Police Officer - Lateral

Lateral Police Officers

Apply today to grow your career with the City of Rochester. Lateral candidates are experienced law enforcement officers who have enough full-time experience as a police officer, sheriff's deputy, state trooper, or in a comparable sworn law enforcement position and may be eligible to complete an expedited Rochester Police Department training program. Eligibility for lateral entry will be determined by the Rochester Police Department based on the candidate's prior law enforcement experience, training, job knowledge, and demonstrated skills. Starting salary for lateral officers will be determined based on relevant experience, job knowledge, and level of skill. We look forward to your application!

Remember to include both a cover letter and a resume.

Rochester Police Department believes that partnership and collaboration are essential to achieving trust and legitimacy within our community. We focus on the overall wellbeing and safety of our officers. We train and educate officers, giving them the tools they need to do their job safely. We encourage and aid them in achieving their career goals and interests. We champion officer wellness, and offer resources and opportunities to strengthen physical, spiritual and emotional health.

Our core values of integrity, service, compassion, respect, and innovation serve as a guide.

Lateral Officer Hiring Timeline

• Lateral Officers will be hired fall/winter 2026
• Individuals applying and not eligible for lateral hire will have their applications held until early 2027 when applications reopen.

Work Schedule - Initial training will be Monday through Friday from approximately 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. This training will be designed to satisfy POST board requirements and to ensure readiness for police patrol operations. Once the initial training is completed, lateral officers will be assigned to a patrol shift to complete field training. Patrol shifts will be assigned according to departmental needs which may be day, evening, or overnight 12 hours shifts.

Pay - The 2026 wage range is $40.52 to $56.17 per hour.

Benefits - This position is eligible for benefits offered by the City of Rochester. Please check out the benefits tab at the top of the page for more details.

Applications will close on September 2, 2026, at 11:59 PM.

The City of Rochester will not sponsor or transfer visas for this position including F1 OPT STEM.

Duties and Responsibilities

Rochester Police Officers:

• Embrace community policing as a philosophy and demonstrate these principles as part of their organizational culture.
• Are committed to providing fair and impartial law enforcement services.
• Treat people with dignity and respect.
• Remain neutral and transparent in their decision-making, and give individuals a voice through their interaction and engagement with the community.
• Strive to reduce crime and do their part to foster a safe and welcoming place to live, work and visit.
• Pledge to preserve peace, deliver emergency services, protect life and property, and enforce laws and ordinances.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must:

• Complete their application online and include both a cover letter and a resume.
• Possess a valid Minnesota Peace Officer license or be eligible to be MN POST licensed by their start/hire date
• Possess a valid driver's license
• Have prior experience as a licensed Minnesota police officer or qualify for reciprocity under MN POST rules with experience as a police officer in another state.

Core Values

Integrity, Service, Compassion, Respect, Innovation

Integrity: We will conduct ourselves with the highest level of integrity which merits the trust of the people we serve. We will strive for honesty and transparency. Our actions will be consistent with our core values, code of ethics and the Constitution. We will maintain our commitment by having respect for the law in both our personal and professional lives.

Respect: We will treat everyone with fairness and impartiality. We are committed to respecting individual rights, human dignity and the value of all members both in the community and within our department. We will cherish, defend and protect the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution. By demonstrating respect for others we will earn respect.

Service: We are dedicated to delivering the highest quality of service to safeguard lives and property, reduce crime and enhance the quality of life of the first class community we serve. We value proactive problem solving and enforcement in order to reduce crime and the fear of crime. We will engage with the community to build relationships and work together to resolve problems. We will be responsive to the needs of those we serve as we provide exceptional safety and security to our diverse community.

Compassion: Compassionate service is essential to human relationships and indispensable to the foundation of a just and peaceful community. We will show concern and empathy for the victims of crime and treat violators of the law with fairness and dignity. We will exercise our law enforcement authority with diligence, empathy and compassion as entrusted to us by the community we serve.

Innovation: We recognize that improvement is a continuous process. We support creativity and proactively seek opportunities to improve our level of service. We encourage new and more effective ideas that support the fulfillment of our mission. We will seek out and apply innovative approaches in providing the best service to our customers. Through continuous improvement, teamwork, and innovation we will strive for personal, professional and organizational excellence.