Police Officer

CU Boulder; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 79,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition assistance

ECO Pass

Paid time off

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Retirement plans

Job summary

University of Colorado Boulder is seeking Police Officers or Police Officer Recruits to maintain campus safety through patrols, emergency responses, and public engagement. Recruits must pass academy and CUPD PTO, while lateral officers require POST certification and CUPD training.

The role supports diverse campus communities and events year-round. Major responsibilities include conducting patrols, responding to emergencies, processing cases, and ensuring evidence integrity.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to deescalate tense situations.
• Demonstrates cultural competency and inclusivity.
• Willingness to engage with the community.

Responsibilities

• Patrol duties to promote public safety and deter crime.
• Respond to medical and non-criminal emergencies and provide directions/information.
• Coordinate special events, crowd and traffic control, and security for dignitaries.
• Submit criminal cases and prepare reports, affidavits, and testimony for court.
• Preserve and collect evidence with proper chain of custody.

Skills

Communication

Deescalation

Cultural competency

Community engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

P.O.S.T. certification

Job description

Requisition Number: 74280

Location: Boulder, Colorado

City: Boulder

State: Colorado

Employment Type: University Staff

Schedule: Full-Time

Posting Close Date: 31-Aug-2026

Date Posted: 14-Aug-2026

Job Summary

The University of Colorado Boulder encourages applications for Police Officers, to be hired either as Police Officer Recruits or Lateral Police Officers. These positions exist to maintain order, prevent, solve, and document criminal activity. Officers' duties can include the following: conduct various methods of patrol, arrest violators, file criminal cases with prosecuting attorneys' offices, respond to emergencies, and provide a wide range of citizen assistance. Police Officers work special events including athletic events, distinguished speakers and lecturers, and concerts. Police Officers will routinely solve issues that require heightened decision-making abilities, and use analysis and individual discretion to make choices affecting others and the campus at large.

Police Officer Recruits attend and successfully pass the Police Academy and the CUPD Police Training Officer (PTO) program in their first year. Successful completion of these programs, plus a probationary period, makes them eligible for full police work. Police Officer Recruits who have already graduated from a POST-approved Police Academy prior to their employment at CUPD may not qualify as lateral police officers until they have also completed their CUPD PTO program plus successful completion of the probationary period.

Lateral Police Officers (POST-certified) have experience at another law enforcement agency within the last twelve months. They can begin the duties of the position of Police Officer after completing training requirements of CUPD including on-the-job training.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

The Division of Public Safety seeks to facilitate and coordinate a culture that supports the Boulder campus' commitment to maintain the highest level of ethics, integrity, and safety in the conduct of its operations. We do this through services to enhance community safety, protect life and property, and foster safe, secure, and ethical practices.

The University of Colorado (CU) Boulder is one of America's leading research universities and the flagship of the CU System. As a comprehensive public doctoral Research University, CU Boulder is a member of the Association of American Universities and is classified as an R1 University. The university has nine schools and colleges offering over 150 academic programs and enrolling 35,000 degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate students.

At CU Boulder, we believe in supporting each other and valuing everyone who is part of our community. Our values are expected of all Buffs and lead our actions in the classroom, on campus and in our community. At CU Boulder, we commit to building a more diverse and inclusive campus community. We value different backgrounds, identities and perspectives and believe that engagement with a wide range of ideas and viewpoints can help students learn and grow.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Police Operations - Patrol

• Promote public safety by preventing, detecting, and identifying criminal and suspicious activity, issuing summonses, making probable cause arrests and/or incarcerating offenders, completing arrest and search warrants for violations of federal, state, and municipal laws and traffic offenses.

Emergency and Citizen Responses

• Assist the public with non-criminal emergencies such as medical emergencies, fires, hazardous materials accidents, natural disasters, stranded motorist, and missing persons, as well as provide directions and information to the public.

Special Event and Contract Assignments

• Provide for orderly public events by maintaining crowd and traffic control and specialized enforcement at political rallies, demonstrations, concerts, and sporting events, as well as providing money guards and collaborating with other agencies for security for dignitaries.

Filing of Cases

• Submit criminal cases directly to federal, state, or municipal prosecuting attorneys, or university officials for filing of criminal charges or referrals for violation of university rules/regulation by writing detailed reports, affidavits for search warrants and other paper work as required, as well as preparing and delivering courtroom testimony.

Evidence Recognition, Preservation, Collection, and Submission

• Collect and preserve evidence by photographing, videotaping, and sketching crime scenes, collecting fluid specimens, hair and fiber samples, fingerprints, and other items of evidentiary value, while maintaining chain of custody requirements.

Interviewing and Interrogating

• Obtain accurate accounts of incidents by conducting interviews of victims, witnesses, complainants, and obtaining statements from suspects by conducting lawful and appropriate interrogations.

Proficiencies and Liability Reductions

• Limit person agency and institutional legal liability, by obtaining certified peace officer status through the State of Colorado and the city of Boulder, by maintaining strict proficiency in knowledge of laws, use of computer based resources, crime scene processing methods, arrest control techniques, non-lethal weapons methods, and firearms skills through regular training sessions.

Other Duties

• As assigned by the Chief of Police, Commander, or Sergeant. The Police Officer might also need to act independently and assume a duty not assigned by the position. These additional duties could include being the Department representative at campus meetings and groups, City of Boulder meetings, State Boards or a citizen ride-along.

What You Should Know

• This department operates 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Must be available to work various shifts when needed, including overnights, swing shifts, weekends, holidays, events etc.
• This position operates University vehicles and requires an active Drivers' License. This position is subject to a background investigation, including criminal, financial, and motor vehicle records background check; job suitability exam; an Excluded Parties List System check; a review of a personal history statement; reference and employment checks; and a drug screen. Pre-placement physical and psychological evaluations are also required.
• This position is considered Essential Services and a Campus Security Authority.

What We Can Offer

The annual salary range is $79,246 - $109,716.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be collaborative. Be visionary. Be Boulder.

What We Require

For All Applicants:

• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Possess a valid Colorado Driver License by the date of hire
• Ability to successfully complete a background investigation with none of the following:
• Felony convictions
• Domestic violence convictions
• Acquiring more than 7 points in the last year and/or more than 12 points within the last two years on a driver's license
• Alcohol/drug-related traffic convictions in the last 3 years and repeat alcohol/drug convictions after the age of 18 within the last ten years.

Recruits (no prior law enforcement experience):

• One year of college coursework (30 semester hours). Appropriate experience will substitute for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis.
• Possession of current, valid Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) certification will substitute for required education.

Laterals:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of specialized education or training as described further below.
• Possession of current, valid Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) certification or ability to attend Colorado P.O.S.T. refresher academy to obtain certification within 6 months of hire.
• One or more years of patrol law enforcement experience.
• Law enforcement experience from a municipal, state, or county commissioned agency.

Consideration of candidates with Non-Municipal and Non-University Policing Experience:

• CUPD recognizes that candidates may bring valuable law enforcement experience from a variety of professional settings, such as correctional institutions/jail facilities, federal or state policing, and/or military policing.
• These experiences are typically comparable, but not identical, to municipal or university policing.
• Prior policing experience will be evaluated individually to determine its relevance to the position and the need to pay officers equitably within the Police Step Pay plan.

What You Will Need

• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to manage relationships in a way that promotes the best interest of all parties.
• Ability to deescalate tense situations.
• Adapts well to changing priorities/situations.
• Possesses mental vigor and has the ability to sustain analytical thinking under pressure.
• Ability to evaluate courses of action, determine priorities, determine a course of action, and justify/defend their decisions.
• Acts with respect towards authority, while at the same time maintains integrity and strong ethical behavior.
• Demonstrates a willingness to take action, while maintaining a respect for human life.
• Demonstrates cultural competency.
• Demonstrates a willingness to grow.
• Willingness to meaningfully engage with the community.
• Inclusivity, collaborator focused, proactive, trained and prepared.

Essential Services

This position is designated "essential services." The incumbent is required to respond to requests for work during campus emergencies (snow, wind, rain, flood and any other natural or man-made event) and report to work for his / her regularly assigned shift during emergency campus closures.