Police Officer

SERVE AND PROTECT IN A TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY

Join our team to become a part of an agency that believes in collaboration. Serve and protect in some of Colorado's most beautiful mountain towns, surrounded by world-class skiing, mountain biking, fishing, and 600 miles of trails.

Nestled on the western slope of the Continental Divide, Winter Park offers small-town living with the metro amenities of Denver just 70 miles away. This authentic, active mountain town offers year-round recreation and community activities, from hiking to rafting to live concerts.

With 1,200 year-round residents and up to 25,000 visitors on peak weekends, our officers have a visible, trusted role in protecting fellow community members and enhancing the guest experience.

Live where you work. The Town of Winter Park offers high-quality affordable housing in prime locations.

MISSION-DRIVEN DEPARTMENT

• Mission: Serving others to make a difference.
• Vision: We will serve as an example of excellence in promoting trust and mutual respect with our employees, our citizens, and the community. We will endeavor to work together to develop partnerships in order to solve problems, reduce crime, and make the towns of Fraser and Winter Park a better place to work, live, and visit.
• Core Values: Because our actions can impact an individual for life, and even a community for generations, we have adopted these core values individually and as an organization: integrity, courage, loyalty, service, justice, respect, and pride.

BENEFITS AND ADVANTAGES

The Town of Winter Park offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, financial security, and overall well-being. For medical, dental, and vision coverage, the Town covers 90% of the premium for employee-only coverage, with employees contributing just 10%, which comes to $52.49 per paycheck in 2025. For coverage that includes a spouse and/or dependents, the Town pays 75% of the premium, and employees contribute 25%. The Town's Cigna medical plan includes a low $1,000 in-network annual deductible, helping employees access care affordably while minimizing out-of-pocket costs.

Retirement benefits are robust: the Town is exempt from Social Security and instead offers a 401(a) plan through Mission Square Retirement, where both the Town and employee contribute 7.65% of pay pre-tax, totaling 15.3% annually toward retirement savings. Employees may also participate in an optional 457 deferred compensation plan, with a Town match up to 4% of salary. Employees who contribute the full matchable amounts to both plans receive a total of 23.3% of their salary in retirement contributions when including Town matches, with the option to save even more.

The Town also offers generous paid time off, with 144 hours (18 days) accrued in your first year and 11 paid holidays annually. Employees receive a $50,000 life insurance policy at no cost, with the option to purchase additional voluntary life insurance for themselves and eligible dependents. Other benefits include employer-paid short-term disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, a $500 wellness bonus, and access to a comprehensive employee assistance program with up to six free counseling sessions annually. Town staff enjoy access to shared Grand Passes, which offer skiing and activity access at Winter Park Resort and other local attractions, as well as monthly employee events that foster connection and community.

WORKING HERE

Whether you have decades of law enforcement experience or none, you can build a meaningful career here. Gain experience in patrol, investigations, and collaborating with other agencies to support search and rescue efforts, ski accident investigations, wildfire response, and more. New to law enforcement or looking to advance in your career? We cover police academy costs and provide training as you pursue your interests.

Serve with community policing at the center of everything you do. When you work in smaller towns, you'll quickly see the impact of your service as you build real connections with residents, business owners, and visitors. In and out of uniform, you'll be part of the community.

What You'll Do

• Patrol Winter Park and Fraser to keep neighborhoods, businesses, and people safe.
• Enforce traffic and parking laws and inspect roadways, bridges, and traffic signals for safety concerns.
• Perform security checks on businesses and homes.
• Report unsecured buildings, homes, vehicles, or equipment to ensure resident and employee safety and well-being.
• Respond to calls for assistance, disturbance calls, and complaints; enforce laws by performing arrests; use de-escalation and physical force when necessary; protect the civil rights of people in custody.
• Investigate traffic accidents by establishing the point of impact, interviewing witnesses, and handling evidence; detect drunk drivers and perform sobriety evaluations; book suspects.
• Secure and protect crime scenes by establishing boundaries, detaining victims, suspects, and witnesses; locating and identifying evidence; and briefing supervisors and investigators.
• Serve as first responder for traffic and other accidents and assist fire and emergency medical services personnel.
• Prepare and maintain records and reports according to departmental and legal policies and procedures. Prepare and file thorough written case reports.
• Give advice on laws, ordinances, and other inquiries to the public. Offer advice on domestic disturbances and help people in need.
• Maintain uniform, vehicle, and equipment according to policy and procedures.
• Present evidence and testimony in courts of law and help prosecute felony and misdemeanor cases.
• Help stranded motorists, direct traffic, escort special processions, and transport prisoners.
• Participate in training programs.
• Engage with others through community relations projects.
• Serve and execute criminal and traffic warrants on felony and misdemeanor suspects.
• Perform other related work as required.

ABOUT YOU

You know or can learn:

• Federal, state, and local laws and legal procedures.
• Department rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Law enforcement investigation methods, procedures, and techniques, and how to apply them to specific situations.
• Modern criminal investigation methods and practices, including identifying, gathering, and preserving evidence.
• Town geography, including where important buildings and areas are.

You're able to:

• Interact courteously and fairly with the public.
• Take quick, effective, and reasonable actions that account for situational hazards and circumstances.
• Write clear and comprehensive reports.
• Operate a law enforcement vehicle day and night, in emergency situations involving speeds above posted limits, in congested traffic, and in unsafe road conditions such as fog, smoke, rain, ice, and snow.
• Get information through interviews, interrogations, and observation.
• React quickly and calmly when there's an emergency.
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with colleagues, elected officials, and the public.
• Drive vehicles and equipment safely and efficiently.
• Pass semi-annual firearms assessments.
• Work routinely under highly stressful conditions, including life-threatening situations.

SUPERVISION

This position has no supervisory or management responsibility. A Police Sergeant or Commander reviews assignments and gives specific instructions and assistance when guidance or patrol backup is needed. Experienced officers may serve as a field training officer for new recruits.

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• High School Diploma or GED required

Experience:

• No law enforcement experience required. Build your career within our department while living and working in a beautiful mountain community.

Certification:

• Colorado POST Basic Certificate (a Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training Act requirement)

General:

• Valid State Driver's License (noncommercial Class C)
• Satisfactory Motor Vehicle Record (MVR)
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may be acceptable

Background Check:

• All applicants will be required to undergo an extensive background check prior to employment. Applicants who have been convicted of a felony or certain misdemeanors will not be considered.

GUIDELINES AND SCOPE OF THIS POSITION

All federal, state, and local laws apply to this position. Work requires discretion and judgment in interpreting Town policies, laws, and ordinances and analysis and judgment in accomplishing diversified duties. The work requires independent thinking within the limits of guidelines, policies, standards, and precedents.
The purpose of this position is to enforce state laws and Town ordinances, perform law enforcement duties, and to assist the public and other officers during emergency and non-emergency situations.

INTERACTIONS

General Public, Coworkers, Law Enforcement Officers, Government Officials. Resolve problems, conduct investigations, negotiate.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

This position requires various physical capabilities including running, ability to work outside, and the ability to lift over 100 pounds. A full list of physical requirements is available upon request.

JOIN OUR DEPARTMENT

You won't just be enforcing laws. You're making a real difference in people's lives. Serve in a department that lives its values while you establish professional and personal roots in an outdoors-oriented, close-knit community.

Ready to serve and thrive? Apply today!