Why Work at Amherst?

two Amherst police officers talk with a group of students on the quad

Amherst College officers talking with students on the campus quad.

Amherst College is one of the premier liberal arts colleges in the country, and our police officers are committed to supporting our broadly diverse academic community. Adhering to the principles of community engagement and community-oriented problem solving, we work to create a culture of trust and a campus that is safe for everyone. 

Competitive Pay  

  • Starting $29/hr for Massachusetts Certified Police Officers
  • Shift differential
  • Overtime opportunities (shifts, athletics details)

Generous Benefits

  • Health, dental, vision, basic life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability insurance
    • College pays 80% for individual health insurance premiums and 70% for family
    • Additional discounts are available through our “Sliding Scale” program
  • Paid time off (vacation time, sick/family leave, excused time, floating holidays)
  • Retirement plan with matching contributions
    • Matching contributions of up to 3% of eligible compensation
    • Core contributions equal to 6.8-9% of eligible compensation
  • Educational assistance (up to $3000 per fiscal year) for employees and dependent children
  • All uniforms and equipment are provided by the department
  • Pet Insurance, no-interest computer loans, membership to Care.com, free notary services, free parking
  • Discounted meals at the dining hall
  • Access to our museums, library, planetarium, observatory, and fitness center
  • Learn more about Amherst College’s benefits.

    Training and Professional Development

    • ACPD pays for officers to attend all trainings required to maintain Police Officer certification.
    • ACPD pays for and encourages police officers to attend specialized trainings, including instructor certifications.
    • The Office of Human Resources offers a variety of learning and development opportunites to all Amherst College employees.

    Our Department

    • The sworn staff of the ACPD includes a chief, three sergeants, a detective sergeant, a senior police officer, a detective-comfort dog handler, and 3 police officers. The department also has 4 part-time police officers (all former full time police officers).
    • Non-sworn staff include 4 full time APCO certified dispatchers and 7 community service officers (building security, services, etc) and several part-time employees.
    • ACPD is supported in the residence halls by a team of Community Safety Assistants in the Office of Student Affairs that handle non-emergency calls.