Patrol Officer - Lateral Hire

City of Golden Valley•City of Golden Valley Public Safety Building, MN

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Golden Valley Police Department is seeking community-focused, currently serving patrol officers to join its rapidly growing department, which serves nearly 25,000 residents. New officers begin with a two-week academy and a five-phase field training program. The department offers career-development opportunities in areas such as SWAT, field training, weapons of mass destruction, drug recognition, crisis negotiation, drone piloting, investigations, bike patrol, defensive tactics, and firearms instruction. Eligible licensed patrol officers hired from May 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026, may receive a $20,000 recruitment and retention incentive in three lump-sum payments: $5,000 after successful completion of field training, $10,000 after successful completion of the probationary period, and $5,000 after 18 months of employment. Lateral officers with at least three years of relevant experience may start at a higher step on the City's pay scale. The position works a consistent, set 12-hour shift schedule. The Police Department operates 24 hours a day, year-round, so scheduled hours include nights, weekends, and holidays. Work takes place indoors and outdoors and may involve distracting noise, exposure to contagious diseases, and hazardous situations that can result in serious injury or death. The position has no employee supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

Be a United States citizen.
Have successfully passed field training and be a current patrol officer.
Be currently licensed, or eligible for licensure, as a peace officer by the Minnesota POST Board.
Have a valid Minnesota driver's license or be able to obtain one.
Have previous community service or customer service experience.
Be able to perform the essential duties and responsibilities, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in law enforcement, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Fluency in a second language.
Experience in a public safety role.
Previous experience building and maintaining relationships.
Previous experience in community engagement, volunteer activities, or events.
Current Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) certification.
Knowledge of police vehicles, radios, radar, computers, and related equipment.
Training in safe firearm operation, handling, and discharge.
Training in driving a motor vehicle under adverse conditions and at high speeds, including pursuit of fleeing vehicles.

Responsibilities

Build and maintain positive relationships with the community, answer public questions, and refer community members to resources as needed.
Participate in community outreach and education initiatives.
Patrol assigned areas by car, bicycle, or on foot to enforce laws and City ordinances, detect and prevent crime, respond to complaints, and help restore public order.
Conduct directed patrols.
Apprehend and arrest law violators and prepare detailed crime and incident reports.
Respond to accidents, fires, and rescue operations; administer first aid as needed, direct traffic, investigate accident scenes, and prepare reports.
Perform routine inspections and general maintenance of patrol vehicles and equipment, and maintain equipment records.
Assist other agencies, including neighboring communities, the County, and the State Highway Patrol, as needed.
Participate in civil or criminal court proceedings, including assisting with preparation of legal documents.
Recommend strategies, standards, and procedures consistent with organizational and department priorities.
Perform other duties and activities as assigned; responsibilities may change with or without notice.

Benefits

PTO and holiday accrual of 9.54 hours per pay period.
Front-loaded PTO of 40 to 80 hours, depending on qualifications.
Field training officers earn 4.5 hours of pay or compensatory time for each training shift.
Cafeteria benefits package with a monthly benefits contribution of $1,951.
Education incentive of $100 to $250 per month, depending on qualifications.
Multilingual pay of $150 per month.
Fully paid uniforms and equipment.
Tuition reimbursement.
Paid parental leave.
Unlimited confidential counseling funded by the City.
Updated, fully equipped on-site fitness center.
Up to 90 minutes of on-duty workout time per 12-hour shift, dependent on daily staffing levels.
Access to a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach.
$20,000 recruitment and retention incentive for eligible licensed officers hired during the stated period, paid in three lump sums.
Potential higher pay-scale starting step for lateral officers with three or more years of relevant experience.