Lateral Police Officer

City of Brooklyn Park; Brooklyn Park (MN); On-site; USD 69,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Onsite fitness facility

Special assignments opportunities

Job summary

City of Brooklyn Park Police Department seeks lateral police officers for a January 2027 academy. Applicants must be POST eligible by January 8, 2027. The role emphasizes community-oriented policing and problem-solving with residents.

Anticipated wage ranges from $50.39 to $59.99 per hour, with a $5,000 sign-on bonus for recent full-time officers. Additional benefits include vacation and sick time front-loaded, and opportunities in specialised assignments.

Qualifications

• Two-year or associate degree required.
• Eligible for POST licensure in Minnesota.
• Licensed MN Peace Officer or eligible per MN rules.
• First aid/First Responder certification (or higher).
• Valid driver's license and ability to carry firearm.

Responsibilities

• Enforce city ordinances and state/federal laws lawfully and impartially.
• Proactively patrol assigned areas and resolve neighborhood issues.
• Respond to emergency calls and conduct searches, arrests, and transports.
• Prepare reports and testify in proceedings when needed.
• Maintain departmental professionalism and community relations.

Skills

Law enforcement knowledge

Verbal and written communication

Calm under pressure

Public safety mindset

Education

Two-year or Associate degree

Bachelor's or higher (desirable)

Tools

Office software

Job description

Brooklyn Park Police Department is currently seeking 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 your prior law enforcement experience.

The primary responsibility of this position is to preserve law and order; to protect life and property and enforce laws and ordinances in a manner consistent with the mission and goals of the Brooklyn Park Police Department and to create problem-solving relationships with the residents using a thorough knowledge of the department's community-oriented policing philosophy.

The 109 sworn officers that serve the community of Brooklyn Park with professionalism, integrity, and honor are openly supported by our residents, elected officials, and city administration.

Brooklyn Park Police officers must demonstrate their commitment to our core values of Service, Justice, and Courage. Candidates must have a desire to provide professional and impartial service to our diverse community. Candidates must uphold the principles of justice and demonstrate courage, integrity, and honor in all their actions.

Anticipated Hiring Wage

$50.39 - $59.99 per hour is the anticipated hiring wage for lateral officers.

Officers will be paid a shift differential of $1.15 per hour worked if the majority of their shift is between 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

Special consideration will be given for special assignments previously held, such as SWAT, FTO, DT instructor, etc., size of the agency the candidate is transferring from, previous agency's annual calls for service, ability to speak additional languages and having a bachelor's or master's degree.

We are offering a $5,000 sign-on bonus to lateral officer candidates who have been employed as a full-time police officer within the last 12-months, with at least one-year of full-time licensed police officer experience. $2,500 will be paid with your first paycheck, and $2,500 will be paid upon successful completion of field training.

Lateral officers will receive 48 hours of front-loaded vacation time. With department approval, lateral officers may be placed on the vacation accrual schedule recognizing up to four years of prior service. Lateral officers will also receive 40 hours of front-loaded sick time.

The Brooklyn Park Police Department offers progressive equipment, such as external vest carriers and drones. The department has a strong focus on overall officer wellness including workout on duty in a fully equipped onsite fitness facility.

If you are looking for exciting growth opportunities, we have K9 handlers, SWAT, CNT, general and juvenile investigations, community outreach, task force detectives, and many more positions. Lateral officers would be eligible for all special assignments and promotions after they successfully complete field training.

More information regarding the opportunities and benefits of being a police officer in Brooklyn Park is on our website at http://www.joinbppd.com.

• Enforce city ordinances, state and federal laws in a fair and uniform manner that promotes and provides for public safety; investigate violations in a fair, impartial and just manner and according to established department policies and procedures
• Knowledge of applicable constitutional law and prevailing court rulings regarding police authority and ability to maintain updates
• Pro-actively patrol assigned areas; recognizes and seeks to resolve neighborhood issues that adversely affect public safety and livability
• Respond to all emergency calls, conduct searches of persons and places as required, make arrests, and safely transport prisoners
• Maintain order at crime scenes, disturbances, or accidents; interviews witnesses and interrogates suspects; collects and preserves evidence
• Use and care of all firearms and weaponry relevant to patrol job assignment. Appropriately use assigned equipment such as firearms, automobiles, computers, radios, radar, etc. in a safe and responsible manner
• Appropriately communicate information using computers, police radios, phones, email, and other technologies
• Prepare clear, accurate and timely reports. Testify and present evidence in criminal and civil legal proceedings. Provides clear, respectful, and effective oral and written communication skills
• Perform duties in a manner that promotes the legitimacy of the department to serve everyone in the community
• Initiate and foster positive community relationships with businesses, community residents, and visitors. Commits and contributes to the success of the City's initiative to enhance the quality of life in Brooklyn Park
• Perform other duties as assigned

Education

• Two (2) year or Associate’s degree
• Must be eligible for licensure under the rules and regulations of the Minnesota Board of Peace Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.)

Officer Minimum Qualifications

• Be a United States citizen, or have obtained lawful permanent residency (LPR) status, or completed the military naturalization process or have a pending citizenship application on file with the federal government
• Must meet educational requirements or reciprocity standards of the Minnesota POST Board
• Must be a licensed MN Peace Officer or eligible to be licensed by the State of Minnesota pursuant to MN Administrative Rules, Chapter 6700. Eligible to be licensed is defined as having completed the academic and skills training required by state statutes
• Trained in first aid and achieved a First Responder, or higher-level certification, as recorded by the Minnesota EMS Regulatory Board, or an equivalent first aid/first responder certification from another state
• Possess a valid driver's license from this or another state or U.S. territory
• Eligible to carry a firearm in Minnesota; reference MN Statute 624.713
• Successfully pass a drug test
• Must be physically, medically, emotionally, and psychologically fit for full police duty. Fitness for duty is assessed by the City's occupational physicians and police psychologists after a conditional job offer is made
• Successfully pass a backgroundinvestigation with no bars to peace officer licensure in Minnesota
• Convictions of the following WILL result in the rejection of police applicants: reference Minnesota Administrative Rule 6700.0700, subpart E and F (1-4).

Lateral Officers

• Must have at least one-year full-time experience as a police officer
• Must have successfully passed the probationary period at your current department
• Must not have received discipline which resulted in the loss of pay or benefits within the last year

Licenses/Certifications

Must possess valid Driver's License without recent significant traffic violations

Equivalency

An equivalent combination of education and experience closely related to the duties of the position MAY be considered

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of current police procedures and techniques and their appropriate application in various situations
• Knowledge of basic first aid/life saving techniques
• Knowledge of city ordinances, local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and codes relating to law enforcement activities and criminal law
• Knowledge of principles of investigation and interrogation
• Skill in effective and proper operation and maintenance of various weaponry/equipment used in police activities and the ability to complete required in-service firearms training, scheduled qualification, and other mandated P.O.S.T requirements
• The ability to maintain composure in stressful situations
• The ability to perform strenuous duties in emergency situations
• The ability to perform work requiring a high degree of concentration and judgment in interpreting practices and procedures to solve problems
• The ability to work independently and to prioritize work requests
• The ability to plan and conduct training sessions
• Knowledge of and ability to operate standard office software sufficient to manipulate data, draft reports and maintain records
• Verbal and written communication skills sufficient to effectively respond to questions from a wide variety of audiences and to perform public speaking, and reading comprehension skills sufficient to read, understand and interpret varied work-related materials
• Demonstrates the desired standard of conduct and work performance including confidentiality and privacy requirements of the Department
• Exhibits a number of complex psychomotor skills, such as, but not limited to, safely driving a vehicle in normal and emergency situations, firing a weapon accurately under varied conditions, showing competence in self-defense and apprehension, maintaining agility, endurance, and strength
• Must maintain the physical and mental fitness needed to perform the duties of a police officer
• Manages stress that comes in a multitude of forms, such as pursuit driving, abusive behavior directed at the officer, violent behavior or treating victims of serious injuries or illness
• Exhibits a high level of personal integrity and ethical conduct
• Displays a professional and courteous manner in his/her conduct with the public, offenders, fellow officers, superiors, and the courts
• Actions demonstrate concern for motorized and pedestrian traffic safety; responding quickly to accidents and taking proper actions to preserve life and protect property
• Remains knowledgeable of patrol area and the city as a whole, including physical characteristics and normal routine of events
• Consistently adheres to departmental policy regulating work activities and city safety policies including personnel protective equipment usage
• Ability to provide a level of customer service that meets or exceeds customer expectation and satisfaction
• Embrace and engage in cultural shift toward Continuous Improvement
• Proven ability and 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
• Previous experience working with youth, the disabled community, the elderly, or with drug/alcohol intervention issues
• Experience working with people from various cultural, socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds
• Demonstrated commitment to a healthy lifestyle that includes an ongoing fitness plan/regimen
• Previous experience working in a public law enforcement agency serving a diverse population
• Fluency in Spanish, Hmong, Russian, Somali, Lao, or Vietnamese language(s)

Working Conditions

• Core business hours are set by departments based on operational needs
• Possible exposure to hazardous equipment, hazardous contaminants, hot or very cold temperatures
• Regular exposure to hazardous situations and conditions and may be exposed to blood and body fluids, injury, visual and emotional trauma, traffic accidents, angry or violent individuals
• Required to drive a vehicle, walk, speak intelligibly, hear, stand, frequently sit, use of hands, handle or feel, firmly grasp, reach with hands and arms, push, pull, twist, lift, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl and perform repetitive motions
• Requires the regular lifting/moving 25-50 pounds, occasionally 100 pounds, may be required to life/drag a victim
• Must have specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus
• Must be physically capable of completing a physical ability test on an ongoing basis

Anticipated Work Schedule

Full-time, non-exempt, union position subject to a work schedule that includes a 12-hour work shift, to include evening, weekday, weekend and holiday hours.

Additional Requirements

Applicants must successfully pass all selection process events to include a comprehensive and thorough background investigation, a psychological exam, a police officer physical abilities test, a medical exam and a drug test.

Police Officer Physical Abilities Test

Brooklyn Park Police officer candidates who receive a conditional job offer will be referred to a NovaCare facility for a physical abilities WorkSteps test. For more information on testing, visit the League of Minnesota Cities website at: https://www.lmc.org/resources/police-officer-physical-abilities-testing/

Selection Process

The selection process will consist of one or more of the following steps: a rating of relevant education and experience and/or an oral examination (100%). It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. This information will be used to determine which candidates will proceed in the selection process. A submitted application is also used to verify the answers to any supplemental questions. Only those candidates who attain a passing score (70%) on each step in the selection process will be placed on the eligible list. Human Resources Department reserves the right to limit the number in any phase of the selection process.

Union Representation

Brooklyn Park Police Officers are members of the Police Federation. Labor agreement: https://www.brooklynpark.org/work-for-brooklyn-park/labor-agreements/

Brooklyn Park is a thriving northwestern suburb of Minneapolis and the sixth largest city in the state with over 86,000 residents and 30,000 jobs. As the 11th fastest growing city in Minnesota, the city has become even more vibrant because of our remarkable racial and cultural diversity. Sixty-four percent of residents are people of color, 22 percent are foreign-born, and more than a quarter speak a language other than English at home.

Department/Division

Police/Patrol

Anticipated Hiring Wage for 2027

Lateral officers will start at a Step 2 to Step 5 based upon experience. To assign steps, there will be consideration regarding special assignments previously held, such as SWAT, FTO, DT instructor, etc., size of the agency the candidate is transferring from, previous agency's annual calls for service, ability to speak additional languages and having a bachelor's or master's degree.

• Step 2: $50.39
• Step 3: $53.99
• Step 4: $57.59
• Step 5: $59.99

Important Dates

Candidates who meet the qualifications will be invited to interview on October 22 and 23, 2026. Chiefs' interviews will be October 29, 2026. Dates are subject to change.