Police Officer - Lateral

Hayden Police Department; Hayden (CO); On-site; USD 86,000 - 117,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% employer-paid health, dental, and

vision coverage for employee & family

120 hours of vacation annually

96 hours of sick leave annually

401(a) retirement with Town match up

457 and Roth IRA options

480 hours of family leave

Free Hayden Center family membership

Multi-language stipend

Up to 80 hours of paid military leave

$2,000 annual tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Hayden Police Department in Colorado is seeking an experienced lateral Police Officer to join a small, community-focused agency with a 48/96 schedule. The role offers on-duty workout time and opportunities for advancement as the department grows.

You will handle patrol, investigations, evidence collection, warrants, and courtroom testimony, maintaining ownership of cases from start to finish while working with prosecutors and regional teams as needed.

Qualifications

• At least one year of sworn law enforcement experience as a solo patrol officer.
• Colorado POST certification or eligibility for Colorado Provisional Certification before appointment.
• High school diploma or GED; college education preferred.

Responsibilities

• Respond to calls and conduct patrols.
• Conduct criminal investigations and follow-up.
• CollectEvidence and prepare warrants.
• Work with prosecutors, testify in court, and maintain ownership of cases from initial response to disposition.
• Engage in community policing and problem-solving.

Skills

1+ year patrol experience

Colorado POST certification

Driver's license

Education

High school diploma or GED

College education preferred

Job description

$41.49–$56.14/hour | Full-Time | 48/96 Schedule

The Hayden Police Department is hiring an experienced lateral Police Officer.

If you're looking for meaningful police work, professional growth, modern equipment, and a schedule that leaves room for a life outside of law enforcement, Hayden may be worth a look.

Our officers work a 48/96 schedule — two days on, four days off. That means predictable, meaningful blocks of time away from work to spend with family, travel, hunt, fish, ski, pursue hobbies, or simply decompress.

We also provide on-duty workout time because staying physically fit shouldn't always have to compete with your time at home.

REAL POLICE WORK

Hayden is a small agency, and our officers are generalists — not just report takers.

You’ll respond to calls, conduct criminal investigations, collect evidence, prepare warrants, work with prosecutors, testify in court, and maintain ownership of your cases from initial response through final disposition.

Our officers handle:

• Patrol and calls for service
• Criminal investigations and follow-up
• Traffic enforcement and crash investigations
• Evidence collection and processing
• Arrests, citations, summonses, and warrants
• Case preparation and coordination with prosecutors
• Community policing and problem-solving
• Regional and specialized assignments as opportunities arise

The position is designed for officers who can exercise good judgment, take initiative, work independently, and take ownership of their work. Police Officer - Lateral 02.23.… Police Officer - Lateral 02.23.…

BUILD YOUR CAREER HERE

A small department doesn't have to mean limited opportunities.

Hayden Police Officers may have opportunities to compete for advancement as positions become available, including:

• Corporal
• Detective
• Sergeant
• Additional leadership opportunities as the department grows

The department also encourages officers to develop specialized skills and take on additional responsibilities throughout their careers.

SPECIALIZED ASSIGNMENTS & REGIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Depending on department needs, qualifications, and available openings, officers may have opportunities to participate in specialized and regional assignments, including:

• Crisis negotiation
• Field training
• Other regional law enforcement programs and specialty assignments

You can gain specialized experience while still enjoying the advantages of working for a smaller community-focused agency.

BECOME AN INSTRUCTOR

We want officers who are interested in becoming experts in their craft and passing that knowledge on to others.

Depending on department needs and officer interests, opportunities may be available to attend instructor‑development training in areas such as:

• Firearms
• Defensive tactics
• Emergency vehicle operations / driving
• Taser
• Less‑lethal systems
• Field training
• De‑escalation

MODERN EQUIPMENT

We believe our officers should have the equipment and technology necessary to do the job safely and effectively.

Hayden officers work with modern body‑worn camera, in‑car video, computing, communications, enforcement, and patrol equipment.

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR

Applicants must have:

• At least one year of sworn law enforcement experience as a solo patrol officer
• Colorado POST certification, or current certification from another state with the ability to obtain Colorado Provisional Certification before appointment
• High school diploma or GED; college education preferred
• Valid driver's license
• Strong judgment, integrity, initiative, adaptability, and the ability to work independently

We're particularly interested in officers who don't need to be told what to do next — people who see a problem, take ownership of it, and get the job done.

PAY & BENEFITS

$41.49–$56.14 per hour, depending on qualifications.

Benefits include:

• 100% employer‑paid health, dental, and vision coverage for the employee and family
• 120 hours of vacation annually to start
• 96 hours of sick leave annually
• 401(a) retirement plan with Town match up to 7%
• 457 and Roth IRA options
• 480 hours of family leave for family expansion, separate from PTO and sick leave
• Free family membership to the Hayden Center
• Multi‑language stipend
• Up to 80 hours of paid military leave annually
• $2,000 annual tuition reimbursement after one year of service

SMALL AGENCY. BIG OPPORTUNITIES. A LIFE OUTSIDE OF WORK.

At Hayden, you can handle your own cases, develop specialized skills, serve on regional teams, become an instructor, compete for promotion, and still have four days off after every two days worked.

We're looking for experienced officers who want independence, responsibility, professional growth, modern equipment, and a schedule that leaves room for a life outside of law enforcement.

48 hours on. 96 hours off. Go live your life.