Police Officer

Salary: $39.01 – $54.28 Hourly

Closing Date: 3/1/2026

Position Summary:

The City of Mankato Public Safety is actively recruiting police officer candidates with strong critical thinking skills, effective communication, and a proven dedication to community policing. We welcome both entry-level and experienced lateral entry candidates.

Essential Functions:

• Performs all duties assigned in connection with the operation of the Police Division. Actively supports, demonstrates understanding of, and participates in the Department of Public Safety Community Policing Philosophy.
• Detects and responds to law violations and hazards to public safety; inspects businesses and residential areas for signs of criminal activity.
• Identifies and utilizes progressive nuisance and crime prevention techniques. Identifies and monitors areas, whether self-identified or identified by the community, where public nuisances or criminal activities are occurring or are likely to occur.
• Conducts proactive patrol activities within assigned areas of the city, concentrating on assigned areas of responsibilities or assigned neighborhoods.
• Enforces state and federal laws and City ordinances and apprehends those suspected of committing crimes.
• Enforces laws governing the operation of motor vehicles and their operators and laws relating to bicycle and pedestrian traffic; observes and corrects hazards to motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic; assists disabled or distressed motorists; investigates motor vehicle accidents; issues citations and warnings; makes arrests.
• Promotes the Community Policing Philosophy within the department; maintains good community relations through communication and interaction with citizens and businesspeople of the community; participates and represents the City and department at various functions.
• Responds to and secures crime scenes; directs other responding units; identifies, obtains, and secures evidence.
• Provides enforcement when crimes are committed or in incidents of criminal activity and responds to and takes reports of incidents; completes follow-up investigation when possible; interviews victims, witnesses, suspects, and others.
• Prepares crime reports and assists investigator as needed. Assists prosecuting attorneys with the preparation of cases as directed; testifies in court.
• Operates automobiles for extended periods of time in all environmental conditions. Operates vehicles at high speeds and in congested traffic.
• Responds to identified problems to situations that may be perceived as problems by members of the community, whether criminal or non-criminal. Initiates appropriate responses by partnerships, including other non-public safety resources.
• Conducts preliminary investigations on non-criminal matters, and documents facts necessary to provide for appropriate responses by other non-police resources to community issues and/or nuisances as necessary to maintain public order and safety.
• Performs strenuous activities wearing body armor and other equipment in all weather conditions.

Requirements:

• Must maintain a primary residence within sixty (60) minutes’ drive to the Public Safety Center driving under normal conditions and posted speed limits within one (1) year of employment.
• Must be a citizen of the United States or eligible to work in the US under federal requirements.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and be able to drive in the state of Minnesota. A Minnesota driver’s license must be obtained within thirty (30) days of employment.
• Must satisfactorily complete a background investigation, physical examination, and drug testing.
• Must satisfactorily complete a psychological evaluation from a licensed psychologist.
• Must complete EMR training or equivalent according to MN POST board minimum selection standards (MN Rule 6700.0700) within six (6) months of employment.
• Ability to pass medical standards for self-contained breathing apparatus; and ability to wear self-contained breathing apparatus while performing work duties.
• Shall not have been convicted in any state or federal court of any felony. All applicants shall be fingerprinted, and a thorough search be made of the fingerprints through local, state, and federal fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record.
• Must meet MN P.O.S.T Board Standards of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officers (6700.0700 and 6700.1600) which prohibits use of force, misuse of officer authority, misconduct, conviction or engaged in conduct unrelated to law enforcement responsibilities and criminal history.
• Must refrain from consuming and utilizing tobacco and nicotine products on and off duty.
• Must comply with organizational and departmental policies.
• Must comply with data practices policies and standards relative to not public data. Any access to not public data should be strictly limited to accessing the data that are necessary to fulfill the employment responsibility. While data are being accessed, incumbent should take reasonable measures to ensure the not public data are not accessed by individuals without a work reason. Once the work reason to access the data is reasonably finished the not public data must be properly stored according to city policy and the Minnesota Statutes.
• This is a safety sensitive position and is prohibited from use of cannabis on and off duty and use of alcohol on duty.
• Safety Sensitive Notice. This is a safety sensitive position which requires cannabis pre-employment drug testing. Safety sensitive position means a job, in which an impairment caused by drug, alcohol or cannabis usage would threaten the health and safety of any person.