Police Officer

About the Department

The City of Urbandale is accepting applications for Police Officer. Under the general direction of the Sergeant/Captain, Police Officers perform law enforcement and crime prevention services for the safety and protection of life and property in the Urbandale community. Police Officers also perform investigative work in preparation for arrests and/or criminal prosecution. Review the online JOB DESCRIPTION for complete details.

We are proud to be a CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies) accredited agency ensuring our personnel adhere to the best practices in law enforcement. We are a responsive community oriented police department where safety, community relations, and customer service are top priorities. The Urbandale Police Department provides officers with many opportunities for advancement, including specialized police responsibilities and/or units, such as, but not limited to: Accident Investigation (AI); Field Training Officer; Firearms Instructor; Bike Patrol; Community Relations Officer; School Resource Officer; Suburban Narcotics Unit; Suburban Emergency Response Team (SWAT). 

Check out this VIDEO to see what it's like to be a UPD Officer. 

• 2 days on, 2 days off, 3 days on
• 2 days off, 2 days on, 3 days off

• Step One – $76,028 annually ($36.55/hour)

• Step Two – Certified officer with less than two full years of service ($79,069 annually)
• Step Three – Certified officer with two full years of service ($82,232 annually)
• Step Four – Certified officer with three or more full years of service ($85,521 annually)

• $7,500 certified officer signing bonus
• Certified officers relocating to the State of Iowa may qualify for a tax credit up to $2,000 to offset moving expenses (CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY TAX CREDIT)
• $600/year if you have 60 college credit hours or an associate degree
• $1,000/year if you have 120 college credit hours or a bachelor’s degree
• Four weeks paid parental leave
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Individual health insurance for only $77.46 per month; family health insurance for only $237.74 per month
• Dental, vision, and flexible spending account options
• Voluntary benefits including accident insurance, critical illness insurance, LegalShield, and identity theft monitoring and restoration
• Iowa MFPRSI pension/retirement plan + 457 deferred compensation plan with city match
• City-paid life insurance policy plus additional voluntary life insurance options
• Overnight shift differential
• $1,000/year clothing allowance
• Longevity pay
• Bi-lingual pay
• Senior officer pay: $1,000 per year after five years of service; $2,000 per year after ten years of service
• Every other Friday, Saturday and Sunday off
• Paid overtime

Position Duties

• Interprets and enforces municipal, state, and federal regulations, codes, laws, and ordinances in assigned areas of the city.
• Responds to immediate calls for services in the answering of complaints, including handling “walk-in” complaints.
• Conducts uniformed preventative patrols in a 24 hour a day, seven day a week environment.
• Conducts preliminary investigations of crimes and completes appropriate reports, including, but not limited to: major crimes; traffic; theft; personal/familial and neighborhood disputes/assaults; intoxication; residential/commercial security alarms; etc.
• Prepares and completes supplementary reports related to complaints and investigations.
• Makes determination to arrest and processes arrested subject(s), which includes, but is not limited to: searching and/or seizing persons, vehicles, and/or property; collecting, preserving and processing evidence; interviewing victims/witnesses/suspects; transporting offenders; testifying in court proceedings; etc.
• Identifies and corrects safety hazards around public roadways, including, but not limited to: crash analysis, accident investigations; assisting stalled motorists or disabled vehicles; directing and controlling traffic; providing information on hazardous street conditions (e.g. non-working traffic signals, visibility during blizzards, flooded roadways, etc.), impounding vehicles, checking vehicle registration, issues traffic citations, etc.
• Acts as a partner with citizens, neighborhood groups, school systems, etc. in the resolution and identification of problems and/or for education etc., which may include, but is not limited to: referrals to other agencies; welfare checks; unlocking motor vehicles; education on law enforcement and crime prevention related topics; assisting with animal control related calls; civil code enforcement, etc.
• Assists in emergency situations, including, but not limited to responding to Fire and EMS calls; watching and reporting on potentially severe weather conditions, etc.
• Inspects and maintains vehicle and all related law enforcement equipment.
• May be assigned to specialized police responsibilities and/or units, such as, but not limited to: Accident Investigation (AI); Field Training Officer; Firearms Instructor; Bike Patrol; Suburban Narcotics Unit and other assigned task forces; Suburban Emergency Response Team (SERT); etc.
• May provide direction and oversight to one or more Urbandale Police Reserve Officer(s).
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with other law enforcement agencies in matters relating to the apprehension of offenders and the investigation of offenses.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Periodic Job Duties/Responsibilities

• Assists in receiving, searching, booking, fingerprinting, photographing and supervising prisoners.
• Orders and maintains equipment and supplies.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED is required. 
• Preference may be given to candidates with at least an AA degree from an accredited college or university in diversified academic subjects or two years of active military service.
• Twenty years of age on or before application deadline date. 
• Citizen of the United States at the time of application.  
• No felony convictions or convictions for crimes involving moral turpitude.
• Uncorrected vision of not less than 20/100 in both eyes, corrected to 20/20.
• Certification as an Iowa Police Officer within twelve months of employment.
• NCIC certification within twelve months of employment.
• CPR/First Aid/AED certifications within twelve months of employment.
• Valid Iowa driver's license.
• All certifications required by the I.L.E.A.
• Ability to meet the standards of acceptance for the I.L.E.A
• Ability to meet all physical standards for the job as specified by the Police Retirement System.
• Ability to perform physical functions of the job while wearing personal protective equipment.
• Positions filled within the Urbandale Police Department require employees to reside within a 50 mile radius of the Urbandale Police Department.

Please click HERE to review the requirements & disqualifying factors document.

Must successfully complete the following post-offer, pre-employment requirements: physical, drug screening, psychological exam, background/motor vehicle report/credit check, and polygraph required.

Other Qualifications