Police Officer

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.

• Candidates that are not currently eligible for licensing but expect to complete the MN POST exam by January 1, 2027, are encouraged to apply.

Minimum Qualifications of Education and Experience

• Associate’s Degree in Police Science, Law Enforcement or Criminal Justice from an accredited university, college, or vocational technical institute. (Must have completed a program requiring actual classroom instruction and training, excluding programs exclusively by correspondence, or such other education as may be considered equivalent.)
• Licensed by the Minnesota Police Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T) Board or be eligible to be licensed by the Minnesota P.O.S.T. Board by January 1, 2027.(both academic and skills training completed)
• Must possess a valid driver's license and be able to drive in the state of Minnesota.

What the City of Mankato offers

2026 SALARY SCHEDULE - Police Officers starting at Entry Wage Progression
Officers starting at Entry Wage will move to the next step upon successful completion of FTO during the next compensation increase cycle (March 1, July 1, November 1)
Police Officers who receive "meets expectations" during their annual performance evaluation will move to the 1 year step.

2026

Entry Wage

Upon FTO Completion Step

1 Year Step

Base Wage + 1.75% add to base for all hours worked in lieu of time and half for holiday pay
$39.01

$40.81

$42.70

2026 Full Salary Schedule
Police Officer wage rates include base wage + 1.75% add to base for all hours worked in lieu of time and half for holiday pay.

2026 Entry Upon FTO Completion 1 Year 2 Year 3 year 4 year 5 year 6 year Senior Step

Base Wage $38.34 $40.11 $41.97 $43.91 $45.84 $47.86 $49.84 $51.80 $53.35

Base Wage + 1.75% add to base for all hours worked in lieu of time and half for holiday pay
$39.01 $40.81 $42.70 $44.68 $46.64 $48.70 $50.71 $52.71 $54.28

Wellness and Growth Benefits

• Peer Support Program
• Comprehensive officer health and wellness resiliency program (Provicta)
• Physical, mental, nutritional, spiritual, and financial wellness
• Variety of 10-to-12-hour workdays (promote more days off)
• On-site workout facilities with on-duty use and/or 24-hour access.
• Continual training opportunities to develop successful officers.
• In-field, online, in-person, in-house, and external development opportunities

Specialized Unit Opportunities
Detective Division, Tactical Response Team, Police Training Officer, BCA ICAC Task Force, School Resource Officer, Auxiliary Units, Drug & Veterans Court, Toward Zero Deaths, Hostage Negotiator, Predatory Offender Monitoring Team, Drug Task Force
Instructor: Taser, Firearms, Defensive Driving, Field Force, Defensive Tactics, Integrated Communications and Tactics, PepperBall, Use of Force

If you have any questions about the application process, please email Melissa Weston, Human Resources Specialist at mweston@mankatomn.gov

If you have any questions about the roles of a Mankato Police Officer, please call or email Jeremy Clifton, Director of Public Safety, at 507-387-8782 or jclifton@mankatomn.gov

• The hiring process will include but is not limited to review of qualifications, departmental orientation, panel interviews, background check, fingerprinting, psychological evaluation, physical and drug screen.

Get to know our department! How Mankato Police Officers Impact their community:
Mankato Police Officers are progressive problem solvers who partner with the community to build trust and to help prevent crime from occurring. Police Officers serve as the primary arm to promote safety and to protect the public. The partnership between the Mankato police and community members is critical in helping to find solutions to solve community problems.

Learn more about Mankato Public Safety

Primary Essential Work 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 attorney