Patrol Officer – New Hire

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

About The Position

The Golden Valley Police Department is seeking community-focused leaders to serve as Patrol Officers in a department serving nearly 25,000 residents. New hires begin with a two-week academy and a five-phase field training program. The department offers opportunities for career development and specialized assignments, including SWAT, field training, weapons of mass destruction, drug recognition, crisis negotiation, drone piloting, detective work, bike patrol, defensive tactics instruction, and firearms instruction. The City of Golden Valley offers eligible licensed Patrol Officers hired from May 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 a $20,000 recruitment and retention incentive, paid in three lump sums: $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. The department operates 24 hours a day, year-round. Scheduled hours reflect those needs and include nights, weekends, and holidays. Work is performed 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 an associate's degree in law enforcement or a related field from a regionally accredited college.
Be currently licensed, or eligible to be licensed, as a peace officer by the Minnesota POST Board.
Have a current valid Minnesota driver's license or the ability to obtain one.
Have previous community service or customer service experience.
Be able to complete 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.
Current Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) certification.
Knowledge of police vehicles, radios, radar, computers, and related equipment.
Previous experience in community engagement, volunteer activities, or events.
Previous experience building and maintaining relationships.
Training in driving a motor vehicle under adverse conditions and at high speeds, including pursuit of fleeing vehicles.
Training in the safe operation, handling, and discharge of firearms.

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.
Apprehend and arrest law violators and prepare detailed reports of crimes and incidents.
Respond to accidents, fires, and rescue operations; administer first aid as needed, direct traffic, investigate accident scenes, and prepare reports.
Conduct directed patrols.
Inspect and perform general maintenance on patrol cars 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 that may change with or without notice.

Benefits

$20,000 recruitment and retention incentive for eligible licensed Patrol Officers hired May 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, paid in three lump sums based on completion of FTO, probation, and 18 months of employment.
PTO and holiday accrual of 9.54 hours per pay period.
Front-loaded PTO of 40 to 80 hours, depending on qualifications.
FTOs 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.
Consistent, set 12-hour shift schedules.
On-site indoor gun range for sworn staff to use on or off duty.
Tuition reimbursement.
Paid parental leave.
Unlimited confidential counseling funded by the City.
Updated, fully equipped on-site fitness center.
Up to 90 minutes of workout time on duty per 12-hour shift, dependent on daily staffing levels.
Access to a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach.