Police Officer Recruit/Entry-Level

PLEASE NOTE: All interested applicants MUST successfully pass the written test administered by Public Safety Testing (PST) www.publicsafetytesting.com PRIOR to completing the City of Coeur d'Alene employment application.

We are collecting applications and PST scores and will hold oral board interviews this Fall for January 2027 POST Academy in Post Falls, ID.

Candidates who have taken and passed the Public Safety Testing, Inc. Police Officer written exam and have sent their scores to the City of Coeur d'Alene are invited to apply for the position of Entry-Level Police Officer. PST score must be less than six (6) months old.

A Police Officer performs law enforcement and crime prevention to further the criminal justice process by patrolling an assigned area to observe, monitor, and enforce a wide array of ordinances, laws, and statutes. Interacts with the general public on a regular basis to provide educational, investigative, and related police services with the goal of preventing crime, ensuring public safety, and developing positive police-citizen relationships. Officers may also be assigned to specialized law enforcement duties such as investigations, training, school resource officer, drug task force, code enforcement, firearm and range training, Traffic Unit, crowd control, SWAT Team or other assignment.
Current Entry-level Police Officer Recruit starting hourly wage while attending the POST Academy is $30.63 increasing to $32.15 after successfully completing the academy. Additional pay available for educational incentive, shift differential, holiday pay, etc.

Patrol Division personnel work 10-hour and 40-minute shifts in a 28-day work cycle, during which officers work five days and have four days off. Officers have five days off every third rotation. An excellent benefits package is available and membership in the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho (PERSI) and Social Security is required.

A Police Officer performs law enforcement and crime prevention to further the criminal justice process by patrolling an assigned area to observe, monitor, and enforce a wide array of ordinances, laws, and statutes. Interacts with the general public on a regular basis to provide educational, investigative, and related police services with the goal of preventing crime, ensuring public safety, and developing positive police-citizen relationships. Officers may also be assigned to specialized law enforcement duties such as investigations, training, school resource officer, drug task force, code enforcement, firearm and range training, Traffic Unit, crowd control, SWAT Team or other assignment. A Police Officer reports to a Police Sergeant or Lieutenant. Work is performed under minimal supervision and requires a high degree of independent discretion in decision making within established guidelines. Work is reviewed by inspection, oral and written reports, qualitative and quantitative evaluations for effectiveness, The position must enforce State and local laws, respond to calls for the protection of life and property, make arrests, prepare accurate reports, testify in court, and perform all work duties and activities in accordance with state and local policies, procedures, and safety practices. The Police Officer requires a High School Diploma or GED; Idaho POST Basic certification with preferred Intermediate certifications. Due to the confidential, sensitive nature of information handled, successful completion of a background investigation and polygraph is required. This position is required to carry firearms, perform emergency medical, and/or lifesaving activities. The work is accomplished in a field environment wherein the employee is subject to dangerous, potentially life-threatening events, and inclement weather. The job requires physical activities, long hours, and varied shifts.

(illustrative only and may vary by assignment)

• Patrols assigned areas of the City in a car, bicycle or on foot;
• Enforces State and local laws and ordinances;
• Maintains community presence and responds to calls for service and takes appropriate action;
• Responds to calls related to the protection of life and property, traffic incidents and other required emergencies;
• Determines existence of probable cause, identifies and takes suspects and offenders into physical custody;
• Prepares reports of arrests made, activities performed and unusual incidents observed;
• Conducts both preliminary and follow-up investigations of disturbances, criminal incidents, hazardous incident, vehicle accidents and deaths;
• Verbally interacts with witnesses and victims, suspects and offenders to obtain information;
• Conducts examinations of persons, vehicles, premises or areas to determine the presence of individuals or illegal activities or articles;
• Takes suspect or offender into custody and delivers them to appropriate confinement location, maintaining security and safety of individuals being moved from one location to another;
• Transfers or accepts custody of suspects or offenders and participates in completion of required jail intake procedures;
• Prepares cases for criminal prosecution;
• Researches information in order to contact suspects and witnesses;
• Investigates traffic accidents;
• Coordinates and conducts detailed investigations of violent crimes, child abuse, property crimes, vice, gaming and narcotics violations;
• Testifies and presents evidence in court;
• Provides backup assistance for other officers and personnel;
• Collects, preserves and maintains evidence, found property and other property for safekeeping;
• Initiates public service activities and responds to requests from person for information and assistance;
• Seeks to resolve disputes between family members and disputes between two or more persons;
• Controls small or large groups of people involved in potential or actual disturbance situations including civil disorders;
• Meets with citizen groups in programs directed toward understanding o