POLICE OFFICER

Effective 10-1-26

Pay

$36.64 - $52.25 hourly ($76,211.20 - $108,680.00 yearly)

About the role

Responsible for performing general Police services, including protection of lives and property, enforcement of laws, investigation of crimes, and providing general assistance to the public. A high degree of independence and initiative are exercised while performing these duties in accordance with Department policies and procedures, City Ordinances, and State Laws.

Responsibilities

• Patrols assigned areas of the City on foot, bicycle, or motor vehicle to maintain the general order and peace; to deter, prevent, and discover the commission of crime; and to enforce traffic and parking laws and regulations.
• Responds to crimes in progress, accidents, natural disasters, fires, citizen complaints and other calls for the benefit of the citizens of the City.
• Conducts security checks in designated patrol area of businesses, residences, parks, and other public properties.
• Takes appropriate action at emergency, accident, and crime scenes; identifies, gathers, and secures evidence; aids victims or injured persons; identifies and interviews victims, witnesses, and suspects; and photographs, sketches, or draws diagrams of the scenes.
• Prepares accurate and timely incident and other reports as needed.
• Assists and cooperates with Department specialists and other law enforcement personnel and agencies as needed.
• Identifies, pursues, and arrests suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts; books arrestees/prisoners.
• Conducts searches of persons, vehicles, residences, or open spaces.
• Serves warrants.
• Carries, maintains, and uses firearms or other assigned law enforcement equipment, such as batons, chemical deterrents and tasers.
• Renders credible testimony in a court of law.
• Renders aid as a first responder to accident victims and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries or illness.
• Investigates criminal and non-criminal incidents, including collection, preservation and analysis of evidence; and preparation of related investigative and other reports.
• Works with attorneys and other law enforcement personnel to prepare court cases.
• Performs assignment in any Division as directed.
• Provides citizens of the City with assistance as needed.
• Performs such other duties as are regularly assigned to Bellevue Police Officers.

Requirements

Testing Process

• Physical Test: The Physical Fitness test is the Cooper test, consisting of five exercises: vertical jump, sit-ups (1 min), 300-meter sprint, push-ups (1 min), and the 1.5-mile run. Applicants must achieve an overall accumulative score of 30% or higher. Familiarize yourself with the Cooper Standards. A video explaining each exercise is available here. If you have passed the Cooper Test with a 40% or above with the Bellevue Police Department or outside agency within 3 months prior to testing, you may submit a “Candidate Score Transfer Form” to have your scores transferred.
• Written Test: The written exam consists of the Police Officer Selection Test (P.O.S.T). A study guide is available for pickup at the front desk of the Bellevue Police Department during normal business hours (Monday – Friday, 8am – 4:30pm). If you have taken the POST Exam with the Bellevue Police Department within the last 12 months, you may submit a “Candidate Score Transfer Form” to transfer your scores.
• TABE Test: The TABE test, required for entry into the police academy, will be administered later in the hiring process. If you have already taken and passed the TABE Test, provide proof to Lisa Vetter at Lisa.vetter@bellevue.net. Study guides for the TABE 11/12 Test Level D are available for purchase online. Visit the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center for admissions standards.

Contact Lisa Vetter at Lisa.vetter@bellevue.net to request the Candidate Score Transfer Form.

Physical Demands

• Work duties may be performed indoors or outdoors, day or night, and/or during inclement weather.
• Performance of outlined physical standards while wearing protective equipment, such as ballistic vest and duty belt.
• Sufficient muscular strength, cardiovascular endurance, and agility to defend from physical attack, apply control holds, and handcuff passive or resisting persons.
• Engaging in foot pursuits (running and jumping) to apprehend a person, which may include uneven ground, stairs, fire escapes, fences, and elevated surfaces.
• Jumping across obstacles during a pursuit.
• Sufficient strength to lift, carry, or drag injured or passively resisting persons.
• Sufficient strength and coordination to repeatedly fire handguns, shotguns, and rifles with both dominant and non-dominant hands.
• Capable of prolonged sitting, standing, or walking for periods occasionally exceeding two hours.
• Ability to drive an emergency vehicle, administer first aid, perform rescue operations, lift and carry 0-70 lbs, direct traffic, subdue prisoners, pursue suspects, engage in physical confrontation, sit, stand, kneel, run, walk rough terrain, bend, stoop, crouch, crawl, push, pull, grip with hands and fingers, climb stairs and ladders.
• Auditory sufficiency to hear voice conversation and various alarms.
• Color identification, close, far, night, and side vision (depth perception).
• Maintaining balance, finger dexterity, speaking clearly.

Working Conditions

• Police work is performed indoors and outdoors and requires a variety of physical activities.
• Exposure to a wide range of weather conditions including temperature extremes (below 0 - 100+ degrees), humidity, rain, sleet, hail, snow, ice, dust, smog, smoke, wind, pollen, darkness, and rapid environmental change.
• Must wear ballistic body armor and utility belts with heavy Police equipment.

Qualifications

• Twenty-one years of age.
• Citizen of the United States.
• Standard high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma (GED).
• Possess a valid motor vehicle operator’s license and maintain throughout the course of employment.
• Ability to read, write, and understand the English language at the eleventh grade level, as demonstrated by the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE).
• Possess good character, as determined by a thorough background investigation.
• Certification through the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center as a Nebraska law enforcement Officer within one year of employment.

Skills

• Knowledge of modern methods and practices of Police patrol, criminal investigation and identification, and administration.
• Knowledge of pertinent Federal and State Laws and City Ordinances, particularly regarding apprehension, arrest, prosecution of law violators, and admissibility of evidence.
• Knowledge of the policies, procedures, rules, and regulations of the Police Department.
• Knowledge of the geographical boundaries and streets of the City of Bellevue, including locations of major businesses, apartment complexes, parks, and other public areas.
• Ability to skillfully interview or interrogate victims, witnesses, suspects, and others.
• Ability to mediate situations using active listening, needs assessment, negotiation, and consensus-building.
• Ability to exercise interpersonal insight, including recognizing and respecting the needs of others, evaluating the impact of decisions, developing trust, and responding positively to diversity issues.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships with co-workers, superiors, other law enforcement personnel, criminal justice officials, and the public.
• Ability to think critically, analyze situations quickly and objectively, and adopt effective courses of action adhering to policies and procedures.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and decision-making, balancing risks and benefits while adhering to Department values and the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics.
• Ability to effectively and clearly express and present information orally, including articulating ideas, presenting messages appropriately, being persuasive, and presenting testimony in court.
• Ability to effectively and accurately express ideas through written means, including preparing concise reports, using correct grammar, and differentiating facts from opinions.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle safely in emergency and non-emergency situations.
• Ability to operate Police equipment, such as radio, Police radar, preliminary breath test analyzers, handcuffs, batons, etc.
• Ability to physically protect self and others in threatening situations, including pursuing, subduing, and controlling resisting individuals using approved techniques.
• Ability to use a personal computer, common office software, Police software programs, databases, and mobile data computer terminals.
• Ability to project a professional Police presence in appearance and actions at all times while on duty.