Police Officer

Overview

The City of Ames is conducting a recruitment to fill current openings for Police Officer with the City of Ames Police Department. For applicants, please see below the dates of application review for timely consideration.

Police Officers perform work related to the enforcement of law, maintenance of order, protection of life and property, and prevention of crime; contributes to citywide problem-solving and performs related work as required. Work is within a 24/7/365 environment and subject to shift assignment and occasional mandatory overtime.

For this recruitment, any Iowa certified Officer, OR, any out-of-state certified Officer who can gain certification through examination with the ILEA, who begins employment as a result of this recruitment, shall receive a hiring wage incentive to equal $2000.

Any non-certified Officer who begins employment from this recruitment shall receive a hiring wage incentive to equal $1000.

This incentive shall be paid in the following increments:

Our comprehensive benefits package can be viewed at:
City of Ames Benefits

Will start on February 20th, by noon. Each passing candidate from the initial background screening will be invited to agility testing and POST exam, starting on Friday, February 27, 2026. Phone interviews will be that same afternoon. Future testing dates will be dependent on how many candidates pass through full interview process and given a contingent offer of employment. Applications will be accepted up to positions being filled or until June 19th, whichever occurs first.

For more details and to apply, please visit our careers page at:
City of Ames Careers

Education and Experience: Successful completion of high school, HiSet, or GED, PLUS 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours in an accredited college or university in diversified academic subjects, OR an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may substitute for the minimum of 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of accredited higher education. Not to be included are technical or occupation courses;

however, technical or community college credits will be considered if credits are in criminal justice, liberal arts, or a closely related field. Certification by a law enforcement academy may not substitute for any course credit.

Licenses and Certificates: Must obtain a valid Iowa driver license upon appointment. Must demonstrate a safe and conscientious regard for traffic laws. Must meet all state standards for Peace Officer certification, complete the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, and achieve certification within one year of appointment. Must exceed Iowa Law Enforcement Academy fitness testing standards to be eligible for hire; must complete ILEA based testing biannually.

All employees governed by the PPME contract (which includes Police Officers) are required to reside within an area bordered by State Highway 65 on the east, County Road R-27 north of Boone and Des Moines River south of Highway 30 on the west, Story County line on the north, and Polk County Road F-22 on the south. Communities intersected by the borderlines shall be within the area.

For further details of what area this includes, please view the Ames Employee Residency Map link here (area in light blue): MAP.