overtime. We also offer an annual fitness incentive up to $1,200.00 and a uniform allowance of $1,000.00 per year. Those offered employment without OPOTA certification and not enrolled in an academy will be sent to the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy (all expenses paid by the City) while earning $34.32 per hour as outlined above.
Promotional Information: In accordance with the Union Contract, officers must serve five (5) years with the Bowling Green Police Division to be eligible for promotion.
Probationary Period: Police Officers must serve a probationary period of one (1) year.
Benefit Information: The City of Bowling Green offers a comprehensive benefit package, including medical, prescription, dental and vision insurance coverage, City-sponsored life insurance and participation in the Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund. Additionally, the Bowling Green Police Division offers the following paid benefits: 11 holidays (paid at double time if worked), sick leave, generous vacation time and job-related training opportunities. Leave policies are flexible and accrual rates are very competitive. Additionally, City employees have access to Ohio Deferred Compensation (457b) – a voluntary supplemental retirement plan for public employees that provides additional retirement savings through pre-tax salary deferral. For additional information, refer to the Union Contract and the New Hire Benefits page on the City’s website: https://www.bgohio.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5439/New-Hire-Benefits-Information--Links-PDF
Job Requirements:
· Age: In accordance with Section §33.08 of the Bowling Green Municipal Ordinance, original appointments to Police Officer must occur between the ages of 21 and 40. The age restriction is permitted by the Public Safety Exemption to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act [29 U.S. Code 623(j)].
· Education/Experience: Previously identified above under Job Classification
· Citizenship: Must be eligible for permanent work in the United States of America
· Driver's License: Must possess a valid Ohio Driver’s License
Application Process:
1. National Testing Network (NTN)*: All candidates must complete and pass the law enforcement tests (reading and writing) offered by the NTN. The video portion is required by the NTN but is not used as a scoring component by the Bowling Green Police Division. Candidates who have tested with the NTN during the prior year will need to apply their scores to Bowling Green’s current posting to be considered. NTN scores must be valid (not expired) on the application deadline of 02/18/2026. NOTE: Any cost (time or money) for taking the NTN exam is the responsibility of the candidate.
Candidates must complete the Public Safety Self-Assessment (PSSA) and the Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ). Candidates can access the questionnaire through their candidate account on the NTN site. Both must be completed by 02/18/2026 to be considered.
To register with NTN and schedule a test, go to www.nationaltestingnetwork.com, select ‘Finding Jobs’, then select ‘Law Enforcement Jobs’, and sign-up for the Bowling Green Police Division under the State of Ohio tab. For additional information and system requirements, visit the NTN website above.
When you visit the NTN website to register, you must:
· Complete the NTN registration process and schedule your test.
· Review all information related to the City of Bowling Green Entry-Level Police Officer position, including minimum requirements, age requirements, veteran’s credit, currently certified officers, salary and benefits.
· Review detailed information about the testing process.
· Review the Frequently Asked Questions.
· There is also an opportunity to take an online practice test if desired.
Upon completion of your scheduled exam, scores are made available to the City of Bowling Green. The City will contact candidates who have passed all portions of the NTN examination AND completed a City employment application (more details below) to schedule the physical ability test.
Veteran’s Credit: Section §7.01 of the City’s Charter provides for a 10% credit (increase) to the passing test score for Honorably Discharged veterans. A candidate’s DD Form 214, documenting an Honorable Discharge, must be submitted at the time of application in order to be eligible for the Veteran’s Credit. Veteran’s Credit will NOT be added to a failing written examination score.
* The National Testing Network is a service provided to conduct entry-level testing in a standardized, professional environment. NTN does not replace the City of Bowling Green’s responsibility and decision-making in the testing and hiring process. Candidate’s results are provided to the City where the final hiring decisions are made.
2. City Employment Application: All candidates must complete a City employment application, available at https://gis.bgohio.org/JobApplication/employmentapplication_add.php#1. The City is accepting applications from 01/19/2026 through 02/18/2026. Applications must be submitted by 4:30 pm on 02/18/2026.
3. Physical Ability Test: A physical ability test is required for candidates after they pass the NTN exams and submit an employment application to the City by the deadline of 02/18/2026. The components of the test are outlined in the Ohio Attorney General’s Guidelines to Becoming a Police Officer, available at www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/How-to-Become-a-Peace-Officer-in-Ohio. In order to be considered further in the hiring process, candidates must pass the Entrance Standards identified in the ‘Start’ column, based on age and gender (ex. 32 sit-ups and 19 pushups in one (1) minute).
Candidates will be contacted by the Police Division to schedule their physical ability test upon submission of City application and successful completion of the NTN testing. Those who pass the NTN exams, submit a completed employment application by the 02/18/2026 deadline and pass the physical ability test within one (1) week after the deadline will have their scores submitted to the Bowling Green Civil Service Commission for certification of eligibility for consideration.
Hiring Process: Pursuant to Section §7.01 of the City’s Charter, entry level Police Officer vacancies are filled by appointment, following certification by the City’s Civil Service Commission. The five (5) applicants with the highest standing will be considered eligible for vacancies. Hires will be made exclusively from that certified eligibility list.
Only those candidates who earn a passing score on all sections of the NTN entry-level written exam and complete the employment application, by the advertised deadline, and pass the physical ability test, will be considered for the City’s eligibility list, based on test scores plus any applicable Veteran’s credit.
Questions can be directed to Human Resources at humanresources@bgohio.org.
The City of Bowling Green is an equal opportunity employer.
The Bowling Green Police Division is a Nationally Accredited Law Enforcement Agency
