Miss the SCPD exam? You won’t have to wait four years anymore

Suffolk County wants to treat police recruitment a little more like the Ryder Cup than the Olympics — keeping a steady pipeline of talent coming instead of waiting years between opportunities.

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine and Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina announced a major change to the Suffolk County Police Department’s hiring process this week, with the county now planning to offer the police entrance exam every two years instead of every four.

The new testing schedule, approved by Suffolk County Civil Service, will begin in the spring of 2027.

County officials said the move will help strengthen recruitment efforts by reducing delays between testing and hiring while also giving applicants more opportunities to join the force.

“Suffolk County is one of the safest places in the country as we are committed to providing our law enforcement with the best resources available,” Romaine said. “By making the police test more accessible and providing applicants additional opportunities, we are casting a wider net to recruit the best and brightest to protect our communities.”

Under the previous system, applicants often had to wait years for the next exam cycle if they missed a testing window.

Police officials said the updated schedule is also expected to reduce attrition in the hiring process and help the department better prepare for future staffing needs.

“This change provides more opportunities for qualified candidates to pursue a job in law enforcement while strengthening our ability to recruit and retain the best talent,” Catalina said. “This change will help reduce delays in the recruitment process and ensure we remain prepared to meet the public safety needs of our residents.”

Additional information about the recruitment process is available at JoinSCPD.com.

Top: Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine at a press conference earlier this spring. (file photo)