Capitol Police Officer - K9 Handler

State of Maine; Augusta (ME); On-site; USD 37,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

13 paid holidays

Sick leave

Vacation leave

Health insurance

Job summary

The Department of Public Safety - Bureau of Capitol Police in Augusta, ME seeks a full-time Police Officer. Salary $26.70-$36.99/hour plus a $0.85/hour stipend. One hour overtime daily for K-9 care; take-home vehicle provided. Shifts may include nights, weekends and holidays.

Candidates must be certified or complete MCJA within one year, pass background, medical and psych assessments, and meet Maine CJ Academy fitness standards. Preference for MCJA certified officers.

Qualifications

• Graduation from high school or equivalent.
• Must be at least 21 years of age.

Responsibilities

• Maintaining vigilance at key state facilities.
• Conducting crowd control duties.
• Investigating alleged violations and complaints.
• Issuing tickets and arresting violators.
• Supporting weapons screening operations.

Skills

Interrogation skills

Investigations

Report writing

Analytical thinking

Firearms proficiency

Microsoft Office

Education

High school diploma

Job description

Department of Dept of Public Safety - Bureau of Capitol Police

Job Class Code: 7008

Grade: 21 - Law Enforcement

Salary: $26.70 - $36.99/Hour (This salary does not include an .85 per hour stipend)

Location: Augusta, ME

Opening Date: September 27, 2026

Closing Date: October 13, 2026

The Bureau of Maine Capitol Police is seeking qualified and motivated candidates for a full-time Police Officer vacancy. Our officers have set schedules, and we provide 24-hour coverage, 7 days a week. In addition to the .85 per hour reachability/availability stipend, others are available for Crisis Negotiators, Firearms Instructors, Field Training Officers, and more! Certified Blue-Pins are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will be a certified full-time police officer in the State of Maine or will be required to complete the 18-week basic police officer academy at MCJA within one year of hire. Successful candidates will be required to pass an oral interview, extensive background investigation, and medical examination. A psychological interview and polygraph test will be at the discretion of the Chief of Police. The applicant will also have to meet the minimum standard fitness requirements of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. Full-time certified Law Enforcement Officers are exempt from the MCJA's minimum physical fitness requirements.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Maintaining hypervigilant posture at key State facilities
• Conducting crowd control duties
• Conducting investigations of alleged violations and complaints
• Issuing tickets and/or summonses and arresting violators
• Supporting weapons screening operations

Skills or knowledge required:

• Develop and continually enhance interview and interrogation skills
• Develop and maintain sound analytical, investigative methods
• Ability to conduct investigations and interviews
• Develop and maintain sound analytical skills to foster sound decision-making
• Ability to quickly assess available facts and make sound decisions
• Develop and maintain proficiency in firearms, first aid, and other areas of required certification
• Ability to write concise and detailed reports using proper grammar
• Be familiar with Microsoft Office programs

Minimum qualifications:

• Graduation from high school or equivalent with no criminal or extensive motor vehicle record.
• Must be at least 21 years of age at the time of hire.

Licensing/Registration/Certification Requirements:

• Valid Maine Class C driver's license.
• Must complete Maine Criminal Justice Academy (MCJA) phase one and phase two police officer training.
• Must maintain continued certification by MCJA as a Maine Law Enforcement Officer.

Preference will be given to those applicants:

• Currently certified by the Maine Criminal Justice Academy as a Maine law enforcement officer.

Contact information: Please reach out to Chief Ryan Frost at [e-mail]

This position is an Explosives Detection K9 assignment/Patrol Officer. One hour of overtime per day for K‑9 care is included. Take home vehicle is provided. Shifts can include nights, weekends and holidays.

Benefits

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto-"Dirigo" or "I lead"-as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Balance – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime‑exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee‑only premiums ($11,857.68-$13,950.24 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee‑only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee‑only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).
• Retirement Plan – The State of Maine contributes 14.06% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
• Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre‑tax to help pay for out‑of‑pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office.
• Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
• Parental leave – All employees who are welcoming a child‑including fathers and adoptive parents‑receive forty‑two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre‑tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.
• State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.
• Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.

If you're looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we'd love to hear from you.

Thinking about applying? Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you're currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your experience and passion set you apart.