Police Officer

Salary : $75,524.80 - $94,016.00 Annually
Location : River Falls Police Department, WI
Job Type: Full-Time Reg
Job Number: 2025-1 Police Officer
Department: Police
Opening Date: 06/02/2026


Description
In accordance with local ordinances, state statutes, federal law and established department policies, the Police Officer position is a sworn law enforcement position within the River Falls Police Department. This position is charged with the responsibility of serving the needs of the community through police action. This charge includes protecting constitutional guarantees of our democracy; safeguarding individual freedoms; protecting life and property by enforcing the law and reducing the opportunity for crime; maintaining public order by resolving conflict; facilitating the safe movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic; and the provision of emergency service in response to the needs of the community. Police Officers must possess a high degree of integrity, ethics, and truthfulness to uphold the standards of the River Falls Police Department. The River Falls Police Department is a 24-hour, seven-days-per-week, community service organization and this position may involve rotating shift work including nights, weekends, and holidays. This position is part of the City of River Falls Professional Police Association Labor Agreement

Essential Job Functions


1. Must work with various cultural and socio-economic communities and establish and maintain strong working relationships with City staff and other agencies.


2. Communicate clearly when operating radio, telephone, and dictation equipment, and in personal interaction with employees of a police department, governmental agencies, other law enforcement agencies and the public.


3. Handles arrest situations and procedures, including but not limited to determining violation and planning method of arrest; apprehending or arresting suspects; issuing citations; searching and booking suspects; transporting arrested persons; and providing appropriate warnings.


4. Conducts initial and follow-up investigations, including but not limited to interviewing witnesses, suspects, victims, etc.; gathering information; interrogating suspects; taking statements; conducting searches and pursuing possible leads or other information sources.


5. Prepare and complete investigative and other reports using appropriate grammar, spelling, and may include sketches, symbols, and mathematical computations.

6. Perform lawful searches of people, vehicles, buildings, and large outdoor areas which may involve seeing and detecting, standing, or walking for long periods of time.

7. Interacts with victims, witnesses, survivors, and outside agencies, including but not limited to briefing citizens, notifying family of victims; and referring victims to appropriate agencies. Able to do this with understanding, tact, compassion, sensitivity and courtesy and professionalism.

8. Must maintain a working knowledge and proficiency in all department equipment, including firearms, ammunition, police vehicles, communications, batons, flashlights, preliminary breath testing devices, intoxilyzer, armored vest, cameras, radar, evidence collection and preservation equipment, first aid, protective masks, fire extinguishers, drug testing, laptop computers, and basic functioning of the department's computer system.


9. Must protect confidential and sensitive information.


10. Perform activities including problem solving and making the public aware of special areas of concern such as, delinquency, drug abuse, crime prevention, child abuse, and traffic safety through education, public speaking, and presentations.


11. Practices a community policing and problem-solving philosophy.


12. Controls scene of motor vehicle crashes and establishes proper priority at scene, including but not limited to establishing key events; administering emergency aid; informing persons of reporting procedures; preparing field sketches and scale diagrams; and directing traffic.


13. Assist with other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Able to work with people from all cultures, backgrounds and abilities and respond respectfully in a manner that preserves the dignity of individuals, families, and communities.

• Excellent communication skills both oral and written.

• Load, unload, aim, and fire handguns, shotguns, and other department firearms, from a variety of body positions, under conditions of stress that justify the use of deadly force and at levels of proficiency described by certification standards.

• Working knowledge and proficiency of city boundaries, streets, businesses, residential areas, schools, parks, and city-owned properties.

• Testify in court on cases assigned or directly involved.

• Recall from memory details of persons and things. Demonstrate communication skills in court and other formal settings.

• Read and comprehend legal and non-legal documents, including the preparation and processing of such documents as citations, affidavits, and warrants.

• Deal with individuals and groups with understanding, tact, compassion, sensitivity, and courtesy

Qualifications & Working Conditions

Minimum

• Minimum of 18 years of age

• High School Diploma or equivalent

• Under Wisconsin State Statute 66.0501(1) must be a citizen of the United States

• Two-year associate degree from a Wisconsin vocational, technical, and adult education district, or its accredited equivalent from another state, or a minimum of 60 semester full accredited college-level credits.
• Wisconsin law enforcement certification or that are Wisconsin certifiable are preferred.

• Be available for evening, weekend, and holiday work.

• Valid driver's license.

• Applicant must not have been convicted of any federal felony or of any offense which if committed in Wisconsin could be punished as a felony unless the applicant has been granted an absolute and unconditional pardon.

• Applicant must not have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence as defined in 18 USC 921(a)(33), convicted of domestic abuse in § 968.075(1)(a), Wis. Stats., or convicted of a crime that is subject to the imposition of the domestic abuse surcharge under § 973.055(1), Wis. Stats., regardless of whether any part of the surcharge was waived by the court under § 973.055(4), Wis. Stats., unless the applicant has been granted an absolute and unconditional pardon.

Preferred

• WI Law Enforcement Certification

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, employee will work indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions.


The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.

• Vision: Normal vision needed with or without correction.

• Hearing: Employee must discriminate among similar sounds in environments with a great amount of background noise. Must be able to detect suspicious activity from a distance or to receive important information despite radio or siren noise.

• Smell: The employee must be able to smell to detect the presence of hazardous materials or illicit drugs.

• Speech: Must be able to communicate effectively and read and understand correspondence, memoranda, and materials.

• Lifting: Must lift with and/or without assistance up to 100 pounds.

• Touch: Able to use touch to operate equipment properly and to administer CPR and other first aid procedures.

• Walking/Mobility: Must be able to walk or crawl while carrying or lifting. Must be able to ascend and descent stairs or ladders. Must have good balance. All lifting and/or walking/mobility requirements are to be met while in full protective gear, which weights approximately 20 pounds.

• Function for extended periods of time without fatigue or requiring special needs or resources.

• Operate a law enforcement vehicle during both day and night, in emergency situations involving speeds in excess of posted limits, in congested traffic, and in unsafe road conditions by factors such as fog, smoke, rain, ice and snow.

We strive to provide a supportive and inclusive work environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
In addition to providing competitive pay and a great work environment, the City of River Falls Police Department also provides a wide array of benefits. Please see highlights of available benefits below.

MEDICAL AND DENTAL INSURANCE
The City of River Falls provides health and dental insurance at a shared cost for eligible employees working 30 hours or more.


LIFE INSURANCE
Life insurance is available to all eligible employees working 30 hours or more.


SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE OPTIONS
A variety of insurance options are available for eligible employees to purchase for self, spouse or dependent children.

LONG TERM DISABILITY (LTD)
The City provides LTD coverage for eligible employees.

PAID TIME OFF
The City provides 240 hours (6 weeks) of PTO per year plus 76.5 hours of holiday time per year after first year of service with the ability to earn additional comp time.


FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT
Under Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code, employees who enroll in a flexible benefit plan are allowed to set aside pre-tax dollars to help pay for certain out-of-pocket health care expenses as well as dependent day care expenses. Paying for these expenses with pre-tax dollars lowers employee taxes, thereby adding additional spendable income to each paycheck. Payroll dollars contributed to this plan are not subject to Federal, State or Social Security taxes.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION
Eligible employees have the option to set aside a portion of income to accumulate on a tax-deferred basis; therefore the deferred amount is not subject to current income tax. These dollars and the interest earned are not taxed until the money is withdrawn- normally at retirement. The City offers a plan through Mission Square.

WRS (WISCONSIN RETIREMENT SYSTEM)
All regular employees who meet the enrollment standards will automatically become members of the Wisconsin Retirement System. The City and employee are required to contribute based on current law, WRS standards, guidelines and City policy.


EAP (EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM)
The City offers an EAP program which includes confidential advice, various resources and support for employees and family (traditional and non- traditional) in the areas of life challenges and transitions, stress management, health issues, legal assistance, financial difficulties as well as many other areas an individual may be dealing or coping with.

STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY
River Falls Police Department has a new facility as of 2022 including an onsite MILO simulator and free onsite fitness room.
01


Are you 18 years of age or older?

• Yes
• No

02


Do you have a High School Diploma or equivalent?

• Yes
• No

03


Do you have a 2 year Associates degree or 60 semester full accredited college-level credits?

• Yes
• No

04


Under WI State Statute 66.0501 (1) you must be a citizen of the United States. Are you a citizen of the United States?

• Yes
• No

05


Have you taken the Entry Level Law Enforcement Exam (ELLE) in the last 12 months? If Yes, What was the date the test was taken?
06


Do you hold a Wisconsin Law Enforcement Certificate?

• Yes
• No

07


Have you been convicted of any felony offense or any offense which if committed in Wisconsin could be punishable as a felony?

• Yes
• No
• I'm not sure

08


Have you been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence as defined in 18 USC 921(a)(33), convicted of domestic abuse in § 968.075(1)(a), Wis. Stats., or convicted of a crime that is subject to the imposition of the domestic abuse surcharge under § 973.055(1), Wis. Stats?

• Yes
• No
• I'm not sure

Required Question