Police Officer- Lateral In-State and Police Officer - Lateral Out-of-State

Police Officer - Lateral

This recruitment will be used to establish eligible lists for Police Officer - Lateral In-State and Police Officer - Lateral Out-of-State. This is not for the Police Officer Recruit testing. The City of Mesa is excited to offer a hiring bonus for individuals hired as a Police Officer - Lateral (In State or Out of State). $2,500 will be paid after the successful completion of the lateral academy and $2,500 will be paid upon completion of the Field Training Program.

Lateral - Updated 2025 (Download PDF reader) Please review and print the Job Announcement document for additional information related to minimum qualifications, preferred qualifications, and requirements as well as testing and hiring process. You will be asked to complete a background questionnaire within two weeks if your application is selected to move forward in the recruitment/testing process.

A Police Officer performs general duty police work or specialized police work in the protection of life and property. In carrying out the responsibilities of an entry-level Arizona Peace Officer, a Mesa Police Department Police Officer: interacts with a culturally and socially diverse population; employs discretion in solving problems; maintains public order; prevents crime; enforces laws and ordinances; conducts investigations; makes arrests; issues summonses/citations and warnings; assists the public; and may perform administrative support tasks. This class is responsible for performing related duties as required. Work normally consists of routine patrol, preliminary investigations, and traffic control duties in a designated area on an assigned shift. The employee's primary responsibility is to respond to public safety calls for service. Incumbents may work on an assignment, which necessitates specialized abilities and knowledge usually attained through experience as a uniformed officer. Police Officers may be assigned to: assist in the training and evaluation of Police Officer - Recruits; perform traffic control and enforcement on a police motorcycle or bicycle; handle high-risk tactical operations or hostage situations; handle hazardous devices; work with specially trained K-9 police dogs; conduct crime scene investigations for the detection of latent impressions and other physical evidence; work in the Criminal Investigations Division to perform detailed follow-up investigations and prepare cases for prosecuting; perform specialized investigations in the area of organized crime and maintain complex criminal intelligence files; and conduct aerial surveillance on assignment as a helicopter observer/pilot. Work assignments are made by a Police Sergeant or other superior. Work methods are checked through personal inspections, review of reports, and discussions. Work requires occasional physical exertion under adverse circumstances. A Police Officer is subject to rotating shifts, weekend, and holiday work.

A Police Officer - Lateral is an experienced Arizona peace officer who is not required to attend the Mesa Police Academy and is assigned to a Field Training Officer upon hire. A Police Officer - Lateral must successfully complete the Field Training Officer program. The length of training will be dependent on an incumbent's performance as determined by the police training staff. This class is FLSA nonexempt.

A Police Officer - Lateral Out-of-State is an experienced peace officer who is hired at the Police Officer Recruit starting salary while studying for, and taking, the waiver exams for Arizona certification. Upon successful completion of the waiver exams, the position will be criteria-based promoted to the position of Police Officer - Lateral. Lateral hires are not required to attend the Mesa Police Department Academy. Upon promotion, Lateral Officers are assigned to field training officers, and must successfully complete the program.

Qualifications & Requirements

Employee Values: All employees of the City of Mesa are expected to uphold and exhibit the City's shared employee values of Knowledge, Respect, and Integrity. Minimum Qualifications Required - Police Officer - Lateral. Graduation from high school or GED. Applicant must have completed an AZ P.O.S.T. academy and must currently be, or has been, an AZPOST certified sworn peace officer in good standing. Tiered salary available based on sworn peace officer experience.

Minimum Qualifications Required - Police Officer - Lateral - Out-of-State. Graduation from high school or GED. Applicant must currently be, or has been, a certified sworn peace officer in good standing from another state, or federal agency. Applicant must have graduated from a state approved P.O.S.T. basic training academy and have at least one year of experience as a P.O.S.T. academy certified peace officer. Tiered salary available based on sworn peace officer experience.

Special Requirements. Because of the confidential, sensitive nature of information handled, successful completion of a background investigation and polygraph is required. Must meet the qualifications to wear a tight-fitting respirator by passing a medical evaluation in accordance with Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.134 by hire or promotion date and must maintain certification. Candidates given a conditional job offer will be required to pass a pre-employment medical physical, psychological test battery, and drug screening. Must possess a valid Class D Arizona Driver's License by hire date. Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Operation Assignment: Must possess a valid Arizona Class A CDL or Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) with no air brake restriction by assignment date. Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) is required for a CMV transporting certain types or quantities of hazardous materials (explosives, various types of gas, solids, flammable, and combustible liquid, etc.), requiring the completion of steps 1, 2 and 3 of the HME Threat Assessment (fingerprint based) through the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) by assignment date. CLP holders must successfully complete the City's Entry Level Driver (ELD) training program, including the HME portion, the Third-Party Examiner (TPE) administered skills (driving) test, and obtain an Arizona Class A CDL with HME within 150 days of assignment. This assignment is subject to annual queries of the FMCSA Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse as outlined in Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) 49 CFR Part 382.701. Substance Abuse Testing. Due to the safety and/or security sensitive nature of this classification, individuals shall be subject to pre-employment or pre-placement alcohol, drug and/or controlled substance testing as outlined in City policy and procedures. Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Operation Assignment: This class is subject to Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) drug and alcohol testing as outlined in 49 CFR Part 40 and Part 382 while assigned to CMV operation.