Lateral Police Officer

TEST DATE WILL BE 5/27/2026

Responsible for providing law enforcement services by conducting field patrols of an assigned area of the city. Work is performed under the general direction of a Police Lieutenant, Sergeant or other supervisory employee.

• Patrols assigned areas to observe, prevent or stop unlawful activities by issuing citations or making arrests.
• Responds to calls involving domestic disputes, rescue efforts, accident scenes, and potential criminal activity and determines the appropriate course of actions.
• Operates a radar unit to monitor traffic speeds and observes traffic violations; issues warnings or summons as appropriate.
• Provides technical assistance to less experienced patrol officers to ensure specific incidents and situations are handled efficiently and in a professional manner.
• Prepares and delivers formal presentations to schools and community groups on the services of the Police Department, crime prevention programs and related topics.

• Must be a citizen of the United States
• Minimum of 18 years of age.
• High School diploma or equivalent certificate issued by the superintendent of public instruction, an appropriate issuing agency, another state or the federal government.
• Two years of experience in law enforcement.

• Must be determined to be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation to include fingerprint submission and subject to criminal and traffic background check.
• No Convictions for which imprisonment could have occurred in a federal or state penitentiary.
• Ability to achieve POST certification within one year of date of hire or hold a valid Montana POST certificate or a POST certificate from another state qualifying for Montana reciprocity.
• Ability to achieve minimum qualifications with all duty weapons and non-lethal tools.
• Ability to pass a color vision test.
• Employee must possess or have the ability to obtain valid Montana driver’s license.

• Substantial knowledge of law enforcement practices, methods, procedures and standards.
• Considerable knowledge of the use and care of firearms and weapons.
• Considerable knowledge of arrest, rules of evidence and court procedures.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with peers, supervisors, other law enforcement and public safety personnel, and the general public.

• Highly ethical
• Good moral character
• Willingness to work with the community
• Leadership
• Decision making
• Interpersonal and problem solving skills
• Communication skills

This position does not supervise staff.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts; in high, precarious places; and is occasionally exposed to wet, and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, extreme heat, and vibration.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but can reach high levels on occasions. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk, hear, use hands and fingers to handle or operate objects, tools or controls and reach with hands and arms; possession of hand/eye coordination sufficient to operate various police equipment, firearms and a motor vehicle; the ability to talk and hear in person, by telephone or two-way radio;

and the ability to see and read instructions and reports. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, taste and smell.…