Tampa Police Department Bonus Referral Program

Tampa Police Department values you as an employee and recognizes that you know that friends make the best co-workers. That’s why we’re launching our new Employee Referral Program that features exciting bonuses!

Guidelines

We will recognize your contributions to Tampa Police Department’s recruitment efforts by providing an incentive that encourages you to refer your friends and colleagues who you feel fit with Tampa Police Department’s core values.

 Program Overview

• Applies only to applicants for sworn law enforcement positions or public safety telecommunicators positions.
• Positions must be posted on our website at the time of the candidate’s application. https://www.tampa.gov/police/join-officer.
• Eligible current City of Tampa employees must be named as the referral “source” by the candidate being referred on their Tampa Police Department job application for employment.
• An on-line referral form must be completed by the referring City of Tampa employee within 30 days following submission of the application for employment (failure to do so may nullify eligibility for the incentive payment).
• The on-line referral form will entitle the referring City of Tampa employee to receive a referral incentive if the candidate receives a job offer within six months or until the expiration of the referral program, whichever is shorter.
• New hires must meet ALL minimum requirements, as stated, within the job description.

Current Employee Program Eligibility

• Current full-time and/or part-time employees employed by the City of Tampa and Tampa Police Department Reserve Officers are eligible to receive a referral bonus for each applicant that meets the employment requirements of this policy.
• The referring City of Tampa employee must be employed at the time of incentive payout(s), and becomes eligible for a referral incentive when the candidate they referred is hired. The hiring must occur within one year of the referral.  

Program Ineligibility

People who are ineligible for the incentive referral program rewards include:

• Human Resources Representatives
• Tampa Police Department Hiring Managers involved in the hiring process of police officers and telecommunicators. 
• City employees who represent Tampa Police Dept at a recruitment event.
• City employees who participate in the interview/selection process.

Employee Referral Bonus

• A referral bonus of $1000 will be paid to the referring current full-time and/or part-time employees employed by the City of Tampa and Tampa Police Department Reserve Officers.
• A $500 referral bonus will be paid after the new employee completes 30 days of employment. 
• An additional $500 referral bonus will be paid after the new employee completes 1 year of employment.

• The newly hired employee must successfully complete 30 days of employment for a bonus paid to the referring employee.
• All bonus payments are taxable income per IRS guidelines.
• Referring City employee must be an active employee at the time of referral and be employed at the time of incentive payout(s).
• Incentive payment processing begins after the new employee has completed 30 days of employment. The bonus will be sent to the referring employee by a check from Revenue and Finance.
• The additional referral bonus will be processed after the new employee completes 1 year of employment.  
• There is no limit to the number of referrals an employee may submit.
• There is no provision to split a referral bonus. The bonus will be paid to the employee whose name is the first to be listed on the candidate’s application for the position into which they were hired.

Program Restrictions

• Certain exclusions and limitations will apply.
• Referrals made prior to March 1, 2024, do not qualify for a referral bonus payout under this program.
• Referrals for current City of Tampa employees for internal transfer and/or promotion are not included in this program. Only the referral of external candidates for hire into a position qualify for a referral program payout.
• Tampa Police Department reserves the right to amend or cancel this program without notice.

Further Information

If you need further information, please contact Sgt. Sarah Michelson at sarah.michelson@tampagov.net.