Police Officer - Lateral

Salary: $40.98 - $54.50 Hourly
Location : Police Department, Hastings, MN
Job Type: Full Time, Regular
Job Number: 2026-12
Department: Police
Opening Date: 02/23/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: LELS


Description
Summary

Police Officers perform law enforcement duties involving the protection of life and property, including, but not limited to, the prevention and control of crime, preservation of peace, regulation of traffic, provision of emergency services, crisis intervention, building community trust, and other related duties.
Lateral Transfers hires will receive -

• A current licensed peace officer with at least one year of full-time experience may laterally transfer and start at the wage step, commensurate with verified patrol experience, as defined in the collective bargaining agreement.
• All new lateral hires shall receive a bank of 24 hours of sick time and 24 hours of vacation time at the time of hire.
• All new lateral hires shall accrue vacation commensurate with verified patrol experience. Vacation carry-over maximums shall reflect verified patrol experience.

Posting will be open until filled

Priority review deadline is March 8, 2026

Learn how to become an officer in Minnesota

Examples of Duties
Essential Duties & Responsibilities

These examples of responsibilities are intended only as an illustration of the various types of work performed and are not meant to be inclusive. The position description is subject to change as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

• Perform security patrols, traffic control, and investigation and show basic first aid knowledge in medical emergencies; detection, investigation, and arrest of persons involved in crimes or misconduct.
• Work an assigned shift with minimal supervision, using own judgment in deciding a course of action, being expected to handle difficult and emergency situations without assistance.
• Maintain normal availability by radio or telephone for consultation on major emergencies or incidents.
• Carry out duties in conformance with federal, state, county, and city laws and ordinances.
• Interrogate suspects, witnesses, and drivers. Preserve evidence.
• Conduct follow-up investigations of crimes. Prepares cases for testimony and testifies in court proceedings.
• Prepare a variety of reports.
• Undertake community-oriented police work, and assists citizens with crime prevention.
• Coordinate activities with other officers or other City departments as needed, exchange information with officers in other law enforcement agencies, and obtains advice from the City Attorney or County Attorney's office regarding cases, policies, and procedures, as needed and assigned.
• Maintain thorough knowledge of state and federal laws, city ordinances, and related rules of arrest and search or seizure to ensure legally-accepted procedures are consistently followed.
• Communicate effectively in making oral or written reports.
• Develop, maintain, and promote a cooperative work environment with coworkers in the office and while on patrol duty.
• Maintain departmental equipment, supplies, and facilities.
• Respond to emergency and non-emergency calls for service and assistance
• Perform such other duties as assigned and assume such other responsibilities as needed to carry out the essential job functions.
• Complete all POST-mandated continuing education courses (i.e. Crisis Intervention Training, Implicit Bias, Autism, De-Escalation, Use of Force).

May be temporarily assigned by the Chief to one of the following roles:

• Investigator
  • Analyze crime trends or patterns or repetitive crimes. Ability to deal with people in stressful situations and to elicit reliable information to solve complex crimes.
  • Draft and execute search warrants, compose and broadcast informational alerts to other agencies (perhaps covered under the general duties of officers to exchange information with other LE agencies), conduct photo lineups, gather intelligence, and respond to process crime scenes.

• School Resource Officer
  • Ability to work in the Hastings Schools and deal with children effectively. Speak to groups and present training material. Recognize factors that cause or contribute to delinquent behavior and use non-traditional means to respond.
  • Responsible for most juvenile-related investigations.

• Dakota County Drug Task Force (DCDTF)
  • Ability to assume roles or act as another person. Ability to work flexible and varied shifts. Conduct undercover narcotics investigations.
  • Maintains constant availability by work phone whether on-duty or off-duty.
  • Conduct complex and long-term investigations into high-level drug trafficking organizations as well as investigations involving violent criminals.
• South Metro SWAT
  • Provide effective and efficient response to emergency situations by applying and leveraging the collective resources of 10 agencies in Dakota County.

• K9 Officer
  • Work with canine partners handling 911 calls, participating in requested canine details, completing required ongoing training, and assisting other agencies when requested by those agencies.

• Community Engagement Officer
  • Ability to perform community policing strategies that strengthen partnerships for safe communities and enhance law enforcement's ability to prevent and solve crimes.

Typical Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications

• Associate's degree in law enforcement from an accredited college.
• Non-probationary status at the time of application.
• Licensed by the Minnesota Peace Officers Standards and Training Board as a full-time peace officer at the time of hire.
• Ability to meet the department's physical requirements so as to safely and effectively perform essential job functions.

Preferrred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in law enforcement from an accredited college.

Supplemental Information
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to make decisions with limited information; to take command of a critical or emergency situation; to remain composed under stress; and to avoid inappropriate risks.
• Knowledge of police policy and procedures to include rules of evidence, arrest, search, and seizure to assure admissibility of evidence in court and to assure approved procedures are followed.
• Knowledge of state and federal constitutional law, state statutes, and city ordinances, and a knowledge of the function and jurisdictions of various state, county, and federal law enforcement agencies.
• Ability to deal effectively, courteously, and in a businesslike manner with offenders, suspects, members of the public, co-workers, and supervisors; ability to present a positive image to the public; ability to maintain and establish effective working relationships with supervisors, coworkers and members of the public.
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions and to prepare appropriate reports on work performed.
• Ability to work independently, with limited supervision and direction.
• Ability to use firearms, radios, radar, and other types of police equipment available throughout the department in a safe and proficient manner.
• Knowledge of computers and hardware as they relate to the production of reports and utilizing programs in squad cars when required.
• Demonstrates by example the desired standard of the department for personal appearance and conduct.
• Ability to multitask and communicate effectively with others.
• Ability to collect physical evidence and digital evidence during the course of an investigation.
• Ability to operate patrol vehicles in a safe manner for Emergency and non-emergency type situations.
• Ability to perform basic life-saving measures, apply Narcan when needed, and communicate with medical staff on scene.
• Effectively testify in court for criminal investigations.
• Proficiency in Excel, Word, Outlook, and Acrobat
• Ability to communicate well with diverse ethnic and socioeconomic groups in a wide variety of situations.

Health Benefits
Medical Insurance - Medica
We offer three plans: $4,500 HSA on the Passport Network or $3,400 HSA on the Elect Network
Single, Employee plus spouse, Employee plus child(ren), and Family coverage options are available.

• For single coverage, the City pays 100% of the premium
• For dependent coverage, the City pays 65% of the premium
• For family coverage, the City pays 70% of the premium

The City of Hastings provides contributions to either an employee's HSA or VEBA.
Long-Term Disability - Lincoln Financial

• The City pays for long-term disability for employees.

Supplemental Group Plans - MetLife

• Group Accident, Hospital, and Critical Illness plans available.
• Employee pays for the plan premium.

Dental Insurance - MetLife

• Single, Employee + Spouse, Employee + Child(ren), and Family coverage options available.
• Employee pays for the plan premium.

Vision Insurance - VSP

• Single, Employee + Spouse, Employee + Child(ren), and Family coverage options available.
• Employee pays for the plan premium.

Life Insurance - The Standard

• The City pays for $50,000 in Basic Life insurance and AD&D.
• Supplemental Life Insurance is available for the employee, their spouse, and dependent(s).

Paid Time Off
Vacation
Sick Leave
Holidays and Floating Holidays
MN Paid Family and Medical Leave

Retirement Benefits

Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA):

Membership in PERA is automatic for non-elected public employees who meet minimum salary and position eligibility requirements set by Minnesota statute. Both the employee and the City contribute to the employee's PERA benefit.


MissionSquare:
457 Deferred Compensation
IRA

Minnesota State Retirement System:
Minnesota Deferred Compensation Plan (MNDCP)


Employee Health and Wellness
Vital WorkLife: Our employee assistance program, this plan includes:
• Unlimited phone consultation
• Face-to-face counseling
• Nurse Peer Coaching
• Educator Peer Coaching
• Legal services
• Financial Services
• Identity theft prevention & support
• Member website
Committees: Employee Advisory Committee, Safety Committee, Wellness and Recognition Committee, Tech Champs.


Medica and SCSC Wellness Programs:
Virtual Care
My Health Rewards - Personify Health
MOBE
Omada
Omada for Joint & Muscle
Ovia Health
PerkSpot
Live and Work Well
Medica CallLink


YMCA Corporate Wellness Program
01


Are you applying Veterans Preference points? If yes, please attach your DD214 and any other relevant information to your application.

• No
• Veteran
• Disabled Veteran
• Spouse of Disabled Veteran
• Widow of Deceased Veteran
• Widow of Deceased Veteran who was disabled at time of death

02


Do you have your MN POST Board license? If not, please indicate when you will be obtaining it.

• No
• Yes

Required Question