Police Department recruitment
Police Department Links
We want you to join our team!
- Current BPD job postings
- Sign up for public safety job notifications
- Pathways to Policing
- Police Cadet
- Police Officer
- Public Safety Telecommunicator (Civilian Police and Fire Dispatcher)
What makes Bloomington a destination department?
A thriving community of approximately 90,000 residents and the fourth largest city in the state. Home to Mall of America and adjacent to MSP airport, Bloomington is both an employment and hospitality hub for the region.The Bloomington Police Department (BPD) has a long history of being a leader in Minnesota law enforcement and has one of the most wide-ranging and sophisticated service capabilities of any department in the state. The BPD hires for character, trains for competence, and unwaveringly reinforces the mission, vision, and core value within the organization. We are a team that prides itself on respect which is demonstrated through our compassionate and honest service. The officers on the street, the investigators, the special operations units, and the civilians in dispatching and support aspire to be on the cutting edge of public safety and service. The staff is close knit and long tenured.
2024 - 2025 Pay range
2024 Pay Range (effective December 23, 2023)
- Step 1: $38.51 (new hire)
- Step 2: $40.90 (after 1 year of service)
- Step 3: $45.89 (after 2 years of service)
- Step 4: $48.38 (after 3 years of service)
- Step 5: $50.87 (after 4 years of service)
- Step 6: $52.37 (after 5 years of service)
- Step 7: $53.86 (after 10 years of service)
- Step 8: $55.35 (after 15 years of service)
2025 Pay Range (effective December 23, 2024)
- Step 1: $39.86 (new hire)
- Step 2: $42.34 (after 1 year of service)
- Step 3: $47.50 (after 2 years of service)
- Step 4: $50.08 (after 3 years of service)
- Step 5: $52.66 (after 4 years of service)
- Step 6: $54.20 (after 5 years of service)
- Step 7: $55.75 (after 10 years of service)
- Step 8: $57.29 (after 15 years of service)
Education incentive
Employees possessing a Bachelor's Degree from a regionally accredited college or university shall have a wage rate that is 1% higher than the amounts above. Incentivized pay is provided for specialty assignments, i.e. FTO, instructors.
Special assignment opportunities
- 21 member ERU Team
- Crisis Negotiations Team
- Bomb Squad
- 7 K9 officers (6 street, 1 narcotic)
- 24 member Investigative Unit (take home car)
- Crime Prevention Unit
- Traffic Unit
- Mall of America/South Loop Unit 2 sergeants, 10 officers and 1 detective
- Training Unit with 50 collateral duty instructor positions for Firearms, Use of Force, Reality Based, Emergency Vehicle Operation, Taser
- Robust training budget
- Field Training Officer
In addition to an excellent benefits package, officers receive:
- $1150 uniform allowance
- 112 holiday hours
- 480 max vacation (over 21 years of service) 84 hours annually
- 480 max compensation time (in lieu of overtime pay)
- 8.67 hours of personal leave per month with balances over 1000 hours converted to a health care savings plan
- .25 hours of straight time in addition to shift hours for roll call training
- 3 hour minimum for call backs
- Contractual overtime opportunities
Steps to join our team
- Application submission
- 2-3 interviews
- Background
- Standard medical exam and psychological assessment
*Customizable/accelerated field training program based upon prior experience and competency.
What is pathways to policing?
A program designed to bring candidates into the field of law enforcement, thereby removing barriers for those who wish to enter the career. Specifically, candidates with cultural competency skills and tools and those who experience living or working with culturally diverse populations will be given preference in order to more closely align departments with the communities they serve.
- No prior law enforcement training or experience required but must have a two or four-year regionally accredited college degree in any field of study
- Earn pay and benefits while attending full-time schooling for approximately 22 weeks.
- All source fees and equipment are provided and paid for.
- Upon graduation and successful completion of the POST licensure, trainees will be promoted to probationary sworn police officers.
Special assignment opportunities
- 21 member SWAT Team
- Crisis Negotiations Team
- Bomb Squad
- 7 K9 officers (6 street, 1 narcotic)
- 24 member Investigative Unit (take home car)
- Crime Prevention Unit
- Traffic Unit
- Mall of America/South Loop Unit 2 sergeants, 10 officers and 1 detective
- Training Unit with 50 collateral duty instructor positions for Firearms, Use of Force, Reality Based, Emergency Vehicle Operation, Taser
- Robust training budget
- Field Training Officer (1 hour of straight pay per shift based on current rate)
In addition to an excellent benefits package, officers receive:
- $1,050 uniform allowance
- 104 holiday hours
- 480 max vacation
- 480 max compensation time (in lieu of overtime pay)
- 8.67 hours of personal leave per month with balances over 1000 hours converted to a health care savings plan
- .25 hours of straight time in addition to shift hours for roll call training
- 3 hour minimum for call backs
- Contractual overtime opportunities
What is a police cadet?
Individuals academically pursuing a future career in law enforcement are needed to fill positions of Police Cadet. This position is identified as an apprenticeship for individuals who will provide various support services to the Police Department. Bloomington Police Cadets have the opportunity to be promoted to the position of Police Officer upon completion of their current academic program.
- This position is not designed to be long-term.
- Police Cadets must be attending a minimum of 3/4 enrollment in a post-secondary law enforcement program or college level courses in criminal justice or related field.
- Opportunity to be promoted to police officer following an application process.
Minimum qualifications
- High School graduate or G.E.D. equivalent
- Valid driver's license
- Currently enrolled in a post-secondary law enforcement program or college level courses in criminal justice, police science or related subjects
Desirable qualifications
- Experience in police related work such as police reserve, police explorer, or police cadet program; or criminal justice internship
- Prior Community Service Officer or Cadet experience with another agency
- Paid or volunteer experience working with animals
- One year or more of public contact or customer service experience
Benefits and pay at a glance
- Part-time, non-exempt, non-union earn Paid Time Off
- Schedule anticipated to average 25 hours per week.
- Uniform provided
The role of a dispatcher
This critical role serves as the vital communications link between the public needing help and emergency services response. Dispatchers are typically the first point of contact when a person reaches out for help. This entails a candidate to be able to work independently in a high stress environment while receiving and evaluating incoming emergency and administrative requests for emergency services, including but not limited to law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services (EMS); triaging those requests for service; providing guidance and assistance to the public in lifesafety situations; and coordinating appropriate responses to high-risk, highstress operations, with the objective of keeping all participants safe.
Steps to joining our team
- Application submission
- Application review
- Critical test
- Select Advantage test
- Interview
- Sit-along
- Chiefs Interview
- Background
- Standard medical exam
- Psychological assessment
In addition to an excellent benefits package, dispatchers receive:
- 104 holiday hours
- 8.67 hours of personal leave per month with balances over 1000 hours converted to a health care savings plan
- Vacation accrual based on years of service
- .25 hours of over time for roll call training
- Step 1 starting wage of $30.35 per hour.
- Applicants with 2-3 years of experience may be considered at a higher step.
- Overtime opportunities
Explorers Program
The Bloomington Police Department (BPD) has a long history of being a leader in Minnesota law enforcement and has one of the most wide-ranging and sophisticated service capabilities of any department in the state. The Explorers program is for 14-20 YO's with meetings on Thursday nights mid Sept - April. Hands-on training, demonstrations, community engagement, competitions and more! Info meeting Thur., Sept 12 @ 7pm. Bloomington Police, 1800 W Old Shakopee Rd.
The Bloomington Police Reserves are a dedicated team of volunteers who assist the Bloomington Police Department by donating their time and effort to the city and the community. Volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds. Some individuals are interested in a law enforcement career while others wish to provide worthwhile community service that contributes to the safety and security of Bloomington.
Full information of the Reserves Program here under Police Reserve Unit.
What people say about working here
"The variety of specialty opportunities at Bloomington were important for me to feel I could have a long and interesting career at one department." -BPD officer
"Every day is different and we're a great team that likes to have fun too." -PD dispatcher
"Treating our community with respect is the utmost importance to me and I value working in an environment where respect is foundational to everything we do." -BPD Commander
"We are a family here at BPD; we care for our community, we care for each other. If we are the most respectful, we will be the most respected agency in the country." -Chief Hodges
Our Fitness Room
Our department encourages staff to exercise, stay healthy and reduce stress levels. Having an on-site fitness center gives staff the opportunity to partake in and maintain a healthy lifestyle.