Lateral Transfer Pay

In June of 2019, the Fayetteville Police Department developed a Lateral Transfer Pay Program to aid in recruiting the most qualified candidates for employment.

To be eligible for consideration for this program, applicants must:

  • Hold a valid law enforcement certificate as defined by the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training (CLEST),
  • Comply with the Civil Service Commission Rules and Regulations,
  • Meet all standards for police officer applicants, and
  • Complete the PT test, civil service interview, and a police board interview, which will be conducted all on the same day. 
  • Lateral transfer certified officers are not required to complete the written test. 

Newly hired officers who have completed a state-certified police academy and/or hold a valid Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certificate recognized by the State of Arkansas will receive one step raise upon hire (Step B).

Additional steps in the Fayetteville Police Department pay plan will be given on the two-tiered matrix shown below.  An officer who comes from a law enforcement agency with a service population and sworn strength of 50% or more of the Fayetteville Police Department will receive one step for every two years of law enforcement experience (Tier 1).  An officer who comes from a law enforcement agency with a service population and sworn strength of less than 50% of the Fayetteville Police Department will receive one step for every three years of law enforcement experience (Tier 2).  Step E will be the maximum entry-level step a newly hired officer can receive based on these criteria.

Tier 1 - 50% population and sworn strength or higher of Fayetteville City and PD

ExperienceEntry Pay Step*Total Pay
CertifiedStep B$58,465.68
2 Years of ServiceStep C$61,173.84
4 Years of ServiceStep D$63,882.00
6 Years of ServiceStep E$66,590.16


Tier 2 - Less than 50% population and sworn strength of the Fayetteville City and PD

ExperienceEntry Pay Step*Total Pay
CertifiedStep B$58,465.68
3 Years of ServiceStep C$61,173.84 
6 Years of ServiceStep D$63,882.00
9 Years of ServiceStep E$66,590.16

*These salaries include statutory and premium holiday pay

Beyond Step B, the following types of law enforcement experience are not eligible for additional lateral transfer steps: deputies and/or jailers who are employed in a jail/prison setting; full-time officers from a university police department with a campus population/enrollment less than 20,000 students; volunteer, reserve, or part-time officers/deputies; military police officers; federal employees; wildlife officers; probation and parole officers; and state agencies without uniformed police patrol enforcement responsibilities.