The posting
The City of Lakewood is dedicated to upholding City values to include: Performance Excellence, Leadership, Respect and Collaboration. Best fit candidates will demonstrate innovation, customer service, dedication, passion and engagement. All people, citizens and employees, will be treated with respect, relevance, and importance.
This recruitment process is for Lateral Agents/Police Officers only.
A Recruit Academy process is anticipated to open winter of 2026/2027. If you do not meet the qualifications for a Lateral Agent/Police Officer, please refrain from submitting an application until the July 2027 Academy job posting is available. Unqualified applications submitted in the Police Agent Lateral job posting will not be considered.
SALARY RANGE (LATERAL AGENTS ONLY)
$104,638.77 – $123,191.63 annually
- 3 Years: $104,638.77 (Lateral Starting Salary – 3 years of patrol experience)
- 4 Years: $111,649.57 (Lateral with 4 years of patrol experience)
- 5 Years: $123,191.63 (Lateral with 5 years of patrol experience)
The City of Lakewood is seeking experienced, currently or previously certified law enforcement officers for lateral Police Agent positions as they occur.
A lateral Police Agent performs full law enforcement duties including emergency response, criminal investigations, enforcement of laws, report writing, and community engagement.
This position is designed for experienced police officers and does not include entry-level (recruit) hiring or academy sponsorship.
Training for lateral hires is tailored based on prior experience and certification status and includes a department-specific academy/skills program and field training.
MINIMUM HIRING REQUIREMENTS
- Minimum age 21
- Bachelor’s degree required
- Valid driver’s license
- Must meet POST standards
- No felony convictions
- Current and active peace officer certification (Colorado or another state), or previously certified and eligible for Colorado POST certification (reciprocity, provisional, refresher, or test-out process)
- Minimum of three (3) years of full-time patrol experience with a state, county, or municipal law enforcement agency operating in an environment like that of a mid-sized urban or suburban community.
- Must not be under an active Internal Affairs investigation that could result in discipline
SELECTION PROCESS (LATERAL ONLY)
- Structured Oral Board Interview
- Essential Functions (Physical Test)
- Background Investigation/Polygraph
- Psychological/Job Suitability
- Medical Examination and Drug Screening
- Additional assessments as required
JOB SUMMARY:
Performs Police Officer duties, including but not limited to communicating information, dealing with critical and dangerous situations, safely driving in routine and emergency situations, effecting arrests, transporting arrestees, gathering information from victims, witnesses and suspects, handling firearms with proficiency and safety, working a rotating shift.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Communicating Through Radio (Duties Include): Comprehending radio transmissions being received over multiple law enforcement radio channels. Communicating information effectively while transmitting on the radio.
Dealing with High Pressure and Potentially Dangerous Situations (Duties Include): Recognizing situations of potential danger to police personnel, citizens, traffic and surrounding property. Exercising sound judgement in dealing with critical situations. Maintaining calm in high pressure or dangerous situations.
Detecting and Collecting Evidence (Duties Include): Providing a basis for probable cause that a crime has been committed and indicates who committed it.
Driving (Duties Include): Operating a law enforcement vehicle safely in non-emergency (routine) and emergency situations. Responding to the radio-mike while performing multiple functions including; floor pedals, gearshift, steering wheel and the radio (during both daylight and dark hours); in excess of posted speed limits; in congested traffic conditions; in unsafe road conditions caused by such factors as rain, ice, snow, fog, smoke, etc.
Effecting Arrests (Duties Include): Determining if probable cause exists for arrest. Effecting arrests using the techniques and equipment appropriate to meet the resistance presented by suspects. Taking photographs of and obtaining fingerprints from arrested suspects. Transporting arrestees and mental subjects using appropriate force and restraint.
Handling Abuse (Duties Include): Both verbal and physical when dealing with hostile suspects and others encountered in antagonistic environments.
Information Gathering and Disseminating (Duties Include): Effectively communicating with people of all ages from diverse economic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds while providing information and directions, mediating disputes, advising of rights and legal processes and testifying in judicial setting. Using proper phone procedures. Gathering information by interviewing victims, witnesses and suspects.
Performing Patrol Functions (Duties Include): Working rotating shifts. Walking on foot patrol. Checking doors and windows for security. Performing First Aid/CPR functions at accident and disaster scenes. Removing injured people from dangerous situations by lifting, dragging, or carrying them. Directing traffic. Safely conduct traffic stops on traffic violators. Controlling crowds. Recognizing potentially dangerous situations and evacuating people from affected area. Stopping and detaining suspicious vehicles and persons. Performing searches of people, vehicles, buildings and outdoor areas.
Reporting/Form Completion (Duties Include): Selecting and utilizing appropriate report forms. Using appropriate grammar and construction in the thorough preparation of investigative reports, summonses, affidavits, warrants and other required forms.
Utilizing Firearms (Duties Include): Loading, unloading, aiming and firing handguns from a variety of positions at levels of proficiency and safety prescribed by qualification standards.
NOTE: A Police Agent should maintain a level of physical fitness to be able to safely perform all duties, especially those requiring maximum levels of exertion, e.g., arrest control, suspect chase.
IMPORTANT JOB FUNCTIONS Crawling (Examples Include): To crawl in confined areas, window, during car search on a rare basis.
ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS Supervision Received
Supervision Given
Licensure/Registration/Certification
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS Education A bachelor’s degree in any discipline from an accredited institution of higher learning or from an accredited program. The accreditation must be recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. Degrees from foreign universities will be professionally assessed.
Very Heavy Work: Exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects
PHYSICAL DEMAND Bend or position self to move items from higher place to lower place or vice versa Lift, carry, push, pull, move, or position from all levels up to 50 lbs. Lift, carry, push, pull, move, or position from all levels over 51 lbs. with assistance Sit, stand or be stationary Stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb, balance, turn or twist all of which may include awkward positions on both even and uneven terrain Talk, hear, converse, communicate, or exchange information Use of hands and/or fingers in a repetitive motion to handle, pinch, reach, grasp, move, feel, and inspect, etc. Vision to include; distance, depth perception, peripheral and color Walk, ascend or descend on both even and uneven terrain
Environmental Conditions may include Confined spaces Extreme cold or heat Frequent vibrations due to equipment use Fumes or airborne particles Moderate to extremely loud noise environment Outdoor weather conditions Toxic or caustic chemicals Wet or humid conditions Work in high, precarious places
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
• Lift items weighing approximately 25-34 pounds. A typical gear bag weighed at 11 to 24 pounds, the briefcase 16 to 36 pounds. This is a combined weight of 27 to 60 pounds. Lifting these items is required from floor level or from below the knee on an occasional basis. Lift from equipment weighing from 2 to 34 pounds from knee through chest level. Lift and drag a person (100 pounds or more, from knee through chest level. Lift above shoulder level on an occasional basis weighing up to 10 pounds. Motorcycle traffic patrol Agents must be able to pick up a motorcycle from the ground that weighs approximately 620 pounds.
• Forces will vary from light to heavy (greater than 45 pounds of horizontal force). Pushing occurs on a frequent basis. On occasion, must push an automobile.
• To carry items (as noted in Lifting), 250 feet to 1500 feet. Required Frequently to carry or maneuver up to 75 pounds for weighing over 100 pounds on an occasional basis
• Hearing & Vision Test
Pay Range
$0.00-$0.00
Background and reference checks will be conducted for all regular and some variable/seasonal positions.
