Police Officer - Lateral

About the Role

Join the community at the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus! In this centrally located, urban environment, you’ll support a safe and inclusive environment for students, staff, faculty, and visitors.

• Patrolling property owned, leased, or operated by the Regents of the University of Minnesota (specifically the Twin Cities campus)
• Providing a safe environment for University students, staff, faculty, and visitors
• Responding to emergency and non-emergency calls for service
• Enforcing applicable statutes and ordinances
• Providing emergency medical assistance
• Working with the University community to increase safety through collaboration, problem solving, and education
• Other duties as assigned, including investigative or other specialty assignments such as bike patrol or motorcycle patrol

Lateral candidates with 3 years or more of experience may be eligible for top-step compensation.

Responsibilities

• 50% - Patrol assigned area on foot, bicycle, motorcycle, or patrol car while interacting with the community and delivering service.
• 20% - Respond to emergency and non-emergency calls for service.
• 10% - Direct automobile, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic on or near campus.
• 5% - Administer medical treatment when necessary.
• 5% - Issue traffic citations in University area; arrest violators of local ordinances and State and Federal statutes.
• 5% - Work with the University community to increase safety through collaborations, problem solving, and education.
• 5% - Other duties as assigned. The employer retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.

Work Environment

The work is primarily performed on a large and urban university campus. Police officers work in demanding and extreme physical environments and may be required to be in dangerous situations that pose a risk to their personal safety and health, such as incidents involving the threat of, or actual use of, a dangerous or deadly weapon by another individual. Police officers must be able to work all times of the day and every day of the year. They must also be able to work in various types of weather and disaster conditions.

Requirements

• Two or four-year degree from an education program certified by the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board or a two-year degree from a non-certified education program plus certification by the Minnesota POST Board. (Police officers from other states must pass a reciprocity exam through the POST Board.)
• Eligibility to be licensed as a peace officer by the Minnesota POST Board and remain licensed throughout employment
• One year of sworn law enforcement experience
• Pass a pre-employment background investigation
• Possess a valid U.S. Driver’s license with a good driving record
• Candidates who receive a conditional job offer must pass a psychological exam and a fitness for duty physical exam.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in a law enforcement agency. Candidates with prior relevant sworn law enforcement experience will participate in an abbreviated field training program and are eligible to be hired at up to the 24 months of service step and receive the 36 month/top police officer rate after 12 months and the successful completion of probation.
• Demonstrated focus on servicing the community
• Experience in a multicultural community
• Volunteer experience
• Fluency in a second language

Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of criminal and motor vehicle laws and ordinances, case law, department and University policies and procedures, proper use of force techniques and standards, and knowledge of weapon use and abilities.
• Ability to multitask while patrolling an area and being vigilant of what is occurring around them, while also listening to a police radio and keeping track of what their fellow officers are doing and whether or not they need assistance.
• Ability to communicate well with diverse ethnic and socioeconomic groups in a wide variety of situations.
• Ability to act with authority in stressful situations to keep and/or maintain the peace.
• Ability to lift heavy objects and individuals, run after individuals, use physical force to apprehend individuals, climb fences/walls and stairs, and operate a motor vehicle at extreme conditions.

Pay

2026 hourly top pay rate: $57.61

Benefits

• MN State Retirement System (MSRS) pension plan - tax-deferred.
• Thirteen paid vacation days per year (starting accrual rate), in addition to 13 paid sick days and 11 paid holidays.
• Tuition reimbursement opportunities covering 75% - 100% of eligible tuition.
• Excellent and affordable health care benefits.
• Wellbeing Program (reduction in annual premiums).
• Yearly merit increase program.
• Many professional development opportunities.