Police Officer

City of Mankato • Mankato, MN

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The City of Mankato Public Safety is recruiting entry-level and experienced lateral-entry Police Officers who demonstrate critical thinking, effective communication, and a commitment to community policing. Officers partner with community members to build trust, prevent crime, promote safety, and protect the public. Candidates who are not yet eligible for licensing but expect to complete the Minnesota POST exam and required academic and skills training by January 1, 2027, are encouraged to apply.

Police Officers perform duties assigned in connection with the Police Division, including proactive patrol, responding to law violations and safety hazards, enforcing laws and ordinances, investigating incidents, securing crime scenes, gathering evidence, preparing reports, and assisting with prosecution. They work with community members and partner agencies to address criminal and non-criminal concerns and maintain public order and safety. The role is non-supervisory and includes varied shifts and workdays, strenuous activity in body armor and other equipment, and operating vehicles for extended periods and at high speeds in varying environmental and traffic conditions.

The City offers a 2026 wage schedule with entry, post-field-training, and experience-based steps. The stated wage for the entry step is $38.34 per hour base wage, or $39.01 including the 1.75% addition paid in lieu of time-and-a-half holiday pay. The posted full schedule ranges from $38.34 to $53.35 per hour in base wages, or $39.01 to $54.28 including the 1.75% addition. Advancement is tied to field training completion and performance evaluations. Benefits and development opportunities include a peer support program, officer wellness and resiliency resources, varied 10-to-12-hour workdays intended to promote more days off, on-site workout facilities, ongoing training, and opportunities to serve in specialized units and instructor roles.

Applicants must meet education and Minnesota POST eligibility or licensing requirements, hold a valid driver’s license, and satisfy the listed employment conditions. The hiring process may include qualification review, departmental orientation, panel interviews, a background check, fingerprinting, psychological evaluation, physical screening, and drug screening. This is a safety-sensitive position with cannabis pre-employment testing and restrictions on cannabis and on-duty alcohol use.

Requirements

• Associate’s degree in Police Science, Law Enforcement, or Criminal Justice from an accredited university, college, or vocational technical institute; the program must include actual classroom instruction and training, or the applicant must have equivalent education.
• Licensed by the Minnesota Police Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Board, or eligible for licensure by January 1, 2027, with academic and skills training completed.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to drive in Minnesota; a Minnesota driver’s license must be obtained within 30 days of employment.
• Must maintain a primary residence within a 60-minute drive of the Public Safety Center, under normal conditions and posted speed limits, within one year of employment.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or eligible to work in the United States under federal requirements.
• Must satisfactorily complete a background investigation, physical examination, drug testing, and psychological evaluation by a licensed psychologist.
• Must complete EMR training or equivalent under MN POST minimum selection standards within six months of employment.
• Must meet medical standards for, and be able to wear, self-contained breathing apparatus while performing work duties.
• Must not have been convicted of a felony in any state or federal court; applicants will be fingerprinted and fingerprint records searched.
• Must meet Minnesota POST Board Standards of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officers.
• Must refrain from consuming or using tobacco and nicotine products on and off duty.
• Must comply with organizational and departmental policies and data-practices requirements for protecting nonpublic data.
• This safety-sensitive role prohibits cannabis use on and off duty and alcohol use on duty, and requires cannabis pre-employment drug testing.
• Ability to perform strenuous activities while wearing body armor and other equipment in all weather conditions.
• Ability to communicate and interact effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, representatives of other organizations, and community members.

Responsibilities

• Perform duties assigned in connection with the operation of the Police Division.
• Support, demonstrate understanding of, and participate in the Department of Public Safety Community Policing Philosophy.
• Detect and respond to law violations and public-safety hazards, and inspect businesses and residential areas for signs of criminal activity.
• Identify and use progressive nuisance- and crime-prevention techniques; monitor locations where nuisances or criminal activity are occurring or likely to occur.
• Conduct proactive patrols in assigned city areas and neighborhoods.
• Enforce state and federal laws and City ordinances, and apprehend people suspected of committing crimes.
• Enforce motor-vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic laws; address traffic hazards; assist distressed motorists; investigate vehicle accidents; issue citations and warnings; and make arrests.
• Maintain community relations through communication and interaction with residents and businesspeople, and represent the City and department at functions.
• Respond to and secure crime scenes, direct responding units, and identify, obtain, and secure evidence.
• Respond to criminal activity and other incidents, take reports, conduct follow-up investigations when possible, and interview victims, witnesses, suspects, and others.
• Prepare crime reports and assist investigators as needed.
• Assist prosecuting attorneys with case preparation as directed and testify in court.
• Respond to community-identified problems, including non-criminal concerns, and initiate appropriate responses through partnerships with other resources.
• Conduct preliminary investigations of non-criminal matters and document facts needed for appropriate responses by other resources.
• Operate automobiles for extended periods and at high speeds in varying environmental conditions and congested traffic.
• Attend work during scheduled hours and outside regular hours as necessary; perform other related work as assigned or apparent.

Benefits

• Peer Support Program.
• Comprehensive officer health and wellness resiliency program (Provicta), addressing physical, mental, nutritional, spiritual, and financial wellness.
• Variety of 10-to-12-hour workdays intended to promote more days off.
• On-site workout facilities with on-duty use and/or 24-hour access.
• Continual training and development opportunities, including in-field, online, in-person, in-house, and external development.
• Specialized unit opportunities, including Detective Division, Tactical Response Team, Police Training Officer, BCA ICAC Task Force, School Resource Officer, Auxiliary Units, Drug & Veterans Court, Toward Zero Deaths, Hostage Negotiator, Predatory Offender Monitoring Team, and Drug Task Force.
• Instructor opportunities in Taser, Firearms, Defensive Driving, Field Force, Defensive Tactics, Integrated Communications and Tactics, PepperBall, and Use of Force.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree