Police Officer Recruit

Lafayette•Lafayette, CO

9h•$83,283 - $110,843

About The Position

THE CITY OF LAFAYETTE IS SEEKING DEDICATED & COMMUNITY-ORIENTED POLICE OFFICER RECRUITS TO JOIN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT! The City of Lafayette is seeking Police Recruits to send to the police academy in July 2026 to join our Police Department. Police Recruits will be hired before the start of academy to work with the Police Department in a training capacity prior to going to the police academy. The Lafayette Police Department provides professional, ethical, impartial and community-oriented law enforcement services to residents and visitors alike. The department promoted community safety and well-being, reduces crime, the fear of crime and neighborhood decay, and protects life and property. This posting is open to candidates who are not P.O.S.T Certified. Our Police Officers enjoy a 4-step pay plan: 2026 pay rates are listed below: Police Officer Step 1: $83,283Police Officer Step 2: $91,603Police Officer Step 3: $100,776Police Officer Step 4: $110,843

Requirements

Ability to develop working knowledge of: Federal, State and local statutes, ordinances; proper law enforcement principles, procedures, practices; first aid and medical procedures and practices; the city and surrounding areas including streets, buildings, landmarks, alleys, roads, etc.
Ability to develop skill in the use of law enforcement vehicles, firearms, related law enforcement equipment, and principles and practices of self-defense.
High School Diploma or equivalent.
Requires 30 semester hours of college completed; or one (1) year military service having been honorably discharged; a combination of any of the above categories that is approved by the City’s Human Resources Department, or any equivalent combination of training and experience that provides evidence that the applicant possesses the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
Must be at least 21 years of age
Possess a valid Colorado class R Driver’s License
Obtain a copy of a safe driving record from the Department of Motor Vehicles
Must be willing to attend and pass Police Academy as required and have the ability to become POST Certified.
Must pass written exam, physical ability test, interviews, and polygraph test.
Post-hire tests include psychological exam, medical exam, drug screening, and thorough background check.

Responsibilities

Learns to patrol the City in a police vehicle or on foot, in order to enforce Federal, State and local laws and ordinances.
Learns to serve and protect individuals and property and to respond to complaints, crimes, disturbances, accidents and other related situations.
Observes Officers performing preliminary investigations; obtaining physical and other evidence and listens to statements necessary for reporting facts and circumstances of incidents in order to charge individuals with offenses, and to follow-up detailed investigations and how to protect crime scenes.
Learns how to appear in court in order to offer testimony; meet and confer with attorneys on legal questions regarding arrests of individuals.
Helps to prepare and maintain a variety of reports, by recording and logging necessary data on a daily basis regarding activities and specific incidents that have occurred.
Observes officers' control vehicular traffic and enforce traffic laws; deal with traffic accidents; establish and maintain roadblocks as necessary.
Learns to interact with the public in a variety of settings; e.g., providing counseling to families and individuals in peace disturbance situations, offering assistance to community members and visitors.
Learns to handle calls for service, responds to emergencies and other incidents, arrests suspected criminals and keep the community safe and orderly.
Requires the ability to learn to operate a patrol car, think clearly and make decisions quickly and accurately and to occasionally defend yourself or others through the use of defensive physical tactics.
Teaches the consideration of and use of lawful deadly force against another person and learns how to respond to crime scenes and major incidents.