Police Officer Recruit

Town of Estes Park, CO

$77K — $85K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • High school diploma or GED required.
  • Completed coursework towards an Associate's Degree or equivalent number of credit hours.
  • 21 years of age by the time of Law Enforcement Academy completion.
  • No criminal convictions as defined by Colorado P.O.S.T.
  • Ability to pass a background investigation and pre-employment evaluations.

Responsibilities

  • Participate actively in a 16-week Law Enforcement Academy.
  • Learn and enforce local, state, and federal laws.
  • Assist department by responding to service calls.
  • Enforce traffic laws and promote safety awareness.
  • Detect and prevent criminal activities through surveillance.
  • Investigate crime scenes and preserve evidence.
  • Write reports and provide court testimonies.

Benefits

  • Full-time position with opportunities for advancement post-Academy.
  • Structured training and support from experienced officers.
  • Engagement with community and efforts in crime prevention.
  • Career development through participation in the Field Training Program.
Full Job Description
Salary : $77,854.00 - $85,640.00 Annually
Location : Town Hall: 170 MacGregor Avenue, Estes Park, CO
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2026-07-0003
Department: Police
Division: Police Operations Division
Opening Date: 07/21/2026
Closing Date: 8/20/2026 11:59 PM Mountain

Summary
Incumbent actively participates in Law Enforcement Academy as determined by the Town of Estes Park in order to perform proactive entry level law enforcement duties. This includes community engagement, public safety, the protection of property, and crime prevention and detection.
Upon successful completion of Law Enforcement Academy, this position will laterally transfer to a Police Officer I in the Field Training (FTO) Program.

Examples of Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The list below is intended to be illustrative of the responsibilities of the position and not all encompassing. Duties are performed on a rotating shift basis. The Town may change these duties at any time.
  • Actively participates in all classes, coursework, and training that is part of a one semester (approximately 16 week long) Law Enforcement Academy as selected by the Town of Estes Park.
  • Learns about enforcement of local, state and federal laws and/or ordinances.
  • May assist Police Department with:

o Responding to calls for service including public disturbances, criminal, civil or emergency situations, code enforcement violations, etc.

o Enforcing traffic laws and promotes traffic safety.

o Detecting and preventing criminal activities by surveillance of assigned business and residential areas.

o Promoting crime prevention by initiating contact with businesses and residents including explaining applicable laws, soliciting cooperation in crime reporting, and otherwise creating good rapport with citizens.

o Investigating and assisting at crime scenes or accidents; protects evidence, collects evidence, takes testimony from witnesses.

o Operating a police vehicle under emergency and non-emergency conditions.

o Writing and preparing a variety of reports and completes forms.

o Preparing and providing effective testimony in court and works with prosecution attorneys.

o Providing code enforcement and animal control activities as needed.

o Maintaining vehicles to for cleanliness and operability of assigned vehicle

Minimum and Preferred Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
  • High school diploma or equivalent (GED).
  • Completed credit hours toward an Associate's Degree such that upon completion of Law Enforcement Academy, incumbent would have an Associate's Degree or at least 60 undergraduate credit hours.
    • Three years' military service and/or law enforcement experience can be substituted for education.
  • Must be at least 21 years of Age as of completion of Law Enforcement Academy.
  • No criminal convictions as defined by Colorado P.O.S.T.
  • Ability to pass pre-employment background investigation, including criminal history check, pre-employment physical, and pre-employment psychological evaluation.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Military Experience as Military Police Officer
• Experience working for a Law Enforcement agency such as work in dispatch, jail/detention, park ranger, etc.
• Multi-lingual. Ability to read/write/speak/listen proficiently in a language other than English.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required for the job of Police Officer and that will be required that the incumbent have upon successful completion of Law Enforcement Academy:
  • Knowledge of police principles, practices and ethics.
  • Knowledge of applicable laws, Town ordinances and State statutes.
  • Knowledge of Town and department policies and procedures.
  • Knowledge and ability to perform emergency medical and first aid procedures.
  • Skill in operating motor vehicles in hazardous situations.
  • Skill in using weapons and other police equipment.
  • Ability to collect and preserve evidence including biological material.
  • Ability to follow written and oral instructions.
  • Ability to communicate with victims, suspects, witnesses and other police officers.
  • Ability to act effectively in crisis situations and to deal tactfully with citizens in a wide variety of stressful situations.
  • Ability to exhibit de-escalation skills, imagination, initiative and discernment in problem solving when coping with a variety of law enforcement situations.
  • Ability to act and react to emergency and/or threatening situations in a manner consistent with law; ability to protect one's self in threatening situations and to subdue and control unruly and resisting individuals.
  • Ability to investigate situations and prepare written reports.
  • Ability to make oral presentations.
  • Ability to pass standard medical exam within normal parameters specifically with regard to the listed essential job functions.
  • Ability to physically detain law violators.
  • Ability to effectively testify in court or hearings.
  • Must have dependable transportation.
  • Must be able to work rotating shifts, through weekends and holidays.
  • Ability to provide excellent customer service to internal and external stakeholders.
  • Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, and follow oral and written instructions.
  • Ability to demonstrate basic computer skills.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, customers and the general public.


Licenses, Certifications and Registrations
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
  • Incumbents in this position must successfully complete Law Enforcement Academy and obtain Colorado P.O.S.T Certification.
    • Note: Failure to successfully complete Law Enforcement Academy and/orobtain P.O.S.T will result in termination of employment as a Police Officer Recruit.
  • Valid Colorado Driver's License and satisfactory driving record. Out of state candidates must obtain Colorado License within 6 months of hire.
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT: None
Please note that as a Police Officer I, the residency requirement is: Must establish and maintain residency within 75 minute
commute time and 30 mile radius of duty location. Residency requirements must be met within 6 months of hire.

Remote Work Eligible: No
Cell Phone Allowance: None

Supervisor: Police Sergeant or Commander
Exempt: No
Pay Grade: PS1A ($77,854.00 - $85,640.00 annual equivalent)
Frequency Guide

Rarely (R)

Occasionally (O)

Frequently (F)

Constantly (C)

Less than - 5%

6 - 30%

31% - 70%

Over 70%
Physical Task

Frequency

Physical Surroundings

Frequency

Sitting

F

Extreme Temperatures

O

Standing

F

Inside Work

F

Walking

F

Outside Work

F

Running

O

Walking on uneven surfaces

O

Stooping

O

Working at height

O

Kneeling

O

Other:
Squatting

O
Climbing

O

Environmental Conditions
Balancing

O

Exposure to Chemicals

O

Reaching

O

Exposure to Gases/Fumes/Dust

O

Grasping

C

High Noise Levels

O

Finger Dexterity

C

Moderate Noise Levels

F

Handling

C

Vibrations

O

Visual Acuity: Near

F

Light/Power Equipment O

R

Visual Acuity Far

F

Heavy Equipment Operator

R

Depth Perception

F

Work in Traffic

F

Color Discrimination

F

Local Travel

F

Peripheral Vision

F

Out of Town Travel

R
Talking

C

Other:
Hearing

C
Other:
Weight of Objects Moved
Over 100 pounds

R
Over 50 Pounds

O
Over 10 pounds

F
Pre Employement Physical Required: Yes

Pre Employment Drug Screen Required: No

***NOTE: as part of Law Enforcement Academy, recruits may be directly exposed to aerosol irritant projector, a conducted energy device and riot control agents during the academy in preparation for a real-world encounter.
a
01

Please explain specifically how you meet the minimum education requirements. For example, if you do not have an Associate's Degree how many credit hours do you have? or what dates, specifically, were you in the military?
02

Will you be at least 21 years of age as of April 15th, 2027?
  • Yes
  • No

03

Do you have any criminal convictions as defined by Colorado P.O.S.T?
  • Yes
  • No

04

Are you aware of the requirement for this position that you pass a pre-employment background investigation, including criminal history check, pre-employment physical, and pre-employment psychological examination?
  • Yes
  • No

05

Briefly describe why you are interested in this position.
Required Question

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