The City of Moorhead Police Department is seeking qualified lateral applicants for the position of Police Officer. If you’re looking for a change, come join our team! Lateral entry credit is based on previous experience as a patrol officer and will be evaluated individually. Lateral hires will have an expedited in-house academy and can expect and accelerated FTO process. The department trains and equips its officers well to work in a rapidly growing community.

Recruitment New Hire Bonus $5,000

• New hire with one year or more of qualified experience may be eligible for $5,000.
  See bonus eligibility and employment requirements on the City of Moorhead Human Resources Benefits page.

Retirement Benefits

• The City of Moorhead Police Department officers are part of the Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association. Members are fully vested into the fund after 10 years of service, receive a 3% yearly service credit and COLA in retirement

About the Department

The Moorhead Police Department has an authorized staff of 62 sworn officers who have a positive reputation of providing community policing and high-quality professional police services to our residents and large college population. The department is large enough to provide experience in a variety of rewarding specialized law enforcement initiatives including field training, internal instructor positions, K-9, SWAT/Bomb /Negotiations, School Resource Officers, DARE, and Investigations to build your career; yet small enough to be a tight-knit family. We support work/life balance and have a unique wellness program specific to the needs of our officers.

Vacation, Sick and Holiday Paid Time

• New hires accrue 80 hours of vacation per year. Increase accruals with years of service
• Unused vacation can carry over to a maximum of 240 hours.
• An additional 8 hours of vacation is accrued each year through the start of their 15^th year.
• 11 paid floating holidays
• 12 paid sick days per year. Accrue up to maximum of 960 hours.
• Additionally, enjoy comprehensive benefits outlined on our website employment benefit page.

POLICE OFFICER JOB DESCRIPTION:
This protective service position performs intermediate/difficult work enforcing laws, investigating criminal activity, ensuring public safety, maintaining records and files, testifying in court, preparing reports, and related work as required.  

Essential Functions: The essential functions of the Police Officer include, but are not limited to the following major duties performed. Duties are listed from most to least important.

• Performs patrol functions; operates a patrol vehicle or rides a bicycle to preserve the peace and enforce the law; controls vehicular traffic; prevents or detects and investigates misconduct involving misdemeanors, felonies, and other law violations; differentiates between civil and criminal matters.
• Investigates and assists at scene accident and/or crime; interrogates suspects and interviews witnesses and victims; conducts searches; collects, processes and provides follow-up related to evidence.
• Makes arrests and testifies in court, occasionally with little scheduling notice.
• Prepares reports and records including accident reports, traffic citations, investigation reports, breathalyzer checklist, vehicle impoundment form, etc.
• Prepares presentations and performs public education and public speaking on police service and crime prevention topics.
• May be assigned specific duties, including K-9 Officer, SWAT Operator/Sniper, Field Training Officer, Child Passenger Safety Technician, Bike Patrol, Honor Guard, PACT/CISM Team, EVOC Instructor, Firearms, Defensive Tactics or other instructor positions to train other officers.
• Performs other duties as requested.
• Attendance at off-site courses/trainings/seminars may be required.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: To perform the Police Officer position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the formal education, experience and training required.

Education and Experience

• Associates/Technical degree in criminal justice (or related field) OR successful completion of the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Reciprocity Exam OR eligible to take the MN Post Reciprocity Exam
• Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training License

Current candidates/officers that are working outside of Minnesota need to complete a Minnesota reciprocity prior to being hired. Licensing information is available through the MN Post Board.

• CPR/First Responder training 
• Valid driver's license

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: General knowledge of modern law enforcement principles, procedures, techniques and equipment; general knowledge of the geography of the City and location of important buildings; general knowledge of the laws, ordinances and police department rules and regulations; skill in using firearms and operating a motor vehicle; ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions and to prepare clear reports; ability to analyze situations and to adopt quick, effective and reasonable courses of action with due regard to surrounding hazards and circumstances; ability to remain calm and professional while dealing with abusive, mentally impaired, intoxicated, or assaultive members of the public; ability to operate radar unit, audio/visual recording devices, expandable baton, handcuffs, breathalyzer, first aid equipment and other necessary tools and equipment; ability to multi-task and prioritize life-threatening situations to minimize risk; ability to deal courteously, but firmly with the public; ability to establish and maintain effective relationship with associates and the general public.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: The work of the Police Officer requires the regular exertion of up to 10 pounds of force, frequent exertion of up to 25 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 100 pounds of force; work regularly requires walking, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions, frequently requires standing, speaking or hearing and pushing or pulling and occasionally requires sitting, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms and lifting; work requires depth perception, color perception, night vision and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, assembly or fabrication of parts within arms length, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work frequently requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions and occasionally requires exposure to fumes or airborne particles, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, exposure to extreme cold (non-weather), exposure to extreme heat (non-weather), wearing a self contained breathing apparatus and exposure to bloodborne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

Enjoy the following perks while working for the City of Moorhead:

• Positive, friendly and team-oriented culture
• Comprehensive benefits and pay
• Flexibility to support work-life balance
• On-going training and career development
• Ability to make a difference in our community
• And, so much more

The Hiring Process
The hiring process includes an oral interview, extensive background investigation, psychological examination, fitness and medical examination. The department anticipates conducting a lateral hire academy in late October or early November.

Contact Sgt. Joe Brannan at 218.299.5233. Ride alongs and tour available.

About Moorhead
The City of Moorhead offers a great quality of living, a dynamic school system (including a new high school in 2024 and a career academy), as well as four-season recreational opportunities for all ages.

The City of Moorhead is an equal opportunity employer and a proud employer located in the metropolitan region of Fargo-Moorhead