Police Officer (Lateral & Traditional)

About the role

Brooklyn Park Police Department is seeking traditional and lateral police officers for a January 2027 academy. Candidates must be POST eligible by January 8, 2027. The academy and field training process for lateral officers will be condensed based upon prior law enforcement experience.

The primary responsibility is to preserve law and order; protect life and property; enforce laws and ordinances consistent with the department’s mission and community-oriented policing philosophy; and build problem-solving relationships with residents. The department’s 109 sworn officers are supported by residents, elected officials, and city administration.

Brooklyn Park Police officers must demonstrate commitment to the core values of Service, Justice, and Courage and provide professional and impartial service to a diverse community.

Responsibilities

• Enforce city ordinances, state and federal laws in a fair and uniform manner to promote public safety; investigate violations impartially according to department policies and procedures
• Maintain knowledge of applicable constitutional law and prevailing court rulings regarding police authority
• Proactively patrol assigned areas; recognize and seek to resolve neighborhood issues that affect public safety and livability
• Respond to emergency calls; conduct searches; make arrests; safely transport prisoners
• Maintain order at crime scenes, disturbances, or accidents; interview witnesses and interrogate suspects; collect and preserve evidence
• Use and care for firearms and other assigned equipment safely and responsibly
• Communicate information appropriately using computers, radios, phones, email, and other technologies
• Prepare clear, accurate, and timely reports; testify and present evidence in legal proceedings
• Provide clear, respectful, and effective oral and written communication
• Perform duties to promote the legitimacy of the department and serve all community members
• Initiate and foster positive community relationships with businesses, residents, and visitors
• Contribute to the City’s initiative to enhance quality of life in Brooklyn Park
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Two-year or Associate’s degree
• Eligible for licensure under Minnesota POST Board rules
• U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, completed military naturalization process, or pending citizenship application on file
• Meet Minnesota POST Board educational or reciprocity standards
• Licensed MN Peace Officer or eligible to be licensed (completed required academic and skills training)
• Trained in first aid and hold First Responder or higher-level certification as recorded by Minnesota EMS Regulatory Board or equivalent
• Valid driver’s license
• Eligible to carry a firearm in Minnesota per MN Statute 624.713
• Successfully pass a drug test
• Physically, medically, emotionally, and psychologically fit for full police duty (assessed after conditional job offer)
• Successfully pass a background investigation with no bars to peace officer licensure in Minnesota
• No convictions that would bar licensure under Minnesota Administrative Rule 6700.0700, subpart E and F (1–4)

Qualifications for Lateral Officers

• At least one year of full-time experience as a police officer
• Successfully passed the probationary period at current department
• No discipline resulting in loss of pay or benefits within the last year

Licenses/Certifications

• Valid driver’s license without recent significant traffic violations

Skills

• Knowledge of current police procedures and techniques and their appropriate application
• Knowledge of basic first aid/life-saving techniques
• Knowledge of city ordinances, local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and codes relating to law enforcement
• Skill in effective operation and maintenance of police weaponry/equipment; complete required in-service firearms training and qualifications
• Ability to maintain composure in stressful situations
• Ability to perform strenuous duties in emergency situations
• Ability to perform work requiring concentration and judgment in interpreting practices and procedures
• Ability to work independently and prioritize requests
• Ability to plan and conduct training sessions
• Proficiency in standard office software for data manipulation, report drafting, and record maintenance
• Verbal and written communication skills to respond to diverse audiences and perform public speaking
• Reading comprehension sufficient to read, understand, and interpret work-related materials
• Exhibits desired standard of conduct and work performance including confidentiality and privacy requirements
• Demonstrates complex psychomotor skills: safely driving in normal and emergency situations, accurate firearm use, self-defense and apprehension competence, agility, endurance, and strength
• Maintains physical and mental fitness needed to perform duties
• Manages stress from pursuits, abusive behavior, violent encounters, or treating seriously injured or ill persons
• Exhibits high level of personal integrity and ethical conduct
• Displays professional and courteous manner with the public, offenders, officers, superiors, and courts
• Demonstrates concern for traffic and pedestrian safety; responds quickly to accidents and takes proper actions
• Remains knowledgeable of patrol area and city, including physical characteristics and routine events
• Consistently adheres to departmental policy and city safety policies including PPE usage
• Provides customer service that meets or exceeds expectations
• Embraces and engages in continuous improvement
• Demonstrated commitment to an inclusive workplace related to racial equity, diversity, and inclusion

Desired Qualifications

• Previous experience as a volunteer
• College-level coursework
• Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Experience working with youth, disabled community, elderly, or drug/alcohol intervention
• Experience working with diverse cultural, socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds
• Commitment to a healthy lifestyle including ongoing fitness regimen
• Previous experience in a public law enforcement agency serving a diverse population
• Fluency in Spanish, Hmong, Russian, Somali, Lao, or Vietnamese

Working Conditions

Exposure to hazardous equipment, contaminants, extreme temperatures, blood and body fluids, injury, visual and emotional trauma, traffic accidents, and angry or violent individuals.

Physical demands include driving, walking, speaking, hearing, standing, sitting, using hands, grasping, reaching, pushing, pulling, twisting, lifting 25–50 lbs regularly and up to 100 lbs occasionally, and performing repetitive motions. Specific vision abilities required include close, distance, peripheral, and depth perception.

Pay

• Traditional Officers: $44.98 per hour (anticipated hiring wage)
• Lateral Officers: $48.44 – $57.67 per hour (anticipated hiring wage)
• Shift differential: $1.15 per hour for shifts predominantly between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

Benefits

• Traditional officers receive 40 hours of front-loaded sick time
• Lateral officers receive 48 hours of front-loaded vacation time and 40 hours of front-loaded sick time
• Lateral officers may, with department approval, be placed on a vacation accrual schedule recognizing up to four years of prior service
• $5,000 sign-on bonus for lateral officers with at least one year of full-time licensed experience within the last 12 months: $2,500 with first paycheck and $2,500 upon successful completion of field training
• Progressive equipment including external vest carriers and drones
• Strong focus on officer wellness including on-duty workouts in a fully equipped onsite fitness facility
• Opportunities for special assignments and promotions after successful completion of probation, including K9 handlers, SWAT, CNT, investigations, community outreach, and task force detectives