Assignments

photo of a Port Authority police officer

Applicants who successfully complete all of the evaluation components and the Police Academy Training Program are subject to a one-year probationary period as police officers and may be assigned to any Port Authority facilities, including, but not limited to: Holland and Lincoln tunnels; Bayonne and Goethals bridges; George Washington Bridge and Bus Station; Outerbridge Crossing; Kennedy, Newark Liberty, LaGuardia and Teterboro airports; Port Authority Bus Terminal; Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation (PATH); New York and New Jersey marine terminals and the World Trade Center site. Upon successful completion of the probationary year, Police Officers may be assigned to any of the above facilities according to operational needs.

Assignments include working nights, weekends and holidays on rotating shifts.

The Port Authority Police have a unique mission: They protect our region and have law enforcement jurisdiction in two states. Their focus is public safety and security for trade and transportation. The duties of the Port Authority police include patrol, criminal investigation, aircraft rescue and firefighting, emergency services, counterterrorism, and commercial vehicle inspections, among other things.

In general, Port Authority Police Officers:

patrol assigned posts or areas on foot or in an automobile, in uniform or in plainclothes, to ensure the safety and security of Port Authority facilities;
operate emergency equipment and respond to alerts at airports and other facilities;
fight fires, administer first-aid, and take other related actions as needed in emergencies;
observe the flow of vehicular traffic and take appropriate action to prevent or clear stoppages and prevent violations of traffic regulations;
direct the movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic at or in the vicinity of a facility;
enforce traffic regulations;
issue summonses and issue charges against violators of municipal and state statutes; and
give testimony as required.

Port Authority Police Officers perform other related duties as assigned.

Police Officers work outdoors in all kinds of weather; walk and/or stand in an assigned post during a tour; drive or sit in a patrol car during a tour while remaining alert; run after fleeing suspects; climb up and down stairs; carry injured persons with assistance; restrain persons to prevent escape; effectively utilize police equipment such as, but not limited to, handcuffs, batons, and self-contained breathing apparatus; may be physically active for prolonged periods of time; must understand verbal communication over the radio with background noise; read and write under low light conditions; and carry or wear heavy equipment and/or bulletproof vest.

Compensation: Starting salary: $32,361

Salary after completing five years of service: $90,000 (based on the current contract)