POLICE OFFICER RECRUIT - POLICE

About the City

Lafayette has an inescapable small-town feeling that provides a sense of belonging and connection. Whether it’s eclectic Old Town, distinctive neighborhoods, or unique arts and outdoors spaces, the City has a warmth and character all its own, offering a unique vibe and spirit. Lafayette has appeared on numerous national lists of top places to live and safely raise a family.

We are a full-service City, which means services are provided directly to our community such as Police, Fire, Public Works, Economic Development, Parks and Recreation, Library and Community Arts Center. These types of services offer employment opportunities for a wide array of interests. The City’s mission is to recruit, develop and retain a diverse, well-qualified and professional workforce that reflects the unique personality of the community we serve.

Exceptional City Provided Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• FPPA
• Life Insurance (One year’s salary up to $150,000. AD&D coverage in equal amount)
• Tuition Assistance (up to $5000 per year for approved expenses)
• Employee Assistance Program (free counseling, travel assistance, legal aid, etc)
• Short and Long-Term Disability
• Bilingual Pay

Read more about benefits here.

THE CITY OF LAFAYETTE IS SEEKING DEDICATED & COMMUNITY-ORIENTED POLICE OFFICER RECRUITS TO JOIN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT!
The City of Lafayette is seeking Police Recruits to send to the police academy in July 2026 to join our Police Department. Police Recruits will be hired before the start of academy to work with the Police Department in a training capacity prior to going to the police academy.
The Lafayette Police Department provides professional, ethical, impartial and community-oriented law enforcement services to residents and visitors alike. The department promoted community safety and well-being, reduces crime, the fear of crime and neighborhood decay, and protects life and property.
This posting is open to candidates who are not P.O.S.T Certified. The starting rate for this position is $76,794.
Our Police Officers enjoy a 4-step pay plan: 2026 pay rates are listed below:
Police Officer Step 1: $83,283
Police Officer Step 2: $91,603
Police Officer Step 3: $100,776
Police Officer Step 4: $110,843

TYPICAL QUALIFICATIONS:
KNOWLEDGE: Ability to develop working knowledge of: Federal, State and local statutes, ordinances; proper law enforcement principles, procedures, practices; first aid and medical procedures and practices; the city and surrounding areas including streets, buildings, landmarks, alleys, roads, etc.
SKILL: Ability to develop skill in the use of law enforcement vehicles, firearms, related law enforcement equipment, and principles and practices of self-defense.
TRAINING: High School Diploma or equivalent.
EXPERIENCE: Requires 30 semester hours of college completed; or one (1) year military service having been honorably discharged; a combination of any of the above categories that is approved by the City’s Human Resources Department, or any equivalent combination of training and experience that provides evidence that the applicant possesses the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The following duties are illustrative only and are not intended to be all inclusive:

• Learns to patrol the City in a police vehicle or on foot, in order to enforce Federal, State and local laws and ordinances.
• Learns to serve and protect individuals and property and to respond to complaints, crimes, disturbances, accidents and other related situations.
• Observes Officers performing preliminary investigations; obtaining physical and other evidence and listens to statements necessary for reporting facts and circumstances of incidents in order to charge individuals with offenses, and to follow-up detailed investigations and how to protect crime scenes.
• Learns how to appear in court in order to offer testimony; meet and confer with attorneys on legal questions regarding arrests of individuals.
• Helps to prepare and maintain a variety of reports, by recording and logging necessary data on a daily basis regarding activities and specific incidents that have occurred.
• Observes officers' control vehicular traffic and enforce traffic laws; deal with traffic accidents; establish and maintain roadblocks as necessary.
• Learns to interact with the public in a variety of settings; e.g., providing counseling to families and individuals in peace disturbance situations, offering assistance to community members and visitors.
• Learns to handle calls for service, responds to emergencies and other incidents, arrests suspected criminals and keep the community safe and orderly.
• Requires the ability to learn to operate a patrol car, think clearly and make decisions quickly and accurately and to occasionally defend yourself or others through the use of defensive physical tactics.
• Teaches the consideration of and use of lawful deadly force against another person and learns how to respond to crime scenes and major incidents.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Possess a valid Colorado class R Driver’s License
• Obtain a copy of a safe driving record from the Department of Motor Vehicles
• Must be willing to attend and pass Police Academy as required and have the ability to become POST Certified.
• Must pass written exam, physical ability test, interviews, and polygraph test. Successful hire tests include psychological exam, medical exam, drug screening, and thorough background check.

Please ensure your application is complete and submitted prior to 11:59 pm on August 10, 2026, to be considered. Incomplete applications will be withdrawn from the process.

Salary : $5,000 - $150,000