Police Officer Position Profile

Hiring Bonus: Police officer candidates hired during this recruitment process, who successfully complete their Field Training Officer Program and one year of employment with the City will receive a hiring bonus of $2,500!

Salary: The 2020 Pay Range is $30.79 per hour to $47.07 per hour; starting rate  depends upon experience and qualifications. Candidates with 6+ years of broad     police officer experience start at Step 4. Officers move up to the next “step” each   year, until they reach the top step. Annual base adjustments increase the entire     step range and typically occur in January.

Step 1 - $30.79

Step 2 - $36.94

Step 3 - $40.09

Step 4 - $43.44

Step 5 - $47.07

Benefits: In addition to full-time benefits at date of hire, the City of Eden Prairie provides unique benefits to all employees including front loading of Paid Time Off       (PTO), tuition reimbursement of up to $2,500 per year, a generous HRA or HSA      contribution, and 100% of Short Term Disability pay after one year of employment at no cost to the employee.

Status: Full-time regular position, non-exempt

Location: Eden Prairie City Center, 8080 Mitchell Road Eden Prairie, MN 55344

Hours: Rotating Shift (must be available to work nights, weekends and holidays)

Reporting Relationship: Reports to Patrol Sergeant

Police Department

The Eden Prairie Police Department protects and serves the community of Eden Prairie through active and professional engagement. This department is committed to providing customized service to the community, exercising discretion and fairness in enforcement, building public trust in the department, and promoting the professional development of its members.

Position Responsibilities

The Police Officer begins their role in the Patrol Division by protecting and serving the community of Eden Prairie by providing quality services and law enforcement customized to meet the needs of the community. The primary position responsibilities and areas of impact are: 

1. Proactively patrols the community for potential public safety issues; uses sound judgment and critical thinking to monitor and deter potential crime.
2. Responds to and documents calls for police service such as reported crimes or suspicious activity, medical emergencies, and traffic accidents.
3. Enforces laws, ordinances, and codes with a special emphasis on traffic enforcement.
4. Investigates crimes including the collection and preservation of evidence, interviewing victims, suspects, and witnesses, preparing related reports and court testimony.
5. Educates residents, schools, and businesses about public safety-related issues.
6. Secondary assignments are available for officers through a selection process after their first 12 months on the job. Secondary assignments include: K9 officer, SWAT Team member, Field Training Officer, Use of Force Instructor, Weapons Systems Armorer, Crisis Negotiator, Youth Diversion Officer, Crime Scene Tech Unit Officer, Domestic Abuse Response Team member, Crisis Intervention Techniques Team member, Reserve Unit Coordinator, Adult Investigator, School Liaison Officer, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Pilot, Peer Support Team, Police Explorer Advisor, and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE).

While these areas are the primary focus of the position, we believe strongly in teamwork and employees will be called upon to perform a variety of duties as a part of their role with the City.

City of Eden Prairie Values

We are a service organization. We take pride in what we do. We cultivate a supportive, encouraging and productive culture with a strong customer focus. We promote wellness and plan work/life balance into our goals. We value differences and foster inclusion. We achieve success by exhibiting our core values: collaboration, innovation, integrity, performance and relationships.

Position Specific Expectations

Legal Expertise: Displays an in depth understanding of specific legal area; routinely guides others to make lawful decisions.

Emergency Medical Response Expertise: All EPPD Officers are required to attend Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training and obtain their EMT National Certification.

Communication: Able to convey a message to get a point across; communicates in a clear and concise manner; able to write clearly and succinctly; tailors message to a variety of communication settings and styles.

Composure: Exhibits self-confidence and asserts self appropriately to advocate a point of view; is calm under pressure; can be counted on to hold things together during tough times; can handle stress; maintains balance even when unexpected circumstances arise; able to identify and manage crisis situations; faces adversity head on; energized by tough challenges.

Accountability: Follows through on commitments; focuses on appropriate tasks throughout the shift; takes responsibilities for actions both as an individual and on behalf of the organization; actions and words are in sync; follows all policies and procedures; maintains confidentiality; is prepared and punctual to all scheduled shifts.

Position Requirements

Education: Associates or Bachelor’s Degree in law enforcement or related field preferred;    P.O.S.T. eligible by date of appointment, but no later than February 1, 2021 required. If you have received your education or passed the P.O.S.T. Board Exam in another state, you will need to complete the Minnesota P.O.S.T. Board requirements for Peace Officer Licensing and pass the MN P.O.S.T. Board Exam or Reciprocity Exam by February 1, 2021.

Work Experience: Knowledge of and experience in criminal and traffic law preferred (i.e. experience as a community service officer, police explorer, security guard, etc.)

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: Approximately 85% of the time is spent in the field on patrol.  Incumbent is required to carry a firearm, take appropriate safety precautions and wear protective body armor.  While on patrol or at crime scenes, incumbent may have exposure to injury, trauma, angry or violent individuals, animal bites, blood-borne and air-borne pathogens, traffic accidents, visual and emotional trauma, toxic chemicals, adverse road and weather conditions, and other hazardous conditions.

Incumbent spends a large portion of each day in a patrol vehicle, frequently exiting and entering vehicle.  Incumbents must be able to climb ladders, walk or run on uneven surfaces. Regular moving of objects up to 45 pounds is required. Must be able to pass gas mask fit testing.  While on patrol, continual attention to detail in monitoring surroundings is required.  A high level of attention to detail and deadlines is required in completing reports and paperwork.

Must be able to meet the physical demands/requirements of Minnesota Peace Officer Training Board (P.O.S.T.) in order to qualify for and maintain status as a licensed peace officer.

City of Eden Prairie Pre-employment Process

The City of Eden Prairie conducts the following pre-employment checks for the Police Officer position:

1. Background Check (includes driver’s check-must have valid driver’s license and excellent driving record)
2. Physical Exam (includes medical exam, agility testing and drug test)
3. Psychological Evaluation

All final candidates must successfully complete and pass the City evaluation of the pre-employment process before their first day of employment.

City of Eden Prairie Recruitment Process

The goal of the recruitment process outlined below is to find talented candidates for current openings and for future openings who have the potential to move into a police officer position due to a vacancy. Therefore, the City reserves the right to create and manage an eligibility list of candidates from this posting for future openings which occurs within nine months from the posting date. 

Application Process:

• Apply online at www.edenprairie.org under “Employment”
• Application Posted: Friday, September 4, 2020
• Application Deadline: September 25, 2020 at 4:00 PM
• Review Applications: Week of September 28, 2020
• Communication to candidates regarding next step (via e-mail): By Monday, October 5, 2020

First Interview: Candidates will be invited to 20 minute virtual interview with a panel of Police Officers and Human Resources. Dates available include:

• Tuesday, October 13, 2020
• Wednesday, October 14, 2020
• Thursday, October 15, 2020
• Communication to candidates regarding next step (via e-mail): By Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Second Interview: Candidates will be invited to a 45 minute virtual interview with a panel of Police Sergeants and Human Resources. Dates available include:

• Tuesday, October 27, 2020
• Wednesday, October 28, 2020
• Communication to candidates regarding next step: By Friday, October 30, 2020

Third Interview: Candidates will be invited to a 45 minute interview with a panel of Lieutenants and Human Resources. Dates available include:

• Tuesday, November 3, 2020

Final Interview & Background Investigation Process: Candidates will be invited to meet with the Police Chief and Police Captain mid-November 2020. The background process typically takes up to six weeks.

Pre-Employment Physical Exam and Psychological Evaluation: December 2020/January, 2021

Formal Offer/Start Date: January, 2021