Police Officer Trainee

*$3,000 sign on bonus may be available*

Why the City of Aspen?

The Aspen Police Department serves the unique mountain town and community of Aspen, Colorado, nestled within four square-miles of the Roaring Fork Valley. We serve with the guiding philosophy that we must build consenting relationships within our community to be able to garner mutual trust. We work to enhance the safety, security, and feeling of wellbeing for residents and visitors alike by providing a variety of services with professionalism, compassion, and empathy. We consider the public the police, and the police members of the public.

At the Aspen Police Department, we’re also more than policing. We’re unique and we’re multifaceted. We come from a line of ski instructors and dance performers, from journalists and caretakers.

Our ideal police candidates will have excellent customer service skills and a willingness to go the extra mile to help someone. Experience in counseling and/or therapy is a plus. We actively seek non-traditional police candidates. So, wear your stripes proudly: be who you are and be extraordinary.

We promote and support the City of Aspen’s organizational values that include service, partnership, stewardship, and partnership. If you embody the following, we want to connect with you! 

Service: We serve with a spirit of excellence, humility, integrity, and respect.
Partnership: Our impact is greater together.
Stewardship: Investing in a thriving future for all by balancing social, environmental, and financial responsibilities.
Innovation: Pursuing creative outcomes, grounded in Aspen’s distinctive challenges and opportunities.
The Aspen Police Department is looking for individuals with a desire to positively impact the community as a Police Officer!  This is a unique opportunity to develop critical skills as you train to successfully complete a variety of Law Enforcement and Public Safety courses necessary for attaining a Police Officer I (one) position to include Colorado Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) Certification. Lateral transfer applicants also considered.

Salary Ranges

Hiring Range: 

Police Officer Entering Academy: $25.56 – $28.85

Police Officer I: $33.22 – $37.37

Police Officer II: $36.20 – $40.73

Police Officer III: $39.47 – $44.40

Pay Range:

Police Officer Entering Academy: $25.65 – $38.47

Police Officer I: $33.22 – $49.83

Police Officer II: $36.20 – $54.30

Police Officer III: $39.47 – $59.21

Essential Job Functions:

Academy

Attends and participates in a variety of classes at a Colorado police academy with the goal of attaining a Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) Certificate.
Patrol Trainee

While participating in the Field Training Program, learns to & attains proficiency in: Actively supporting the Department’s mission, values and philosophy; effectively responding to routine as well as low frequency/high risk incidents and take appropriate action in accordance with Federal, State, & local laws and the department’s mission, values, policies and procedures. Calls for service include, but are not limited to: public service, criminal, traffic, civil/domestic situations, mutual aid, medical, fire response, and domestic/wild life issues; assuming Incident Command/operations roles as necessary; contributing to and supporting the completion of the Department’s “Goals and Outcomes” measures; and addressing crime prevention, criminal activity; addressing traffic and safety issues through proactive education/enforcement; creating and maintaining a well-balanced work environment using methods that include but are not limited to foot patrol, traffic enforcement, liquor establishment inspections, crime prevention, etc., and engaging the public to answer questions, resolve issues and problem solve.
 
Documentation

While participating in a Field Training Program, learns to & attains proficiency in: The use of the department report management system; clearly and effectively communicating facts in chronological or a logical order (i.e. who, what, when, where, why, and how.); organizing information in reports ensuring venue and elements of the crime are included; writing reports and official documents containing a minimum number of spelling or grammatical errors, write reports promptly; drafting warrantless arrest affidavits, arrest warrants and search warrants accurately, completely and promptly; and ensuring follow up with all tasks related to case management.
 
Investigation

While participating in a Field Training Program, learns to, & attains proficiency in: Conducting thorough investigations; making personal contacts with all involved parties; collecting and processing evidence, witness statements and any other pertinent information; documenting investigations accurately, completely and promptly; conducting follow-up investigations as assigned; and keeping the victim apprised of the status of the investigation.
Court Testimony

While participating in a Field Training Program, learns to, & attains proficiency in: Being prepared, punctual, accurate, and composed when appearing in any hearing or court setting; presenting a professional appearance when testifying in court, and displaying a comprehensive knowledge of Municipal, County and District Court procedures.
Qualifications

While participating in a Field Training Program, demonstrates basic skills to include: Weapons systems proficiency (firearm, Taser, rifle etc.); Defensive tactics proficiency; Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) proficiency; Intoxilyzer proficiency; CPR certification; Automated External Defibrillator certification; Emergency and defensive driving requirements; Colorado Criminal Information Center and National Criminal Information Center certifications; and participating in trainings and examinations to remain current with required certifications.
City Organizational Values

Supports and models the City of Aspen organizational values: Service, Partnership, Stewardship, and Innovation. Organizational values are shared principles that guide behavior across the organization. This position is responsible for upholding and applying these values while performing daily work functions.
Other duties as assigned.

Core Competencies: Displays the following key competencies in the overall job performance to include knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Service: Provides service with excellence, humility, integrity, and respect in daily work, builds trust by listening, treats people with respect, acknowledges opportunities for improvement, and follows through with commitments.
Partnership: Actively creates strong, supportive internal and external relationships to attain a common goal and achieve greater impact together.
Stewardship: Balances social, environmental, and financial responsibilities, evaluating the impact of decision making on a thriving future for all. 
Innovation: Develops technical expertise to pursue new ideas and creative outcomes, grounded in Aspen’s unique culture, opportunities, and challenges. 
Communication: Knowledge of effective and appropriate communication.  Ability to use knowledge effectively in various contexts which may require oral, written, visual and non-verbal communication.
Interpersonal: Works to develop strength in interpersonal skills. Has the ability to work well with diverse groups of people, both inside and outside the organization. 
Technology: Demonstrates technology skills sufficient for the nature and level of position. Demonstrates a willingness to learn new technologies and transition job duties accordingly to support technological advances and innovation.
Policy Knowledge: Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Safety: Knowledge of and ability to use relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions
Training: Ability to apply procedures and requirements relevant to the Police Department in development of training programs and projects, and effectively using programs to train staff.
Critical Thinking: The ability to recognize complex problems and effectively work independently or with others to reach a viable solution.
Coordination: Ability to work effectively as part of a team to achieve established outcomes and complete projects within deadlines.
Emergency Situations: Ability to act calmly and rationally in stressful or emergency situations.

Minimum Requirements:

Education: Associate degree in a relevant field, such as criminal justice. Must be at least 21 years of age.

Experience: One year of experience in Customer Service.

Technical Knowledge: Must be proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook (Email), and a basic understanding of computers and online computer-based technology applications, which includes accessing web-based platforms.

Licenses & Certifications: Must possess a valid Colorado driver’s license or be able to obtain one within 30 days of start date. Must complete FEMA ICS 100 and 200 within Police Officer Training period.

NOTE: Any combination of experience and education that would likely provide the required abilities, knowledge, and skills as determined by the City of Aspen may be substituted for the requirements above.

Preferred Candidate: Colorado POST Certification.

NOTE: This position requires candidate to satisfactorily pass a criminal background check, physical examination, polygraph test, drug test, and psychological examination upon hire.

Position Type and Work Hours:

Regular full time, 40-hour work week, hours may vary and depend on Academy and training schedules.
Evening and weekend hours are required in addition to/or instead of normal hours.
May be required to work overtime to complete training requirements and to respond to emergency calls at any time.
Work Environment:

Indoors: Classroom setting. Office environment. Report writing, documentation, computer entry, court testimony, etc.
Outdoors/Off-Site: Various training sites (driving track, shooting range, roadways etc.). Patrol, pursuit, arrests, etc.
Physical Demands:

Lifting & Carrying: Up to 50 lb. equipment, etc., unassisted, including but not limited to: the ability to wear APD issue equipment belt and/or vest carrier during assigned shifts.
Physical: Sitting, running, walking, reaching, handling, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing and repetitive motions. Three-dimensional vision and the ability to identify and distinguish colors.
Exposure: Exposure to variety of temperature, adverse weather conditions, and the presence of vehicular traffic, and pedestrian flow. Patrol of the City occurs in all types of environmental conditions at all hours of the day.
Emergency Response: May be exposed to life threatening situations and extreme physical activity when responding to emergency calls.
Arrest: Hand and arm strength needed to effectively use handgun and rifle. Ability to run short distances while maintaining job performance capability (talking on the radio, talking to the suspect and being able to shoot if needed), stooping, kneeling, crouching, and balancing to prevent stumbling or falling in adverse weather conditions and terrain. Hearing corrected to normal and vision corrected to normal ranges including night vision. Physical requirements needed in arrest situations: balancing, grabbing, pulling, bending, twisting, receiving blows, spinning, falling, defensive, and offensive arm swings, defensive, and offensive kneeling, and kicking with legs, and excellent hand/eye coordination.
Pursuit: Flexibility and strength – stamina to sustain sitting, driving and standing for prolonged periods.
Fitness for Duty Testing: Officers must participate in and satisfactorily complete Fitness for Duty Testing every two years, unless otherwise noted. Testing includes: Assist in Maneuvering of Objects/Persons to Safety (lifting 50 pounds from floor to knuckle height, 5X unassisted), drag person to safety (ability to drag 150 pounds for 30 feet, unassisted), ascend, descend 5 stairs (repeated 10X), and demonstrate foot patrol/pursuit of suspects (run 400m – 1 lap of track, in 3 minutes).
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.

This job description is designed to indicate the general nature and level of work. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive list of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.