Patrol Officer 08/21/2026

City of Albert Lea; Albert Lea (MN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Albert Lea Police Department seeks a dedicated officer to protect the community through proactive policing and collaboration with residents. You will patrol, respond to emergencies, investigate incidents, and work to improve quality of life in Albert Lea.

Under supervision of the Patrol Sergeant and Lieutenant, you will participate in neighborhood meetings, handle reports, preserve evidence, and provide testimony as required, while building partnerships with schools and residents.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in criminal justice or equivalent required.
• EMR certification required.
• US citizenship and valid driver's license required.

Responsibilities

• Protect the community through policing, crime prevention and enforcement of laws.
• Engage with residents and community groups to address concerns and improve quality of life.
• Patrol assigned areas, respond to calls, and conduct preliminary investigations.
• Collect, preserve evidence and prepare reports; testify in court as needed.
• Coordinate with partner agencies and participate in training and meetings.

Skills

Community policing

Problem solving

Interpersonal communication

Report writing

Education

Associate degree in criminal justice or equivalent

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) certification

Job description

General Statement of Duties:

Performs responsible police work involving the protection and safety of the community through community policing, problem solving, crime prevention, apprehension of criminals and enforcement of laws and ordinances to improve the quality of life, provides emergency services and performs related duties as required.

Supervision Received:

Works under the direct supervision of the Patrol Sergeant and general supervision of the Lieutenant. The listed examples may not include all duties performed by all positions in this class. Duties may vary somewhat from position to position within a class and between assignments.

• Establishes partnerships between the officers, the police department, and with the community to prevent, reduce or decrease the opportunity for crime and to improve quality of life.
• Actively promotes the concepts of community policing, problem-oriented policing and proactive policing within assigned area and within the community.
• Seeks out, identifies and serves as a catalyst for opportunities to utilize problem solving techniques such as directed enforcement, education, partnerships with residents and community groups, etc. to address neighborhood or community concerns.
• Evaluates crime patterns and quality of life issues within assigned area and directs police initiatives to improve these issues.
• Participates in community meeting such as neighborhood watch, police/community dialogues, neighborhood associations, civic groups, schools and agency meetings to discuss and address the fear of crime, notify and advise of incidents and promote quality of life.
• Patrols the community to protect life and property, prevent and detect crime, enforce laws and resolve quality of life issues.
• Conducts legal searches, apprehends and arrests law violators, prepares reports of incidents and arrests and safely transports suspects and prisoners in accordance with department policy.
• Assists in the prosecution of law violators and testifies in court as arresting or investigating officer or as a witness; completes reports related to legal process.
• Conduct preliminary and follow up investigations and /or assists detectives with more extensive investigations.
• Prepares complete and accurate reports and forms on all criminal, animal control and noncriminal matters.
• Collects and preserves evidence; may take pictures of, and preserve, crime scenes and assumes custody of impounded property and vehicles as appropriate.
• Responds to calls for service for criminal and non-criminal activity, takes action and mediates disputes as necessary, prepares required reports and advises victims and complainants of process and actions taken.
• Responds to accident, fire and other emergencies, assists with rescue, provides emergency first responder treatment, controls the scene and directs traffic flow.
• Interviews witnesses, victims and suspects, takes statements as appropriate, conducts interrogations; refers victims and survivors to other agencies and community groups for additional assistance as appropriate.
• Attends roll call, reviews shift logs and obtains other relevant information that occurred within the last 24 hours.
• Assists and cooperates with other members of the department as well as outside agencies such as neighboring counties and communities and the State Highway Patrol as needed.
• Maintains crowd control and proactively resolves and mediates disputes in citizens' homes, places of business or other public gathering places to prevent crime, ensure public safety and promote quality of life.
• Operates and assists in maintaining all equipment and vehicles used by the department.
• Keeps firearms clean and operating and maintains skills and proficiency in firearm use, self defense, use of force, pursuit driving, and first responder as required by the Minnesota POST Board or department.
• May be assigned one or more of several special work assignments as directed by the Director of Public Safety such as: School Resource Officer, Field Training Officer, Firearms or Use of Force Instructor, Bike Patrol, SWAT, Evidence Officer, canine officer, or other.
• Performs building checks for businesses to ensure the buildings are secure and no vandalism or break-ins have occurred.
• Notifies residents of serious injuries, accidents or deaths of relatives.
• Removes hazards in roadways or contacts public works staff; may occasionally locate and remove stray animals and transport to the animal pound.
• Attends required and/or elective training as directed.
• Performs other duties as needed or assigned.

Note: Asterisked (*) items are essential to the job.

Physical Job Requirements and Working Conditions:

Pick one box that describes the requirements needed for your job and the conditions you encounter on the job.

Intermittent – Less than 15% of the time in a typical week (one per week or less)

Occasional – 15%-45% of the time in a typical week

Frequent – 45%-70% of the time in a typical week

Continuous – Over70% of the time in a typical week (averages daily)

• N/A – Intermittent – Occasional – Frequent – Continuous
• Walk – X
• Stand – X
• Sit – X
• Bend or Stoop – X
• Kneel or Squat – X
• Work with arms above shoulder – X
• Climbing – X
• Lift or carry less than 10 lbs. – X
• Lift or Carry 11-25 lbs. – X
• Lift, carry, push, pull 26-60 lbs. – X
• Lift, carry, push, pull over 60 lbs. – X
• Keyboarding – X
• Repetitive movement – X
• Working in cold weather below freezing – X
• Working in hot weather above 90 – X
• Exposed to toxic/caustic materials – X
• Exposed to bloodborne pathogens – X
• Exposed to fumes or airborne particles – X
• Exposed to annoying odor – X
• Exposed to sickening odor – X
• Exposed to grease/grime – X
• Exposed to driving on street – X
• Exposed to wet conditions – X
• Exposed to machine tools – X
• Exposed to moving mechanical parts – X
• Exposed to high, precarious spaces – X
• Exposed to risk of electrical shock – X
• Exposed to slippery conditions – X
• Inability to leave workstation – X
• Exposure to angry public – X
• Exposure to deadly assault – X
• Exposure to offense language – X
• Exposure to threats – X
• Exposure to trauma – X
• Limited mental effort and/or stress – X
• Some mental effort and stress involved resulting in frustration – X
• Considerable mental effort and stress – X
• Work alone – X
• Work with moderate detail – X
• Work with high detail – X
• Work with moderate deadlines – X
• Work with high deadlines – X

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Associate degree in criminal justice, law enforcement, or equivalent combination of experience and education; licensed or eligible to be licensed, as a peace officer by the State of Minnesota. Must be certified as an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR). Must be a U.S. Citizen and possess/maintain a valid driver's license and be able to drive in the State of Minnesota.