Police Officer

Salary : $72,217.60 - $107,473.60 Annually
Location : Police - 505 1st St SW Cedar Rapids, IA
Job Type: Full-Time
Department: Police
Division: Police
Opening Date: 11/01/2026
Closing Date: 1/7/2027 11:59 PM Central
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: POLICE

Police Officers provide direct services in the enforcement of the law, maintenance of public order, control of traffic in City streets by the performance of surveillance, intervention, arrest, direction of emergency activities or a variety of related acts.

The City of Cedar Rapids does not offer sponsorship for employment authorization.

This position is subject to Policy 1.10-- Residency Requirements:
Designated sworn employees are required to live in a location within 50 driving miles from the Cedar Rapids Police Station. Newly hired sworn employees are required to live within the residency area within three months from the date of employment. The department head may grant an additional three months if the employee provides documentation of financial commitment to move within the residency area.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Patrols City streets;
• Responds to calls for police assistance or service;
• Directs traffic where needed;
• Provides emergency assistance to ill or injured citizens;
• Arrests law violators; testifies in judicial proceedings;
• Maintains custody of prisoners;
• Makes reports;
• Conducts initial investigation of alleged criminal conduct;
• Maintains order in crowds;
• Advises public on laws in force;
• Enforces traffic laws, issues citations where indicated;
• Investigates suspicious persons or activities;
• Records, stores, and is responsible for evidence for future court cases, and lost items that have been found and turned in by members of the general public;
• Attends roll-calls;
• Attends training sessions;
• Other duties as assigned;
• Performs all work duties and activities in accordance with City policies, procedures and safety practices;
• Attends work regularly at the designated place and time;
• Supports continuous process improvement initiatives;
• Performs related work as required.

Qualifications

New Officer Compensation
Police Officers are covered under the . All new police officer hires begin employment at step 1 (minimum) of the wage scale.
New Hire1 year2 years3 years4 years5 years6 years7 years8 years9 years10 years$34.72$36.15$37.56$39.05$40.62$42.27$43.93$45.67$47.51$49.43$51.67
Lateral Transfers
Certified law enforcement officers who work for another Iowa agency or who work outside the State of Iowa are accepted as lateral transfers. (To be eligible to apply as a candidate for the lateral hire program, the applicant must have been a full-time certified peace officer without a break of not more than 180 days from law enforcement service when hired by the CRPD. The hiring date will be based on the first day of actual employment with the CRPD.) Lateral transfers are hired at our pay step consistent with the total number of years of service as a Certified Peace Officer. Upon completion of the probationary period, lateral officers will begin accruing flex time at the rate corresponding to their total continuous certified years of service. Please review the Career Information Packet for more information.

Hiring Potential
The Cedar Rapids Police Department is hiring for multiple vacancies with an anticipated start date of June 2, 2027.

Application Instructions
All interested candidates must complete an electronic application for employment with the City of Cedar Rapids by January 7, 2027 at 11:59pm (23:59). In order for an application to be complete, candidates must consent to authorize the Cedar Rapids Police to conduct a background check as outlined within the application. Candidates who do not complete this section of the electronic application, or provide a signed copy of the authorization form will not be moved forward to the testing process.
At the City of Cedar Rapids, we offer benefits and beyond for our employees and their families! The Cedar Rapids Police Department offers competitive pay, exceptional benefits, opportunities for professional growth, and a rewarding career serving our community.

Competitive Pay & Financial Incentives

• Competitive salary with annual step increases:
  • Starting salary: $34.72/hour
  • After 1 year: $36.15/hour
  • After 5 years: $42.27/hour
  • After 10 years: $51.67/hour
• Fiscal-year pay increases as determined by the bargaining contract.
• Longevity pay eligibility after five years of continuous service.
• 457 Deferred Compensation Program with an employer match of up to 0.5% of annual income per calendar year.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility. Qualifying employees may have the remaining balance of their eligible Direct Loans forgiven after making 120 qualifying monthly payments while employed full-time by a qualifying employer.

Health, Wellness & Insurance

• Medical insurance with 90% City coverage and 10% employee responsibility for participating providers.
• Dental and vision insurance.
• Long-term disability insurance.
• 100% City-paid basic life insurance.
• Voluntary and supplemental life insurance options.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for health care and dependent care expenses.
• Access to private health and wellness coaching partnerships.
• Peer support resources for officers.

Retirement & Long-Term Financial Security

• Excellent retirement benefits through the Municipal Fire and Police Retirement System of Iowa (MFPRSI).
• City retirement contributions of 21.859% and employee contributions of 9.675%.
• Vested after four years of service.
• Retirement eligibility at age 55 with 22 years of service.

Paid Time Off & Family Benefits

• 12 paid holidays annually.
• Paid leave accrued monthly, ranging from 16.7 to 30 hours/month based on years of service.
• Four weeks of City-paid parental leave.

Professional Development & Career Advancement

• Up to $3,000 annually in educational assistance.
• Strong commitment to ongoing professional development and training.
• Numerous opportunities for specialized assignments, professional growth, leadership development, and career advancement.

Police Academy Training

• Receive full pay throughout the 18-week CRPD Regional Academy.
• Academy schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Return home each evening and enjoy weekends free.
• Gain valuable knowledge, skills, and professional development in a supportive learning environment.

Specialized Assignments & Career Opportunities

The Cedar Rapids Police Department offers much more than a traditional patrol career. Officers have opportunities to explore specialized assignments, develop new skills, and serve the community in a variety of ways, including:

• School Resource Officer / College Resource Officer
• Police Community Action Team (PCAT)
• Special Response Team (SRT)
• K9 Officer
• Hazardous Devices Unit (HDU)
• Police PAL
• Field Training Officer
• Honor Guard
• Mental Health Unit
• Criminal Investigations
• Crime Scene Unit
• Mobile Assist Team (MAT)
• Narcotics
• Task Force Officer
• Bicycle Patrol Officer
• Crisis Negotiator
• Specialized training and instructor opportunities

Build a career, make a difference, and grow with the Cedar Rapids Police Department!

For additional details, explore the
01

How did you hear about this opportunity, more specifically?

• Billboard
• Streaming Platform
• Commercial
• Youtube
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Corridor Careers
• Email Advertisement
• Email CRPD "Notify Me" Link
• Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA)
• Police One
• Discover Policing (IACP)
• Iowa Association of Women Police (IaAWP)
• Iowa Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA)
• CyHire
• Indeed
• Handshake (College Job Boards)
• City Employee Referral
• City's Website
• Career Fair/College Visit
• Other

02

If you selected "Other", please specify how you heard about this opportunity.
03

Please provide your Driver's License number.
04

What state was your Driver's License issued in?
05

Provide your date of birth below as MM/DD/YYYY:
06

Please provide your Social Security Number.
07

Will you be at least 18 years of age on the appointment date of May 12, 2027?

• Yes
• No

08

Minimum standards for law enforcement officers is set by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy (501-2.1(80B) state that no person shall be selected or appointed as a law enforcement officer unless such person is a United States Citizen. Are you a citizen of the United States or will you be a citizen by the application deadline?

• Yes
• No

09

Minimum standards for law enforcement officers is set by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy (501-2.1(80B) state that no person shall be selected or appointed as a law enforcement officer unless such person is a resident of Iowa or intends to become a resident upon being employed. Are you currently a resident of Iowa?

• Yes
• No

10

If the answer to either of the questions is "no", will you achieve citizenship prior to May 12, 2027 and/or become an Iowa resident upon offer of employment? Please specify.
11

(Please note: The existence of a conviction record may not automatically disqualify you from the position you are applying for. It will be reviewed along with other information that is relevant to the position.) Have you ever been convicted of any traffic violation? If yes, please specify. If you marked yes, please include the details of the conviction including the date, violation, disposition if convicted, city and state where it occurred.
12

Have you ever been convicted of any other crime other than a traffic violation? If yes, please specify. If you marked yes, please include the details of the conviction including the date, crime, disposition if convicted, city and state where it occurred.
13

Have you ever committed or been convicted of a domestic assault, child abuse, or any other crime resulting from domestic or child abuse? Respond yes or no. If yes, please provide details.
14

Have you ever committed or been convicted of an illegal sex act? Respond yes or no. If yes, please provide details.
15

Have you used marijuana and/or THC products in the last two (2) years? If yes, please include the last date used and explain.
16

Have you ever used any other illegal drug at all in the past three (3) years (including anabolic steroids after February 27, 1991)? If yes, explain.
17

Have you ever unlawfully sold any type of drug(s)? If yes, e