Police Officer

City of Brainerd; Brainerd (MN); On-site; USD 81,000 - 91,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Brainerd seeks a Police Officer to perform protective service duties, enforce laws, investigate crimes, and provide public safety support. The role operates under supervision from sergeants and command staff and includes testifying in court, preparing reports, and participating in community policing efforts.

Candidates must meet licensing requirements and complete POST standards, with opportunities for advancement and performance-based pay adjustments as outlined in the city pay plan.

Qualifications

• Valid MN driver’s license required within 30 days of hire.
• Licensed or eligible to be licensed as a full-time Peace Officer in the State of Minnesota within nine months.
• Maintains Minnesota POST requirements.

Responsibilities

• Patrol assigned areas using a patrol vehicle or on foot to observe violations of traffic laws and disturbances of law and order.
• Interview victims and witnesses to gather information for incidents.
• Respond to dispatches, serve warrants, and complete arrest records.
• Conduct criminal investigations, interview suspects, gather evidence and prepare case reports for prosecution.
• Prepare detailed reports and documentation according to departmental procedures.
• Enforce traffic laws and provide first responder medical assistance.
• Make arrests and testify in court.
• Provide police escorts and perform security checks at locations.
• Participate in training and community policing activities.
• Assist other law enforcement agencies as needed.
• Maintain equipment and vehicles and communicate issues to supervision.

Skills

Police methods

Geography knowledge

Rules and regulations

Firearms proficiency

Police radio operation

Report writing

Multi-tasking

Education

MN driver’s license within 30 days

Peace Officer license

Minnesota POST requirements

Tools

In-squad computers

Police vehicle operation

Citations & records management

Job description

The Police Officer job classification is a union position that performs protective service work involving a variety of general or support duty police assignments including crime prevention; enforcing laws, investigating criminal activity, ensuring public safety, maintaining records and files, testifying in court, preparing reports and related work as required. Work is performed under the moderate supervision of the Sergeant, Lieutenant, Deputy Police Chief, and/or Police Chief. Performs other duties as apparent or assigned.

Please note:

2026 Hiring Range: $39.12 - $43.58per hour depending on qualifications.

2026 Pay Range: $39.12 - $46.56 per hour.

2026 Performance based pay opportunity: Up to $52.16 per hour.

The City of Brainerd utilizes a performance-based pay system as noted above. Our system provides an opportunity for additional pay steps based on merit. Contact the HR Department if you would like to learn more about our system.

Lateral transfers may be considered based upon training and experience.

• On an assigned shift, patrols community utilizing a patrol vehicle or specialized police equipment or walks to observe for violations of traffic laws, suspicious activities or persons, and disturbances of law and order.
• Interviews victims and witnesses to obtain information regarding crime, accident, violation, etc.
• Responds to radio dispatches and answers calls and complaints; serves warrants, summons, etc.; completes arrest records; investigates applicable licenses.
• Performs criminal investigations including domestic disputes, interrogates suspects; gathers evidence; conducts surveillance; develops informants; obtains search warrants; apprehends violators and prepares case reports for prosecution.
• Prepares detailed reports and documentation as required according to departmental procedures.
• Enforces traffic laws, investigates accidents; issues traffic citations; provides first responder medical assistance.
• Makes arrests and testifies in court.
• Provides police escorts, directs traffic; performs residential and commercial security checks.
• Participates in a variety of in-service and special training programs.
• Assists other law enforcement agencies as needed.
• Maintains department issued equipment and vehicles.
• Communicates and informs supervisor of important issues or problems encountered during assigned shift.
• Performs Deputy Coroner functions at initial death scene investigations when required.
• May be assigned to investigations, community policing, K-9, school liaison, or other technical or special support operations.
• Attends required and specialized training programs; may provide in-service training instruction to other department members.
• Participates in police activities in support of community events and promotes community policing for problem solving and developing partnerships.
• Performs related tasks as required.

Education, Experience and Special Requirements

• Possess a valid MN driver's license or be able to acquire a valid MN driver's license within 30 days of hire.
• Licensed or eligible to be licensed as a full-time Peace Officer in the State of Minnesota within nine months.
• Maintains Minnesota POST requirements.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Basic knowledge of police methods, practices and procedures.
• Some knowledge of the geography of the City and the location of important buildings.
• Some knowledge of the rules and regulations of the Police Department.
• Skilled in the use of required firearms and the operation of police vehicles and equipment.
• Skilled in the use of in-squad computers and related programs.
• Strong ability to multi-task in a variety of environments including, but not limited to, operating and communicating with a police radio while driving, interacting with the public, or engaged in other activities.
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions and prepare clear and concise reports.
• Ability to deal professionally, courteously and fairly with the public.
• Ability to identify, analyze, process, and react appropriately to a wide variety of situations in a timely manner with consideration of surrounding hazards and circumstances.
• Ability to take charge of a situation until senior personnel arrive.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental personnel, other law enforcement agencies, associates and the general public.

This work requires the regular exertion of up to 25 pounds of force, frequent exertion of up to 50 pounds of force and occasional exertion of over 100 pounds of force; work frequently speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and reaching with hands and arms and occasionally requires standing, walking, running, sitting, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, tasting or smelling, pushing or pulling, lifting and repetitive motions; work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception, night vision and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work frequently requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions and occasionally requires wet, humid conditions (non-weather), working near moving mechanical parts, working in high, precarious places, exposure to fumes or airborne particles, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, exposure to extreme cold (non-weather), exposure to extreme heat (non-weather), exposure to the risk of electrical shock, working with explosives, exposure to vibration, wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus and exposure to blood borne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment; work is generally in a loud noise location (e.g. grounds maintenance, heavy traffic).