Integrity • Teamwork • Respect • Duty • Excellence
The Grove City Division of Police is seeking candidates for the role of Police Officer. Begin or continue your law enforcement career by joining a dynamic team of professionals tasked with serving and protecting the residents, businesses, and visitors of this growing and diverse community.
Apply with Grove City by 1) selecting the apply button below to complete your application AND 2) signing up and taking the National Testing Network (NTN) Law Enforcement Exam. Be sure to apply NTN score results to Grove City. The cost to take the exam is $65.00. If you have existing NTN Law Enforcement Exam scores that you wish to apply to Grove City, the cost is $12.00.
Do You Qualify? | National Testing Network
Your Grove City application must be received by Sunday, August 16, 2026 AND your NTN testing must be completed and scores applied to Grove City by Saturday, August 22, 2026.
You must be 21 years of age or older by April 1, 2027, and you must be under 35 years of age on December 9, 2026, unless you have a previous appointment as an Ohio law enforcement officer.
Top qualified candidates based on NTN scores will be invited to the physical fitness assessment. Grove City calculates the scores from the NTN exam, using each component of the NTN and standardizing the scores based on the pool of candidates who apply with Grove City. There is no specified composite score reported by NTN that determines passing scores.
2026 GROVE CITY POLICE OFFICER SELECTION PROCESS
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Test Announcement
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Application with Grove City
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Examination through NTN (this may be completed before applying to Grove City) https://candidates.nationaltestingnetwork.com/#/login
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Information session (tentatively scheduled for July 29)
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PRADCO Assessment and Online Background Questionnaire submitted
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Physical Fitness Test (tentatively scheduled for August 22 and August 29 - attend one)
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Online Background Questionnaire reviewed for automatic disqualifying responses
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Background Investigation
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Police Executive Interview
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Certification List established for approval by Civil Service Commission
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Conditional Offer of Employment
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Medical and Psychological exams
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Truth Verification Test
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Oath of Office
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Training Academy
Department Overview: The Grove City Division of Police is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). As such, we are one of only 10% of the law enforcement agencies in the United States to earn this recognition.
Our Vision is to offer the highest quality of life achievable.
Our Mission is to serve and protect all by providing professional law enforcement services in partnership with the community.
Our Values are Integrity, Teamwork, Respect, Duty, and Excellence.
The City of Grove City is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
We manage by objectives rather than by crisis and work to develop high-quality service through innovative technology and training methods, specialized investigation, and, professional, unbiased enforcement. The men and women of the division are committed as a team to ensure the citizens and visitors to Grove City are in a safe, secure environment and to establish themselves as one of the finest agencies in Central Ohio.
Area Information: As a suburb of Ohio's capital city, Columbus, residents, and businesses enjoy an exceptional quality of life with the conveniences of metropolitan living and the comforts of a unique, small town. Our infrastructure is sound, our services unmatched.
We are pleased to bring exciting, new business opportunities, recreational offerings, and a host of wonderful community events to Grove City each year. Grove City is the only city in the State of Ohio selected three times as the Best Hometown by Ohio Magazine. Grove City is proud of its rich history and the bond residents share in the community. There is plenty to see, do and enjoy in Grove City.
Population: 44,000
The Police Officer is responsible for law enforcement and the implementation of crime prevention measures, the apprehension of criminals, and the protection of life and property. Duties include but are not limited to: responding to emergency and non-emergency calls for service as a direct service provider of police and other emergency services to the public; responding, reporting, and conducting preliminary investigations of crimes and traffic crashes.
Job Requirements
Age: 21 (by April 1, 2027) and under 35 years of age at the time of appointment (December 9, 2026), unless you have a previous appointment as a law enforcement officer.
US Citizen: Yes
High School Grad/GED: Yes
Valid OHIO State Driver's License: Yes
Ability to Read/Speak English: Yes
Residency: 60-mile radius of police headquarters (within six months of employment)
Necessary Certifications:
Possess a high school diploma or equivalent; college degree preferred but not required. The Candidate must successfully pass a written test (NTN), PRADCO review, and physical fitness test. A thorough background investigation will be completed, including but not limited to a truth verification test, drug test, and psychological and medical evaluation.
The review of any disqualifying behavior described below begins from the date of application.
Background Removal Standards Sworn Law Enforcement Officers
The review of any disqualifying behavior described below begins from the date of application. The Chief of Police may consider a waiver for any disqualifier depending on the situation.
A. Honesty/Falsification – Applicants may be removed from the selection process for any of the following reasons:
1. At any stage of the selection process, the applicant provides false, incorrect, or substantially inconsistent information.
2. At any stage of the selection process, the applicant fails to disclose or acknowledge any disqualifying behavior or activity on the part of the applicant, relative to and governed by, any of the Background Removal Standards.
3. The applicant's failure or refusal to answer or respond to oral and/or written questions during any phase of the selection process.
4. If applicable, any attempt by the applicant to distort the truth verification examination results.
5. The applicant's use or attempted use of political influence to secure employment.
B. Personal History – Applicants may be removed from the selection process for any of the following reasons:
1. A conviction of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence involving the use of force or threatened use of a deadly weapon is a permanent disqualifier under Federal laws for police officer applicants.
2. Verified or admitted physical or emotional abuse of one's spouse, ex-spouse, child, stepchild, parent, or any other relative or person with whom one lives, has a relationship or has had a relationship.
3. Non-compliance with a court order or legal contract to provide child support, alimony, or other financial responsibility as determined by the appropriate support enforcement bureau or a court of law within the preceding five (5) years.
4. Intentional violation of any protective or temporary restraining order as determined by a court of law within ten (10) years.
5. Verified or admitted sexual abuse of another.
6. A pattern of behavior that is incompatible with the Grove City Division of Police Core Values of Integrity, Respect, Teamwork, Duty, and Excellence.
C. Employment - Applicants may be removed from the selection process for any of the following reasons:
1. Two or more involuntary terminations and/or discharges from employment within the last five (5) years. This shall not include terminations resulting from a business ceasing operations or resulting from being laid off from a position of employment.
2. Discharge or resignation in lieu of discipline from any criminal justice-related employment.
D. Military History – Except as provided below in Number 3 of this Section, applicants may be removed from the selection process for any of the following reasons:
1. Dishonorable or Bad Conduct Discharge from the Military.
2. Conviction of any article of the Uniform Code of Military Justice that is equivalent to a felony or other listed disqualifying misdemeanor in this standard under the Ohio Revised Code (ORC).
3. An Other Than Honorable Discharge from the Military will be evaluated to determine whether the applicant should be removed from the selection process.
E. Traffic – Applicants may be removed from the selection process for any of the following reasons:
1. Any conviction of vehicular homicide or related offense(s).
2. OVI:
a. Conviction within the past three (3) years.
b. More than one (1) OVI conviction.
c. More than two (2) OVI convictions, if one of the convictions was as a juvenile.
3. Four (4) moving violations in the past three (3) years as an adult.
4. At the time of the application or any time during the selection process, the applicant does not possess a valid driver's license and auto insurance as required by the resident state if the applicant owns a motor vehicle.
5. One (1) or more revocation or suspension of a driver's license as an adult, in effect during the past three (3) years (unless the applicant can show that the suspension was the result of an error by the BMV, random selection, or administrative overlap).
F. Gambling – The term gambling offense includes any activity defined as gambling by a federal, state, local statute or ordinance in the jurisdiction where the activity occurred. Applicants may be removed from the selection process for any of the following reasons:
1. Conviction of a gambling offense, within the last five (5) years.
2. Admission to gambling that has resulted in an unstable financial or credit history within the last seven (7) years.
3. Conviction of or admission to engaging in the promotion of illegal gambling activity wherein the applicant gains, or attempts to gain, a financial benefit.
G. Criminal Activity – Applicants may be removed from the selection process for any of the following reasons:
1. Any theft offense(s) as an adult, within the last five (5) years, which (a) singularly or cumulatively exceeds $1,000.00; or (b) establishes a pattern of theft offenses from an employer during the course of employment.
a. exception of music or file downloads.
2. Any insurance claims or applications for welfare, workers' compensation, unemployment compensation, or other public assistance benefit program determined to be fraudulent by the body overseeing the claim, compensation, or benefit program.
3. Any admission or conviction of an offense, as an adult, defined as a felony by the federal, state, or local law of the jurisdiction where the offense occurred. An admission of a felony offense would be disqualifying unless otherwise addressed in these standards.
a. the exception of music or file downloads.
4. Any admission or conviction of an offense, as a juvenile, of one (1) violent felony as defined by the federal, state or local law of the jurisdiction where the offense occurred.
5. Any admission or conviction of a M-1 or M-2 misdemeanor offense, as an adult, as defined by the Ohio Revised Code or similar federal, state, or local law of the jurisdiction where the offense occurred in the last five (5) years will be reviewed in determining suitability for appointment (unless otherwise addressed in these standards).
6. Any admission or conviction of more than one (1) M-1 or M-2 misdemeanor offense, as a juvenile, as defined by the Ohio Revised Code or similar federal, state, or local law of the jurisdiction where the offense occurred in the last five (5) years will be reviewed in determining suitability for appointment (unless otherwise addressed in these standards) (does not include traffic or minor misdemeanors).
7. Any admission of an offense for carrying a concealed weapon within the last five (5) years if it is defined as a felony by the federal, state, or local law where the offense occurred.
H. Controlled Substances – Applicants may be removed from the selection process for any of the following reasons:
1. Any illegal or unlawful possession, use, or purchase of controlled substances within five (5) years before application or admitted use during any portion of the selection process. Exceptions include: marijuana and ADHD medications such as Adderall or similar derivatives.
2. Any use of ADHD medication within one (1) year of application, without a prescription as lawfully written by a medical professional pursuant to state law.
3. Any possession, use, or purchase of marijuana within ninety (90) days before application, except as expressly permitted pursuant to a medical recommendation under Ohio law or prescription as lawfully written by a medical professional pursuant to state law, will be reviewed in determining suitability for appointment.
4. Any possession, use, or purchase of marijuana during any portion of the selection process.
5. Any pattern of use of controlled substances, including marijuana, within the past seven (7) years.
6. Any pattern of illegal sale of controlled substances, including marijuana or prescriptive drugs.
7. Any pattern of abuse of alcohol, chemical agents/solvent-based substances, or prescriptive drugs within the past seven (7) years.
For the purpose of this standard the “use” of drugs includes, but not limited to, when an applicant smokes, puffs, ingests, tastes, injects, inhales, or otherwise tries, any illegal drug, including but not limited to, marijuana, cocaine, anabolic steroids, or chemical inhalants.
I. Applicant Non-Responsiveness – An applicant may be removed from the selection process for any of the following reasons:
1. Failure to appear for pre-interview/interview.
2. Failure to appear for physical fitness testing.
3. Failure to appear for truth verification examination.
4. Failure to appear for a medical/stress test.
5. Failure to appear for the psychological exam.
6. Failure to respond to phone calls or correspondence from agency personnel.
7. Unable to locate at address/phone number on file.
8. The applicant is no longer interested in employment with the Grove City Division of Police.
J. Physical Standards
1. Applicants may not have tattoos or body art which are considered offensive, regardless of where they appear on the body. Examples of offensive tattoos or body art include, but are not limited to:
Extremist tattoos that feature philosophies, groups, or activities that promote racial or gender intolerance; encourage discrimination based on numerous factors, including race, gender, and religion; advocate violence or other unlawful means of depriving individual rights under the U.S. Constitution, and Federal or State law.
Indecent tattoos that are grossly offensive to modesty, decency, propriety, or professionalism.
Sexist tattoos that advocate a philosophy that degrades or demeans a person based on gender or demeans or degrades an entire gender.
Racist tattoos that advocate a philosophy that degrades or demeans a person based on race, ethnicity, or national origin or degrades or demeans an entire race, ethnicity, or national origin.
Members hired after May 1, 2026 who have tattoos, body art, branding, or decorative markings that would be visible in a duty uniform, will have the existing tattoos, body art, brandings, or decorative markings reviewed during the new hire process by the Chief of Police. Those tattoos, body art, brandings, or decorative markings shall be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Body Art and Appearance Review Committee, and the new hire will be advised if they are approved for display.
Members with tattoos, body art, brandings, or other decorative markings visible on duty, may be required to cover them with an approved uniform (long sleeve shirt or pants), or wear a cover-up sleeve. The Chief of Police, or designee, will inspect the covering for serviceability and may require the employee to replace it. Additionally, the Chief of Police may change the approved covering at any time. Regardless of the changes, the amount of changes, or the expense of the covering, the employee shall provide this covering solely at the members’ expense.
The decision to require covering will be made by the Body Art and Appearance Review Committee.
No tattoos are authorized or permitted which are visible on the head, neck, face, hands, within one (1) inch of the top of the wrist bone, or above the bottom of the collar bone, unless approved by the Body Art and Appearance Review Committee.
2. Each successful candidate will be required to complete a physical fitness assessment, prior to a conditional offer of employment, to determine his/her readiness to enter the Police Academy of the City's choosing or, upon hire, to move into a City field training program. The purpose of the physical fitness assessment is to ensure that a candidate possesses the general physical fitness necessary to perform the essential job functions of a Police Officer at the City of Grove City. Candidates who are eligible to complete the Physical Fitness Assessment will be invited to participate in the assessment at a date and time determined by the City. All standards set forth are determined to be starting benchmarks for a State of Ohio Peace Officer Basic Training Academy.
Patrols assigned area in order to protect residents of the City and their property; investigates suspicious activity; responds to emergency calls and complaints; demonstrates initiative in monitoring traffic and enforcing laws; issues citations and makes arrests of criminals; investigates and gathers, logs, and secures evidence at crime scenes; interviews witnesses and suspects; conducts traffic accident investigations, performs Block Watch and monitoring of local businesses; provides security checks at public and private facilities; provides emergency services (e.g., first aid) as necessary.
Generates detailed reports documenting daily activities, stolen property, incidents, complaints, investigations, missing persons, accidents, crime scenes, etc., as required; maintains appropriately documented records in accordance with Department policy; conducts intensive and continuing criminal investigations of felonies and misdemeanors.
Appears in court and at the grand jury to provide testimony regarding incidents, investigations, and results of inquiries; assists the prosecutor in case preparation or presentation as needed.
May serve as officer-in-charge or shift-supervisor while on duty; assists with acclimation of new patrol officers in standard operating procedure and completion of all reports and daily activities (e.g., stolen property, incidents, complaints, investigations, missing persons, accidents, crime scenes, etc.); ensures complete understanding of duties as required.
Maintains required licensure and certification, if any.
Meets all job safety requirements and all applicable OSHA safety standards that pertain to essential functions.
Demonstrates regular and predictable attendance.
Performs other related duties as assigned, but not limited to, secondary assignments such as SRT, bike patrol, traffic crash investigation, etc.
