POST Certified Police Officer

Date posted: September 23, 2026

Pay: $66,997 - $86,871 per year

Job description:

Are you looking to have scenic views of the mountains, a community with a top-notch school district, and easy access to some of the best hiking, biking, motorcycle riding, hot springs, snowmobiling, and fishing in the country? Located in the southwest region of Colorado, Bayfield has everything you could dream of within minutes and if you are interested in policing in this great state, please reach out to apply.

This relatively small community of approximately 2800 people also has many growth designs in place with both residential and commercial developments planned.

Description

· Salary

o $66,997 - $86,871

· Location

o Bayfield, CO

· Job Type

o Full-Time Police Officer

Position open until filled

The Bayfield Police Department has a Colorado POST-certified, entry-level Police Officer and/or Lateral Police Officer position/s open. These positions are under the general supervision of the Patrol Sergeant. The positions exercise a high degree of discretion, trust, and confidence performing skilled and professional police work for the Bayfield community. The duties include but are not limited to: police patrol, criminal investigations, enforcing traffic laws and regulations, enforcing Town ordinances, criminal law enforcement, deterrence strategies and a wide variety of community policing-related services. Officers work in partnership with the community to identify and resolve issues, provide public safety to the community, and maintain peace, safety, and order. Officers must exercise considerable judgment, initiative, and skill in a variety of situations and must be able to act without direct supervision in completing work. This position requires officers to work in highly stressful emergencies and dangerous situations.

This job description is an overview and is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of every function and task required of the position.

LATERAL TRANSFERS:

Candidates with qualifying experience and Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification may be eligible for a higher entry rate of pay. Eligible experience will be that of a state, county, municipal or campus police officer with a minimum of three years experience and Colorado POST-Certification or an approved out-of-state equivalent. Such eligibility will be determined by the Bayfield Chief of Police or the assigned designee as part of the employment offer process.

Duties & Responsibilities

· Performs proactive police patrol functions, responds to calls for service, enforces laws, maintains order, prevents crime, provides miscellaneous services to assist the public, and enforces traffic laws and directs traffic.

· Investigates crimes, gathers evidence, interviews people, issues citations, makes

arrests, prepares reports and cases for prosecution, and testifies in court

· Observes, listens, analyzes, and assesses problems under varied circumstances and

applies one’s training, knowledge, experience, and good judgment to resolve problems

and incidents.

· Interacts effectively with members of the community and its visitors, calms people who are in crises, and displays professional interpersonal skills during their interactions

while representing the Bayfield Police Department.

· Maintains self-control under stress.

· Maintains a level of mental and physical fitness commensurate with the requirements of the position.

· Establishes and maintains effective working relationships within the community and

functions well as part of a team.

· Complies with verbal and written instructions and orders.

· Performs in accordance with organizational values, policies, and procedures.

· Maintains and completes the required reports, documentation, forms, or logs.

· Inspects and maintains police-related equipment, facilities, and uniforms to ensure

proper function, use, and appearance.

· Works varied hours to include holidays and weekends.

Physical Requirements

The physical standards a member must meet to perform the essential job duties with or without reasonable accommodation include:

· Ability to show upper body and core body muscular endurance to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise assist individuals.

· Occasional balancing, bending, climbing, crawling, kneeling, reaching, squatting,

standing, and twisting.

· Ability to show cardiorespiratory and sprinting ability on uneven terrain, up and down

stairs, and under various conditions to perform essential functions in the community.

· Prolonged sitting while driving a patrol vehicle and the ability to sit for long periods of

time for preparing reports.

· Frequent use of visual and auditory acuity for a broad continuum of essential activities

including but not limited to detecting hazards, recognizing vehicles and people, reading

documents, searching for evidence, and hearing and understanding speech.

· Speak clearly with good diction and an appropriate volume level.

· Clear vision and the ability to distinguish between various colors.

· The member must be able to communicate with customers and members by phone or in person and work with written documents and forms to respond to members/customers.

· Frequent light and firm grasp hand manipulation and handling needed for keyboarding,

weapons handling, vehicle operations to include radio operations and other normal

police duties.

· Frequent stepping up/down to get in and out of vehicles, trenches, and foundations.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Must have knowledge of and ability to apply:

· Applicable Town, County, State, and Federal statutes, regulations, ordinances, and codes.

· Department policies, practices, techniques, and methods required to perform duties.

· The principles and practices of law enforcement.

· Appropriate self-defense techniques.

· Accurate sense of directions and the ability to travel from one location to another using a map.

· Basic grammar and writing skills.

· Superior customer service principles and skills.

· A keen sense of observation and ability to analyze situations quickly.

· De-escalation strategies to handle sensitive or stressful situations with tact and diplomacy.

· Traffic laws to safely operate a motor vehicle.

· Basic mathematic calculations to include addition and subtraction.

· High moral standards and a high degree of integrity.

· A high level of emotional intelligence.

Must have the skill and ability to:

· Meet the intellectual and physical requirements of the position.

· Work independently with minimal supervision.

· Exercise good judgment and decision-making.

· Communicate effectively and work successfully with superiors, other agencies, Town personnel, the general public, and others contacted in the course of work.

· Communicate effectively with people who represent many culturally diverse groups and socioeconomic backgrounds.

· Consistently demonstrate professionalism when dealing with people.

· Show personal integrity and sensitivity to others’ problems.

· Act in a decisive manner using good judgment, assess problems and situations in a timely manner, anticipate needs and evaluate alternatives, deal with emergency and stressful situations while avoiding overreaction, demonstrate knowledge of and utilization of appropriate resources, and the willingness to initiate the use of available resources with expediency.

· Display emotional stability, self-motivation, loyalty, and commitment to the Department and to the Town of Bayfield.

· Show willingness to take initiative and act in a dependable and mature manner.

· Act as a representative of the Department to other agencies and citizens with a courteous, helpful, accurate, and professional demeanor.

· Physically protect oneself and others.

· Subdue and control individuals as required.

· Use and operate assigned equipment, including police computers, cell phones, radios, radar devices, body-worn cameras, dash cameras, and portable breath tests.

· Proficient use of firearms and less lethal weapons including tasers, OC spray, and less-lethal weapons.

· Perform all aspects of the job in a safe manner.

· Read and understand various codes, rules, regulations, and laws and enforce them fairly and impartially.

· Promote an atmosphere that embraces cooperation, a positive attitude, diversity, integrity, trust, respect, and teamwork by being empathetic, caring, patient, enthusiastic, polite, and professional.

· Perform investigative work.

· Testify in court.

· Operate a motor vehicle under adverse conditions.

This position also requires:

· A good driving record.

· Strong writing and oral communication skills.

· Dedication to public safety.

· Emotional stability and ability to deal successfully with an excessive amount of stress.

· Ability to work a variety of shifts including nights, holidays, and weekends.

· Ability to work for an extended period of time while in a high-stress environment.

Minimum Qualifications

· Colorado POST certified or out-of-state equivalent (Colo. POST-Certifiable).

· A good driving record.

· Strong writing and oral communication skills.

· Dedication to public safety.

· Emotional stability and ability to deal successfully with an excessive amount of stress.

· Ability to work a variety of shifts including nights, holidays, and weekends.

· Ability to work for an extended period of time while in a high-stress environment.

Drug usage, as described below, may be cause for disqualification:

· Any use of marijuana within one (1) year prior to the date of application.

· Any use of any illegal drugs (i.e. heroin, cocaine, LSD, amphetamines, steroids, or other

illegal drugs as defined in schedules I through V of Section 202 of the Controlled

Substances Act) within five (5) years prior to the date of application.

Background Check/Polygraph/Psychological

Candidates must be willing to submit to a comprehensive background check including a polygraph. Candidates must also pass a post-conditional offer drug screen, psychological evaluation, and medical examination.

Special Conditions of Employment:

Work is regularly performed outdoors and occasionally indoors with frequent exposure to extreme temperatures and all weather conditions. Work is performed year-round with occasional exposure to wet/humid conditions, loud noise, heavy traffic, and all types of hazardous situations, including threatening people, communicable diseases, hazardous materials, chemicals, etc. Due to the nature of this position, periods of high activity and stress in emergency situations will exist, often after extended periods of sedentary activity, under demanding conditions, along with the handling of dangerous or hostile individuals.

Individuals will work 10-hour varied shifts and will be subject to working nights, weekends, holidays, and mandatory overtime.

The successful candidate(s) for this position must be:

· Willing to work any shift, weekends, holidays, and mandatory overtime.

· Current patrol schedule is a set at 4-10-hour shifts and officers have either Thursday

through Saturday, or Sunday through Tuesday off.

· Able to successfully complete a written examination that is overseen by POST once

internal training is received.

· Able to qualify with a passing score on the firing range.

· Able to pass the stated driving criteria as established by the Bayfield Police Department and POST.

· Able to pass an arrest control test as established by the Bayfield Police Department and POST. In good physical condition, able to make a forceful arrest, and meet medical standards

as established by the Bayfield Police Department.

· Able to meet attendance and punctuality standards as established by the Bayfield Police

Department and the town of Bayfield.

· All Police Patrol Officer Candidates must successfully pass a physical fitness examination, a written examination, and an oral board.

· All required licenses and certifications listed above must be maintained throughout the term of employment. Failure to obtain or maintain licenses and certifications in addition to keeping the required knowledge, skills, and abilities listed for this position may result in demotion or termination.

· Due to Federal and State Criminal Justice System access requirements, classifications that access and maintain criminal justice information may also be required, as a condition of employment, to not have been convicted of and/or have pending charges of a felony or misdemeanor crime that would deny or otherwise restrict access to criminal justice information. This requirement applies to all existing Town employees as well as external candidates seeking to fill positions that meet the given criteria.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits: The Town of Bayfield offers an excellent and competitive benefits package to include:

· Dental insurance

· Employee assistance program

· Health insurance

· Health savings account

· Life insurance

· Paid time off

· Professional development assistance

· FPPA Retirement plan

· Tuition reimbursement

· Vision insurance

Schedule:

· 10-hour shifts

· Day shift

· Evening shift

· Holidays

· On call

· Overnight shift

· Overtime

· Weekends as needed

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Bayfield, CO 81122: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)
• Officers have assigned take-home vehicles and their commute must be within 45 minutes of the Town of Bayfield.

Work Location: In person

Pay: $66,997.00 - $86,871.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Uniform allowance
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $66,997 - $86,871