The Patrol Officer is under the general direction of the Chief of Police and subordinate to the Captain and Sergeant. An Officer in Charge (OIC) acts in place of a police supervisor when a higher ranking supervisor is not available. A Patrol Officer enforces local, State and Federal laws and ordinances; performs criminal investigations; and performs related duties as required.
The Grinnell Police Department serves a community of approximately 9,500 residents. The Department currently has an authorized strength of 14 full time police officers. Patrol officers work a 12-hour tour of duty, with every other weekend off. In 2023 Grinnell officers responded to over 12,300 calls for service. In addition to patrol, officers have an opportunity to become involved in collateral duties such as crime prevention, training, traffic safety, criminal investigations, and a Central Iowa drug taskforce. The City of Grinnell is centrally located along Interstate 80, between the Des Moines metro area and Iowa City. Additional information concerning the Grinnell community may be obtained from the Grinnell Chamber of Commerce (https://www.grinnellchamber.org/).
Be a U.S. Citizen and a resident of Iowa or intend to become a resident upon being employed; Is 18 years of age at time of appointment; Hold a valid Iowa driver’s license upon appointment; Not be addicted to drugs or alcohol; Be of good moral character as determined by a thorough background investigation including a fingerprint search conducted of local, state and national fingerprint files and have not been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude; Successfully pass physical fitness tests Not be opposed to use of force to fulfill duties; Be a high school graduate or hold a GED certificate; Have uncorrected vision of not less than 20/100 in both eyes, corrected to 20/20, and color vision consistent with the Occupational demands of law enforcement; Have normal hearing in each ear (hearing aids are acceptable if a candidate can demonstrate sufficient hearing proficiency to perform all necessary duties of a law enforcement officer); Be examined by a physician and meet the physical requirements necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of a law enforcement officer. Undergo psychological testing. Undergo cognitive (Basic Skills) testing