Police Officer
Hiring the Best and the Brightest.
Interested in becoming a Police Officer for the Longmont Police Department? Can you apply your life experiences and education to communicate effectively, solve problems, and resolve conflicts? Are you willing and able to work with people of diverse cultures and backgrounds? We seek individuals who can enforce the law impartially, who can promote the Constitutional rights of all, and who want to work with citizens to improve the quality of life in Longmont.
We anticipate opening a ateral process in early December 2026. Please contact Master Police Officer Ryan Douglas at 303-651-8512 with any questions.
Minimum Qualifications
Applicants must meet the following Minimum Qualifications prior to submitting an application:
- 21 years of age or older,
- Authorization to work in the United States,
- No felony convictions or “decertifying misdemeanors” (as determined by POST)
- Possession of a valid driver’s license,
- A high school diploma or GED, and at least 60 semester hours*, OR:
- 60 semester hours college-level credit requirement may be waived for:
- Signed agreement to complete 60 semester hours college-level credit within five years of hire date.
- 60 semester hours college-level credit requirement may be waived for:
- No patently offensive or disparaging tattoos or visible tattoos on the face or neck are allowed.
POST certification is NOT required to apply.
*Credit Hours: Only credit hours at a grade of “C” or better will be counted toward the 60 overall credit hours, unless a degree was obtained All credit hours must be from a nationally recognized accrediting agency as approved through the US Dept. of Education (DOE). It will be incumbent for the applicant to prove education qualifications prior to testing.
Additional desired qualifications:
- A bachelor’s degree from a DOE accredited institution.
- Proficient in Spanish/English bilingual skills.
- Background and experience relating to and/or working with a diverse group of people from different races, ethnic backgrounds, ages, disabilities, socioeconomic groups, and/or both genders.
- Ability to speak in public, facilitate group meetings, resolve conflict, and solve problems.
- POST Certified
General Information
- Applications for all positions are only accepted during an open process.
- Applications must be submitted through the City of Longmont electronic HR application form.
- Resumes are NOT accepted in lieu of any portion of the application. If a resume is submitted and does not exactly match the application, the application will be rejected.
- New employees are subject to sign an employment agreement for reimbursement of expenses if an employee voluntarily resigned within two years of hire date.
We offer a “Lateral Hiring” option for individuals currently employed as sworn police officers.
To be eligible for Lateral equivalent pay, time from previous law enforcement experience must not exceed one year from date of separation to date of application submitted with Longmont Police.
Lateral hires will start at the pay level equal to the number of FULL years of sworn experience*. This experience includes time in patrol or an investigative type assignment but not for corrections or detention assignments. Full years of service do not include time in the academy or field training.
Colorado POST Certification is not required but preferred. Colorado POST Certification can be obtained by the lateral, by way of challenging the POST Certification Test within a reasonable time after being hired. Lateral applicants must be able to meet the Provisional Certification Requirements. Questions regarding Colorado POST certification may be answered by calling (720) 508-6721.
The Longmont Police Department is actively involved in the philosophy and application of the concepts of Community Oriented Policing. This involves actively working with the community to identify and resolve problems. This philosophy includes inviting community groups and individuals to address specific issues and develop innovative ideas regarding the continually changing needs of the community. We are also looking for individuals possessing bilingual skills in English/Spanish. Bilingual employees, once testing for skill level, are paid extra.
*It will be incumbent for the applicant to prove full years of service.
Laterals can apply for a specialty division or collateral assignment upon completion of FTEP if they have at least (1 collateral, 2 specialized) years of prior law enforcement experience.
Your pay is commensurate with your years of approved service. The yearly pay scale (as of 2026) is as follows:
| Year 1 (FTO) | Step 1 | $7,276 |
| Year 2 | Step 2 | $7,814 |
| Year 3 | Step 3 | $8,327 |
| Year 4 | Step 4 | $8,841 |
| Year 5 | Step 5 | $9,355 |
| Year 6+ | Step 6 | $9,878 |
Laterals will begin receiving their allotted step assignment as soon as they are hired.
A lateral hire takes 6-8 weeks. New hire is 4-6 months.
Every candidate, no matter their experience level, must complete National Testing Network (NTN) testing, a pre-screening interview, oral board interviews, a physical agility test, a physical examination, a background check, a drug test, and a psychological exam.
$87,312 – $118,536
$124,464
Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, sick and vacation time. The police department supplies uniforms, equipment, and body armor. There is some optional equipment that can be purchased at the employee’s discretion. Biannual clothing/cleaning allowance are provided.
Uniformed Police Benefit Package – 2026
*The Longmont Police Department has a Master Police Officer position for officers who qualify and apply. In general, qualifications include at least ten years in Patrol or a combination of five years of employment with the LPD and at least two years of service in a specialized assignment.
Will I get vacation and sick leave?
Yes. All new City Employees start out with 40 hours of vacation leave upon hire.
Sick time is a standard of 3.69 hours per pay period no matter how many years you serve.
You accrue vacation at the rate commensurate with your years of experience.
| 1-5 years | 7.08 per pay period |
| 5-10 years | 8.00 per pay period |
| 10-15 years | 8.93 per pay period |
| 15+ years | 9.85 per pay period |
Does Longmont have a pension retirement plan for employees?
Currently, we offer:
FPPA Statewide Defined Benefit Plan
All new Police Officers become members of the Fire and Police Pension Association of Colorado (FPPA) statewide defined benefit plan. Members may receive a monthly lifetime benefit up on meeting the eligibility requirements for retirement. The following types of retirement are available under the plan: Normal (including Rule of 80), Early, Vested or Deferred. Members who have attained 25 years of service credit in the plan and at least age 55, or meet the Rule of 80, qualify for normal retirement. Monthly benefit is based on the highest 3 years’ base salary and calculated at 2% per year for the first 10 years of service credit plus 2.5% per year for each additional year of service credit. The plan offers a Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP). The plan is portable if employed by other Colorado police departments covered by the plan.
Retiree Health Savings Account
Employees participate in this retiree health benefit savings vehicle that allows the accumulation of assets to pay for medical expenses in retirement on a tax-free basis. The employee contributes 1% of base salary (before taxes) and the City contributes 1%. Additional funds go into an employee’s account by contributions of unused sick leave accumulations.
Section 457 Investment Plan
The City offers employees an optional Deferred Compensation Plan, which defers federal and some state income taxes until retirement. Employees direct their funds into several investment options provided through ICMA. This plan includes a Roth contribution option.
Some extras:
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Rifle Loan Program
What health benefits are offered to employees?
The City of Longmont offers medical, dental, and vision coverage.
Some extras:
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP). No cost for employee and family members.
- Flexible Spending Accounts (pre-tax savings for dependent and healthcare expenses)
The Essential Functions Course (Police Agility Test) consists of 8 tasks.
Elements of the Essential Functions Course-
– A Fitness Coach will guide the participant(s) through the mandatory course and provide the participant(s) with additional instruction prior to the test. Time will be provided for the participant(s) to work on different aspects of the course prior to testing.
– The participant will get three attempts to run the course on the testing date.
– The passing time to complete the course is 1 minute and 30 seconds (1:30), with no disqualifications.
– The participant(s) will start in the seated position. An instructor will state a specific color for the participant to remember, and the participant must repeat that color to the instructor. The time starts when you stand up.
The course is a total of 145 yards long, and the participant is expected to run between obstacles as follows:
– Obstacle Jump: The participant will run to and jump over a 3-foot wide obstacle. If the participant does not completely clear the obstacle, they will be disqualified, and the test will stop.
– Wall Climb: The participant will run to the next obstacle, a 5-foot wall, and climb or jump over the top of it. If the participant does not get over the top of the obstacle, or if time expires prior to the participant climbing over the obstacle, they will be disqualified, and the test will stop.
– Low Crawl: The participant will run to the next obstacle and low crawl under a 10-foot-long obstacle. If a participant knocks down any portion of the obstacle or crossbar, they will be disqualified, and the test will stop. The crossbar is 24 inches above the protective ground mat.
– Step Climb: The participant will run to the next obstacle, a six inch step. The participant will step 12 times; the motion must be up/up, down/down as demonstrated. If the participant does not complete the step 12 times as instructed, they will be disqualified, and the test will stop.
– Window Climb: The participant will run to the next obstacle, a simulated window, and will climb through a 36-inch by 34-inch opening. The bottom of the window is three feet off the ground.
– The participant must not touch the top of the opening. If a participant cannot climb through the opening, the time has expired, or they touch the top of the opening, they will be disqualified, and the test will stop.
Suspect Identification: The participant will run to the next obstacle, which simulates different-looking suspects. The participant must clearly identify the suspect by matching the color with the number. The participant must call out the number that corresponds with the color given at the beginning. If the participant does not remember the number or does not correctly associate the number with the color, the participant will be disqualified, and the test will stop.
Dummy Drag: The participant will run to the dummy representing an incapacitated individual. The dummy weighs 154 pounds. The participant will drag the entire dummy beyond the mark, indicating, 5 yards. If the participant cannot complete this portion of the test, or time expires, they will be disqualified, and the test will stop.
Weapon Manipulation: The participant will run to the next obstacle and safely manipulate a weapon as demonstrated prior to the test. The participant must place the barrel of the weapon through a 6-inch opening with their unsupported dominant hand and pull the trigger once. The participant must remove the weapon’s barrel from the opening and switch the weapon to their non-dominant hand. The participant will place the barrel of the weapon through the 6-inch opening with their unsupported non-dominant hand and pull the trigger once. The weapon must not touch the 6-inch opening. If the participant does not complete the test as instructed or if the weapon touches the opening, they will be disqualified, and the test will stop.
Timing of the test stops once the participant safely places the weapon down in the designated place.
The City of Longmont is an equal opportunity employer.
Why City of Longmont?
- The Longmont Police Department is a progressive and community-orientated team of law enforcement professionals. If you are a qualified individual looking for long-term employment in a rewarding field, please apply today.
- A quick look at Longmont. Founded in 1871 as the Chicago-Colorado Colony, Longmont was named in honor of Longs Peak, a 14,259-foot peak visible from anywhere in the city.
Here are some of the numbers behind Longmont today:
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- 101,561 residents
- 4,979 feet above sea level
- 93 miles of trails and greenway
- 300 days of sunshine on average each year
- 147 dine in restaurants
- 93 miles of trails and greenway
- 42 parks and nature areas
- 6 dog parks, including a dog beach
- 3 outdoor swimming pools, 2 indoor
- 3 public golf courses
- 23 open space properties
- 1,996 acres of open space
- 969-acre Nature Preserve (Button Rock)
Yes. You have one year from the day you are hired to successfully challenge the Colorado POST. Longmont Police will make arrangements for you and work to prepare you for the testing process to help ensure your success. You will start with a Field Training Officer (FTO) and be paid your designated step salary while you are waiting to challenge the POST test.
We DO offer a take home car program. However, we do not currently have vehicles for a true 1-1 car take home plan. Until we get the vehicles required, we offer a hybrid take-home plan where you can take your vehicle home on the days you work. This program is available to all officers who have completed FTO and live within 25 miles of the city limits.
We recommend checking out some of the following websites for information regarding buying and renting in the northern Colorado area:
The Longmont Police Department is comprised of 167 commissioned staff and 75 professional staff.
We work 4- 10 hour shifts a week
For those that meet the minimum requirement and are selected, we offer a Sergeant Apprentice Program. This program provides on the job training working with an on-duty Sergeant and allows officers to get a well-rounded understanding of what it takes to be a supervisor. The program runs for a year and allows you to work with different Sergeants to garner a better understanding the position. Additionally, the city has a tuition reimbursement program that will pay you up to $1500 a year for all courses successfully completed that pertain to your job field.
Yes. We have several contracted security, special events, and shift coverage overtime assignments throughout the year. When working an overtime shift you are paid your hourly rate plus half.