Police Officer including lateral transfers

Description

We are accepting applications for an immediate full-time position and to build an eligibility list for future openings. Whether you’re a newly licensed officer or an experienced lateral transfer ready for a fresh start, we encourage you to apply and become part of our community-driven team.
We believe great policing starts with great relationships. Our officers are active in the community, listening, connecting, and making a difference every day. We offer a balanced schedule, a supportive team, and opportunities to grow both personally and professionally. We also encourage involvement in organizations like the Black Peace Officers Association and Latino Peace Officers Association, because representation and connection matter, both in our department and in the community we serve.

Examples of Duties

Schedule

• Patrol officers work 12-hour shifts on a rotating schedule of three days on and three days off, providing a balanced and predictable work–life rhythm. In addition to accrued leave, officers receive 10–12 days of flex leave annually. The two most senior patrol officers have the opportunity to bid and remain on their preferred shift rotation (day or night) for the full year.
• Overtime assignments are distributed based on fairness and equitability rather than seniority. Officers may choose to receive overtime pay or accrue compensatory time. Up to 48 hours of compensatory time may be earned each year, with a payout after the final pay period in November. Officers may also use compensatory time throughout the year to take additional time off, offering flexibility and balance beyond the regular schedule.
• The department offers a wide variety of specialty assignments, including SWAT, School Resource Officer, Investigations, Mobile Field Force, Bike Patrol, Task Force Investigator, Drone Operator, K9 Unit, Crime Prevention, and Explorer Advisors. Officers also have opportunities to serve as department training instructors, supporting the ongoing growth and excellence of the team.
• Officers enjoy access to on-duty workout time (based on staffing levels) to support health and wellness.

• Patrols assigned areas by a variety of means including, but not limited to, motor vehicle, bicycle, or foot and makes checks of public facilities, business buildings and private dwellings.
• Observes and monitors motor vehicles and pedestrian or bicycle traffic, both visually and with specialized detection equipment such as radar for compliance with state and local laws.
• Stops offenders of traffic laws, whether in a motor vehicle, on foot, or on bicycle and takes appropriate enforcement action.
• Requests checks on vehicle and bicycle registrations, drivers license status and outstanding warrants.
• Issues traffic violations citations or makes arrests for violations.
• Investigates traffic crashes and prepares required reports.
• Interviews witnesses.
• Determines if drivers, pedestrians, or bicyclists are under the influence of alcohol or drugs and are impaired.
• Drives a variety of police department vehicles under routine, emergency, or pursuit circumstances, in all traffic and weather conditions, in compliance with all state statutes and department policy.
• Conducts preliminary/initial investigations.
• Locates and searches areas for victims, suspects or witnesses.
• Interviews and records victims, suspects or witnesses’ oral or written statements.
• Makes all types of physical arrests including probable cause and warrant arrests, both by warrants and/or as a crime has occurred.
• Renders necessary first aid or life saving measures to conscious or unconscious, sick and injured people, both in safe and hazardous situations.
• Responds to fires, accidents, hazardous material, or natural disaster incidents and takes appropriate actions.
• Takes necessary and appropriate safeguards to prevent exposure to infectious or other hazardous materials.
• Faces situations and is prepared to use deadly force when justified by state statute and police department policy.
• Encounters situations and is prepared to use appropriate force where resistance to arrest is displayed and takes appropriate action in compliance with state statutes and department policy.
• Encounters situations and is prepared to take defensive actions in response to threats or actual infliction of bodily harm or death and takes appropriate action in compliance with state statutes and department policy.
• Performs random patrol of city parks; performs security checks for park buildings; enforces park ordinances; acts as a general public contact for park users.
• Assists with developing and conducting community policing programs.
• Renders aid and assistance to the general public.
• Provides reports regarding criminal offenses, ordinance violations, and all other police-related problems as necessary.
• Prepares for and gives testimony in both criminal and civil courts.

• Thorough knowledge of applicable state and local laws, rules and regulations.
• Thorough skill completing reports, records and files associated with calls, reports and public safety.
• General skill operating standard office equipment and applicable hardware and software.
• General skill operating standard tools of the trade.
• Ability to make arithmetic computations using whole numbers, fractions and decimals.
• Ability to compute rates, ratios and percentages.
• Ability to communicate in a wide variety of circumstances including person-to-person, in writing, on a police radio system, in court, before a group, etc.
• Ability to listen to others for understanding of their needs and situations.
• Ability to speak and write clearly.
• Ability to be assertive and to control conversations in order to quickly and accurately gather pertinent information and to be able to communicate this information professionally and precisely to the proper recipient.
• Ability to read and understand correspondence, memoranda and directives.
• Ability to compose clear and concise reports.
• Ability to conduct both oral and demonstrative presentations.
• Ability to understand and execute instructions both in terms of content and intent.
• Ability to demonstrate sound judgment in a variety of circumstances including emergency situations, case preparation, mediating arguments, etc.
• Ability to assess problems and situations.
• Ability to anticipate needs and evaluates alternatives.
• Ability to deal with emergency and stress situations to avoid over-reaction, to maintain flexibility in adjusting to situations and procedures; and to support and carry out directives.
• Ability to utilize appropriate resources and is willing to initiate use of available resources.
• Ability to understand and carry out complex directions.
• Ability to perform the job with a minimum of supervision.
• Ability to maintain consistency in dealing with people.
• Ability to remain sensitive to others' problems without direct involvement.
• Ability to exclude personal biases.
• Ability to accept criticism and/or discipline.
• Ability to deal with the public tactfully, with courtesy, or, when the situation requires, with firmness.
• Ability to work varying shifts or times within a 24-hour per day period and is available for emergency or call-in work.
• Ability to demonstrate a commitment to the organization and the agencies the department serves.
• Ability to demonstrate a willingness to take initiative.
• Ability to demonstrate dependability.
• Ability to demonstrate maturity in relationships with others.
• Ability to demonstrate self confidence.
• Ability to represent the organization to other agencies and citizens with a courteous, helpful, accurate and business-like attitude in all radio, telephone and other types of contact.
• Ability to learn and apply laws, city ordinances and regulations.
• Ability and skill to safely operate a motor vehicle.
• Ability to operate squad car, firearms, radio, computer and other equipment as necessary.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with citizens, elected officials, consultants, other city staff, vendors and the general public.

Minimum Qualifications

To receive consideration, applicants must:

• Meet the minimum selection standards for a peace officer as detailed in state law
• Be licensed or be eligible to be licensed by the Minnesota P.O.S.T. Board by target date of hire
• Possess or be able to obtain a Minnesota driver’s license by target date of hire
• Have completed an accredited 2-year program in law enforcement, criminal justice, or a related field, or passed the reciprocity exam

Lateral transfers will be considered:

• Applicants with full-time law enforcement experience who are currently licensed, and meet minimum qualifications will be considered.

Physical Requirements

This work requires the regular exertion of up to 10 pounds of force, frequent exertion of up to 100 pounds of force and occasional exertion of over 100 pounds of force; work regularly requires standing, walking, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, tasting or smelling and repetitive motions, frequently requires sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, pushing or pulling and lifting and occasionally requires climbing or balancing; work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception, night vision and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work regularly requires exposure to fumes or airborne particles and exposure to outdoor weather conditions, frequently requires exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, exposure to the risk of electrical shock and exposure to bloodborne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment and occasionally requires working near moving mechanical parts, working in high, precarious places, working with explosives, exposure to vibration and wearing a self contained breathing apparatus; work is generally in a loud noise location (e.g. grounds maintenance, heavy traffic).

Additional Information

Uniforms/Equipment
The department provides all officers with uniforms and essential equipment, including department-issued firearms. Uniforms and equipment are maintained and replaced as needed at no cost to the officer.
Workstations: Each patrol officer is assigned their own dedicated workstation equipped with a computer, phone, and all necessary tools to perform their duties effectively. In addition, all sworn personnel are issued a department cell phone for use during the course of their duties.

Salary displayed is the 2026 rate from the LELS 77 Contract. An additional 1% will be considered by the City Council next month.

Tentative Schedule:
Dec. 23 - Virtual Staff Interviews
Dec. 29 - In-person Staff Interviews
Jan. 6 (evening) - Personal Board Interviews
Jan. 9 - City Manager and Chief Interviews
Conditional offer(s) extended to preferred candidate(s)
Backgrounding commences
Target Date of Hire: February 2026