Police Officer – Lateral and Recruit (open until filled)

Police Officer Lateral/Recruit DEPARTMENT POLICE DEPARTMENT SALARY $35.95 - $41.93 PER HOUR FLSA NON-EXEMPT CIVIL SERVICE INCLUDED BARGAINING UNIT WATERLOO POLICE PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION APPLICANT INSTRUCTIONS: • Submit resume at cityofwaterlooiowa.com by clicking on Career Opportunities • Review the Police Officer Lateral/Recruit descriptions and follow directions to upload your resume (mandatory) and cover letter (optional). • We do not accept mailed, faxed, hand-delivered, or emailed resumes to any other email addresses. • Do not submit a resume/cv directly to the Waterloo Police Department – it will not be processed. • We WILL NOT process the resume/application of any candidate who failed ANY portion of a background investigation within three years from the date of rejection. APPLICANT INCENTIVES: • Lateral Police Officers: • Starting Pay: Salary --$35.95/hr. - $41.93/hr. (to increase 07/01/2026) • ALL Certified Police Officers receive credit for up to five (5) years of service as a certified police/peace officer; this results in a placement within the salary steps/schedule commensurate with approved years of service from $35.95/hr. - $41.93/hr. • Certified Iowa Peace Officers receive a $5,000.00 bonus in two (2) payments of $2,500.00. • 1st disbursement paid after only 30 days of employment. • 2nd disbursement paid upon completion of Field Training Program (FTO) and assignment to solo patrol. • The Waterloo Police Department will pay off pending law enforcement contracts from within the state of Iowa-up to $8,000.00. The contract payoff is: • • Awarded upon successful completion of the FTO Program and assignment to solo patrol. • Made on behalf of the officer to another agency to fulfill prior contract terms. • Officers with up to two (2) years or more experience receive: • • • Forty (40) hours of vacation credit after successfully completing the FTO Program • Automatically increases to 112 hours of vacation credit upon one (1) year of service. • Officers with more two (2) or more years of experience receive: • Eighty (80) hours of vacation credit after successfully completing the FTO Program. • Automatically increases to 160 hours of vacation credit after one year of service • Eighty (80) hours of sick leave credit upon hire. • Any applicant possessing current certification in the State of Iowa is exempt from the WPD physical fitness test and written examinations as long as the applicant is currently employed as a law enforcement officer in the State of Iowa or has not been employed as a law enforcement officer in the State of Iowa for no longer than six months. • All applicants must participate in the oral interview portion of the testing. • Applicants are eligible for discounted college tuition via membership to the Fraternal Order of Police. • This program is offered through a third party, Fraternal Order of Police. Officer must be a member of the Fraternal Order of Police. This program can be altered or canceled at their discretion. • Non-Certified Applicants: • Starting Pay: Salary --$35.95/hr. ($74,776/yr.) (to increase 07/01/2026) • Anyone hired by the Waterloo Police Department that qualifies and graduates from the abbreviated Iowa Law Enforcement Academy-New Officer Basic Level II Certification will be eligible to receive a one-time bonus of $4000.00. • A one-time bonus will be paid upon successful completion of the FTO Program and graduation from the Academy. • Applicants are eligible for discounted college tuition via membership to the Fraternal Order of Police. • This program is offered through a third party, Fraternal Order of Police. Officer must be a member of the Fraternal Order of Police. This program can be altered or canceled at their discretion. • All Applicants: • Any recipients (LATERAL OR NON-CERTIFIED) of bonus payments listed above in section 1. or section 2. will be required to enter into an agreement to reimburse the Waterloo Police Department upon voluntarily resignation within four (4) years of hire. The repayment schedule will be pro-rated as follows: • • • If the Officer resigns less than one year after hire, one hundred (100%) percent. • If the Officer resigns with between one and two years of tenure, seventy-five (75%) percent. • If the Officer resigns with between two and three years of tenure, fifty (50%) percent. • If the Officer resigns with between three and four years of tenure, twenty-five (25%) percent. GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES • This is an entry level position responsible for protection of life and property, prevention of crime through patrol and/or directed activities, enforcement of state and local laws and ordinances relating to criminal and traffic violations, and providing solutions to crime through preliminary investigation, identification, apprehension and conviction of criminals; other duties as assigned. The work in this job category: • Is under the general direction of a Police Sergeant • Requires critical decision-making, and • The exercise of independent judgment and initiative. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS • Must be 20 years of age at the date of application deadline. • Uncorrected vision not less than 20/100 in both eyes, corrected to 20/20, and color vision consistent with the occupational demands of law enforcement as verified as part of a post job-offer physical examination. (Applicant will operate emergency/police vehicles in a variety of weather conditions and at night, must be able to identify suspects accurately, must be able to move quickly and safely to apprehend suspects, or respond to and report on traffic accidents, perform traffic control and watch duties. Applicant must be able to identify suspect clothing and vehicles, see and respond to traffic lights whether or not on a call or in vehicle pursuit) • Normal hearing in each ear as verified as part of a post job-offer physical examination. Hearing aids are acceptable if a candidate can demonstrate sufficient hearing proficiency to perform all necessary duties of a la