OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is to test the health status, level of stress, work capacity, sleep quality, necessity and options of recovery among police officers in order to reveal employers areas of intervention. METHODS: We tried to develop a sample representing the active police officers (677 persons) of the Tolna County Police Headquarters in a qualitative, cross-sectional survey accomplished in 2014. The question groups of the self-edited questionnaire involved the health status, self-evaluation of work-stress, health behavior, and sociodemographic data.  Work Ability Index Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale, Groningen Sleep Quality Scale, Need for Recovery Scale, Recovery Opportunities Scale. χ-test, ANOVA, and Kruskall-Vallis test, correlate and linear regression were used with 95% probability level (p<0.05). SPSS version 22.0 program was applied for data analysis. RESULTS: Median age was 34.5 years, 84.1% males (n=296, response rate 44%). Sleep quality (p=0.041) of those in service with work schedule different from other than office schedule was worse, the level of stress (p=0.047), recovery necessity (p=0.002) were higher, and work capacity index (p=0.040) was significantly lower. The level of stress (p=0.010) and the recovery necessity (p=0.004) in the age group between 30 - 35 years were lower than those of the other age group. 51.4% of the subjects belonged to excellent work capacity category. Work capacity index decreases by the increase of age (p<0.001). Health status rated worse (r=-0.592; p<0.001) and work rated more stressful (r=-0.315;p<0.001) resulted in lower work capacity index. CONCLUSIONS: Protection and development of the work capacity as resources among the police officers are a crucial task for the employers. In this way, the presonnel can maintain a better health. Due to the deteriorating health status, expansion of medical examinations are required by broadening the scope of screening tests.  Individual consultations and psychological trainings can support stress management.