Police Careers & Opportunities

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• Newly hired officers will be assigned to the Patrol Division. The Patrol Division works a 12-hour schedule with four days on and four days off.  The standard work year is 2,184 hours. Two patrol platoons work rotating schedules, one works permanent day shifts and one works permanent night shifts.
• There is no prescribed residency requirement for Police Department employees. Officers are able to live within whatever commuting distance they find tolerable.
• Applicants do not need to be MN POST licensed to submit an employment application. An applicant must be eligible to be licensed as a police officer in Minnesota no later than 30 days after date of hire. 
• Applicants who are licensed as police officers in other states or who have served as military police for five years or more may be eligible to take the MN POST license reciprocity examination.
• We recommend that you check with the MN POST Board for details concerning license eligibility and reciprocity issues.

Police Agility Test

The Police Agility Test must be completed in four minutes or less. View information on the physical control machine/simulator used in the test. 

Cadets work part-time to assist with community and department needs such as assisting with traffic control, parking enforcement and community events (4th of July fireworks, Thursdays on 1st, Concert in the Park, Rochesterfest, and National Night Out), vehicle escorts, ride-alongs with Police Officers and Community Service Officers (CSOs), clerical duties as assigned, and community outreach programs.

For more information, email jthompson@rochestermn.gov.

The Community Service Officer (CSO) program offers part-time and full-time employment opportunities for those pursuing a career as a police officer. CSOs are civilian employees who respond to not in progress police calls along with a variety of other tasks. Some examples of their duties/responsibilities include handling non-emergency calls for service, enforcing parking regulations, interviewing victims and witnesses, collecting evidence from crime scenes, writing detailed police reports, providing traffic direction, and enforcement of ordinances. Applicants must be enrolled in a law enforcement program or actively working towards becoming eligible to be licensed as a police officer, must possess a high school diploma or equivalent GED, possess a valid driver’s license, and pass a thorough background investigation prior to being hired.

Interns must be at least 18 years old and enrolled in a four-year BA/BS program where an internship is required for their degree. Interns often observe law enforcement professionals in day-to-day activities, participate in training exercises, interact with community members and law enforcement professionals, and perform other duties as assigned or necessary. Applications for summer internships are accepted in November/December the previous year. To be notified when internships are posted, complete a job opportunity notification form and check the law enforcement box.

For more information, email jthompson@rochestermn.gov.

The Rochester Police Department's Junior Cadet Program provides young people with the opportunity to explore careers in law enforcement and other criminal justice professions.

The program is open to individuals ages 14-20 and participation may continue until a cadet's 21st birthday. Meetings and training are held primarily during the school year, from September through April.

Junior Cadets gain firsthand experience in policing through:

• Community events
• Ride-alongs
• Hands-on training activities
• Skills competitions

Applicants must complete an application and complete an oral interview.

For more information or to apply, contact the head unit advisor:

Officer Robert Turner

Email: rturner@rochestermn.gov

Phone: 507-722-5926

History of Public Safety Cadets (PSC)

Public Safety Cadets (PSC) was formed in 2018 in Fairfax County, Virginia by current and retired law enforcement officers and other public safety professionals. The purpose of PSC, which Rochester Police Department refers to as "Junior Cadets," is to provide practical education, training, and character-building for careers in law enforcement and public safety.

RPD's Junior Cadet Unit 0012 is in honor of RPD Officer Floyd Haley's badge number. Officer Haley was killed in the line of duty in 1967 when he interrupted a burglary.

The Rochester Police Department is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. View our department's Equal Employment Opportunity Short Form.

For questions about initial training, work schedules, specialty assignments, etc., please contact the Police Department Staff Development Unit:

• Phone: (507) 328-6896
• Email: rpdjobs@rochestermn.gov

For questions regarding the application process, employee benefits, hiring schedules, etc., please contact our Human Resources Department:

• Phone: (507) 328-2311
• Email: humanresources@rochestermn.gov