Police Officer (LATERAL)

*** This posting is for lateral applicants who have a minimum of two years of continuous experience without a break in service. This means you need to be currently employed as a police officer. OPOTA (or equivalent) Certified officers who are not employed as a police officer or candidates who need to complete an OPOTA academy are required to fill out the entry-level application located at ***

The Grandview Heights Division of Police is accepting applications for an eligibility list for the position of Police Officer. Eligibility Lists, upon approval of the Grandview Heights Civil Service Commission, are valid for a period of one (1) year.

The Grandview Heights Division of Police services the City of Grandview Heights and the Village of Marble Cliff and approximately 8,900 residents. Situated just west of downtown Columbus and THE Ohio State University, our growing community is home to multiple hotels, restaurants, mixed-use development, twenty parks, and is within walking distance to multiple professional sports stadiums and arenas. Authorized staffing is twenty-four (24) sworn law enforcement officers and nine (9) civilian staff and support members, including positions in Police Administration, Patrol, Investigations, Communications, Canine Handler, Bicycle Patrol, and Task Force Officer(s).

The Division recently transitioned to twelve-hour (12) shifts, guaranteeing members every other weekend off.

We are interested in dedicated candidates willing to work in a team environment and those who will create partnerships with the community to proactively preserve the peace, protect life and property, and safeguard the constitutional rights of all. All members must adhere to our Core Values of Professionalism, Respect, Courage, Integrity, and Accountability.

Lateral transfers with at least two years of continuous experience, without a break in service as a full-time police officer in Ohio, are highly encouraged to apply. Lateral applicants from other U.S. states are also eligible and encouraged to apply. Out-of-state applicants may require additional training. Lateral applicants are eligible for an advanced step starting salary and vacation benefits commensurate with the applicant’s continuous years of service with the agency by which they were employed immediately prior to being hired.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Operates a police vehicle in an assigned area of the City to maintain law and order
• Responds to calls for emergency
• Responds to citizen complaints
• Interview witnesses
• Appears in court
• Investigates criminal and traffic offenses
• Directs traffic
• Crowd control
• Delivers subpoenas
• Transports prisoners as directed
• Receives and dispatches radio messages
• Attends formal training classes and staff conferences
• Prepares daily reports of police matters encountered on his/her shift
• Prepares special reports as required
• Works irregular, on-call, and/or emergency hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Maintains licenses and certifications as required
• Demonstrates regular and predictable attendance
• Meets all job safety requirements and all applicable OSHA safety standards that pertain to essential functions

EQUIPMENT USED:

• Motor vehicle
• Police cruiser
• Bicycle
• Specialized law enforcement equipment
• Standard office equipment, such as computer, telephone, fax machine, duplicating equipment, two-way radio
• Police vehicle computer
• Service weapon

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

• The essential functions of this position require sufficient physical ability to work in a law enforcement setting and an office setting
• Ability to give chase by vehicle or on foot
• Ability to restrain or subdue individuals, or to engage in other routine peace-keeping functions
• Ability to walk, stand, sit, or run for prolonged periods of time
• Occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist
• Occasionally climb and balance
• Regularly push, pull, lift, and/or carry light to moderate weights in addition to weight of uniform, bulletproof vest, holster, service weapon, and other standard-issue equipment
• Occasionally lift and/or move moderate to heavy weights
• Requires a sense of touch, finger dexterity, and gripping with hands and fingers
• Ability to work in a range of weather conditions
• Ability to speak and hear to exchange information
• Ability to operate a vehicle to travel to various locations
• Ability to operate and use specialized law enforcement tools and equipment, including firearms
• Ability to hear and see in the normal range with or without correction
• Ability to deal calmly and rationally with high stress situations and threats to personal safety during periods of search and seizure and arrest
• May be exposed to toxic materials, bloodborne pathogens and other infectious environments
• Ability to respond appropriately to unruly or dangerous individuals, unsafe building sites, and incidents that may require a response to resistance up to and including the use of deadly force

Management reserves the right to modify the foregoing job parameters at any time.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent
• Ability to successfully complete prescribed police officer certification training and one year of work probation
• Participation in and selection through competitive examination process, as set forth in Civil Service Commission procedures
• Possession of a valid State of Ohio motor vehicle operator’s license at time of appointment
• Knowledge of operation of police equipment, including vehicles, computer equipment, and tools
• Weapons training and license/certifications

QUALIFICATIONS:

(* indicates developed after employment).

Knowledge of:

• Law enforcement theory, principles, and practices and their application to a wide variety of services and programs
• Operations, services, and activities of a municipal law enforcement program
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations, including laws governing search and seizure and the apprehension, arrest, and custody of persons accused of felonies, misdemeanors, and petty offenses
• Methods and techniques used in providing the full range of law enforcement and crime prevention services and activities, including investigation and identification, patrol, traffic control, records management, care and custody of persons and property
• Techniques and applications of self-defense and proper use of force
• The rules and regulations of the police organization

SKILL IN:

• Conducting criminal, traffic, and special investigations
• Interviewing witnesses, victims, or suspects
• Using a firearm and other modern police equipment
• Understanding, interpreting, applying, enforcing, and making decisions in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations
• Physical agility

ABILITY TO:

• Perform a wide range of law enforcement assignments
• Think clearly and act quickly in a variety of situations
• Operate specialized law enforcement equipment, including specialized police vehicles, radios, video systems, and radars
• Gather, assemble, analyze, evaluate, and use facts and evidence
• Analyze crime and service patterns to develop effective tactical responses
• Administer first aid
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with associates, City officials, and the general public
• Keen powers of observation
• Meet age requirements established by the Civil Service Commission
• Work on shift assignments
• Work outside during periods of inclement weather
• Write and speak effectively
• Maintain records and prepare reports

Salary Information (Shift Differential)

Effective 01/01/2026

• Cadet/Recruit: $ 69,036.94 - $70,571.09
• Starting Police Officer: $ 76,707.71
• After one year: $ 84,249.18
• After two years (Minimum starting salary for a qualified lateral applicant): $ 93,451.54
• After three years: $ 103,665.63
• After four years: $ 115,006.79
• After five years: $ 118,441.38

For more information regarding the examination process for Police Officer, please see the Civil Service Hiring Memorandum and the Physical Agility Test Study Guide.

Please upload a copy of your current OPOTA or law enforcement certificate from another state. Additionally, if requested, you will need to provide a completed Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ), a copy of your driver's license, birth certificate, college diploma (if applicable), and DD-214 (if applicable).

Contact Information: Email Sergeant Zac Scurlock at View email address on click.appcast.io

Special Requirements

• Age: 21 (not yet 36 years old) at the time of appointment. If currently serving as a full-time sworn police officer in the State of Ohio (or served as a full-time sworn police officer within 1 year prior to appointment), then current age shall be reduced by the number of years served as a full-time sworn officer in the State of Ohio.
• US Citizen: Yes or otherwise authorized to work in the United States
• High School Grad/GED: Yes
• Valid OHIO State Driver's License: Yes (or able to obtain a valid Ohio license by time of appointment)
• Ability to Read/Speak English: Yes
• Vision: Corrected to 20/20
• College: Not required
• Academy Certification: Yes
• Prior Experience: Yes
• Necessary Certifications: Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy certificate or equivalent certificate from another U.S. state is required.
• Schooling Prior and Post Hiring: OPOTA Certified or equivalent

Miscellaneous Information

The Grandview Heights Division of Police will conduct thorough background checks as part of its pre-employment process of any candidates whose competitive test scores result in them being named to the eligibility list. The background check will include but not be limited to a review of previous employment, a criminal background check including a truth verification examination, and driving history.