Selection Center

Out of State Officers:

If you are an officer from another state, the federal government, or military police, and want to transfer to Florida, click here Transfer to Florida to learn more about it.

Former Florida Officers:

If you are a former Florida officer and your certification is expired, click here Officer Reinstatement to learn more about it.

The Criminal Justice Selection Center provides pre-employment screening and promotional testing to Bay County law enforcement agencies.

The current member agencies are:

• Bay County Sheriff's Office
• Lynn Haven Police Department
• Mexico Beach Department of Public Safety
• Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport Police Department
  
• Panama City Police Department
• Panama City Beach Police Department
• Parker Police Department
• Springfield Police Department

The Center also examines applications from former Florida officers who wish to become re-certified, and out-of-state or federal law enforcement, correctional, and probation/parole officers who want to become certified in Florida and are seeking an exemption from the Florida basic training requirements.

Historical Perspective

In 1989 the Gulf Coast Criminal Justice Assessment Center of Bay County was created by House Bill 1779 (Chapter 89-521, Laws of Florida). The legislative purpose was:

1. The establishment of a centralized recruitment and testing Center for all Bay County law enforcement agencies,
   
2. To raise the quality of law enforcement in Bay County by providing a cost effective uniform screening and recruitment process of candidates for law enforcement personnel, and
3. To provide equal protection for all citizens of Bay County, regardless of the tax bases of the various jurisdictions within the County.

Correctional officers were specifically deleted due to the privatization of the Bay County jail with Correction Corporation of America. Legislation did however provide a means of providing services through private contracting language.

Funding for the Center's operations were legislatively authorized by an additional court cost of $2.00 on all traffic fines paid to Bay County.

A later law enacted by the Florida legislature, 943.256 F.S., changed the name of the various assessment centers in Florida to selection centers.

Contact:

Board of Directors of the Gulf Coast Criminal Justice Selection Center