The Cedar Rapids Police Department welcomes diversity in all forms including; race, gender, background, and thought. The City strives for a workforce that reflects the community we serve. The Cedar Rapids Police Department appreciates the values, leadership, and unique skills service members bring to the workforce and encourages opportunities to employ Guardsmen, Reservists, and Veterans. The City of Cedar Rapids is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
If you are interested in joining the Police Department’s mission to actively involve everyone in a team effort to serve, protect, and prevent crime and disorder, as well as provide a safe and secure community in an effective and efficient manner, you are encouraged to apply. Police Officer positions are full-time and offer an opportunity to serve the community.
The Cedar Rapids Police Department is actively recruiting certified law enforcement officers to join our department. Known as lateral transfers, a certified law enforcement officer from another agency, including in or out of the state of Iowa, can be hired by the Cedar Rapids Police Department with step pay consistent with the total number of years of service that you have earned as a certified peace officer.
Our application period for 2024 has concluded.
The tentative 2024 law enforcement officer recruiting timeline is as follows:
Applications accepted - October 30, 2023 - January 4, 2024
Personal History Questionnaire Due - January 18, 2024
Physical Agility and POST Written Test - January 24, 2024 or January 27, 2024
Pre Polygraph Interviews - January 29-January 31, 2024
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) - February 12, 2024
Civil Service Oral Interviews - February 12 - February 13, 2024
Polygraphs - February 12 - February 23, 2024
Vision Testing (ILEA Required) - at conclusion of polygraph
Background Investigations - concluded by March 22, 2024
Civil Service Certifies List - March 26, 2024
Medicals - March 27 - May 8, 2024
Date of Hire - May 22, 2024
In 2024, recruiting efforts resulted in:
- 129 applications returned
- 69 applicants were invited to take the Cooper Physical Fitness Test
- 30 applicants took the written test
- 26 passed the written test
- 15 applicants were named on the certified list
- 9 applicants were offered conditional employment as Cedar Rapids Police Officers to begin on May 22, 2024
Recruits in 2024 will receive 19 weeks of instruction. Topics and hours required include:
- Program Administration - 26.5 hours (Includes tests, moot court)
- Patrol and Traffic - 55.5 hours (Includes Vehicles Stops, Building Searches, Accident Investigation, Traffic Law Enforcement, OWI)
- Tactical Skills - 199.5 hours (Firearms, Defensive Tactics, Physical Training, Felony Calls)
- Life Skills - 142.5 hours (Includes Crash Injury Management, Fingerprints, Interview/Interrogation, Crime Scene, Searching, Report Writing)
- Investigation of Specific Crimes - 112 hours (Includes Street Intoxication, Narcotics, Vehicle Theft, Hate Crimes, Domestic and Sexual Abuse, Burglary, Death Investigations)
- Legal Topics - 68.5 hours (Criminal Law, Due Process, Law of Arrest, Search and Seizure, Juvenile Law, OWI Law, Rules of Evidence, Narcotics Law, Civil Liability, Testifying in Court)
- Communication Skills - 37.5 hours (Includes Deaf Culture, Death Notification, Interviews and Interrogation, Report Writing, Social Media, Testifying in Court, Verbal Defense and Influence)
- Foundations of American Policing - 17 hours
- Miscellaneous CR Regional Academy Content - 42.5 hours (Crime Prevention, Civil Rights, Canine, Crowd Control, Police and Society)
For reference, the following application supplements for the 2023 recruitment process are available for your review:
Minimal Physical Fitness Performance - Application Supplement
Cedar Rapids Police Officer Required Qualifications and Disqualifiers
Cedar Rapids Police Department Hiring Orientation (Power Point Presentation)
Career Information Packet
Criminal History Record Check Authorization
If you have any questions regarding the hiring process for the Cedar Rapids Police Department, contact crpdrecruiting@cedar-rapids.org.
Qualifications
The Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Council, in recognizing the importance of physical fitness status for job performance, has established the following physical regimen as a pre-employment standard effective February 15, 1993.
No person can be selected or appointed as a law enforcement officer without first successfully passing all of the elements of this test. (See 501 IAC 2.1, adopted pursuant to Section 80B.11C5), Code of Iowa).
Upon entry into the Academy, every candidate will be given the same test as an assessment for training purposes and to ensure that each recruit can undergo the physical demands of the Academy without undo risk of injury, and with a level of fatigue tolerance to meet all Academy requirements. If, at the time of entrance into the Academy, an officer does not meet minimum standards, he or she will not be admitted.
Any questions you may have about these standards should be directed to the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy at 515-242-5357.
1 Minute Sit-Up Test
This is a measure of the muscular endurance of the abdominal muscles. It is an important area for performing police tasks that may involve the use of force and is an important area for maintaining good posture and minimizing lower back problems. The score is in number of bent leg sit-ups performed in 1 minute.
1 Minute Push-Up Test
This test requires you to push your own weight off the floor. This measures the amount of force the upper body can generate and is an important area for performing police tasks requiring upper body strength. The score is calculated by the number of push-ups performed in one minute. (Females in excess of 49 years of age may do push-ups on their knees.)
1.5 Mile Run
This is a timed run to measure the heart and vascular system's capability to transport oxygen. It is an important area for performing police tasks involving stamina and endurance and to minimize the risk of cardiovascular problems. The score is in minutes and seconds.
In keeping with employee wellness concepts, the Cedar Rapids Police Department maintains a fully equipped on-site exercise facility utilizing the latest Universal aerobic super circuit machines. The facility is enjoyed by all employees with the aid of trained exercise physiologists to assist individual employees in exercise program planning.
Selection Process
After submitting a completed application, the following additional qualifying requirements must be met:
- Attain a minimum of 70% grade in pre-employment written examination in order to continue in the testing process. We utilize the Police Officer Selection Test (POST) through Stanard and Associates, Inc. Here is a link to an online practice test and/or study guide. POST Test
- Voluntarily submit to, and pass, a polygraph examination designed to verify application information, help determine suitability, and further support his or her contention of good moral character. Results of polygraph examinations cannot be used as a single determinant of employment status.
- Satisfactorily complete psychological testing to determine cognitive skills, personality characteristics, and suitability of an applicant for a law enforcement career.
- Must participate in one or more oral interviews held by the hiring authority, or representative(s), to determine such things as appearance, background, rationale for seeking a career in law enforcement, and the ability of the applicant to communicate with all of the citizens with whom contact might be made.
- After an offer for employment, applicants will complete required testing performed by the City Nurse to include health and physical assessment, visual and hearing acuity and pulmonary function testing. Some applicants may be asked to take additional tests with other medical experts.
- After an offer for employment, applicants will be examined by a physician to determine if free from any physical, emotional, or mental condition which might adversely affect the performance of law enforcement related activities. This includes a standard physical examination to include heart, lungs, chest, back, eyes, ears, nose, throat, and any other area deemed appropriate by the examining physician under the direction of and as specified by the Police Pension Board. It will also include a pre-employment drug test, maximal treadmill stress, EKG, x-rays, and lab work.
- Complete a battery of three physical qualification tests to demonstrate your ability to satisfactorily perform job related tasks.
- Applicants not selected are encouraged to reapply.
Contact information:
Police General Services
319-286-5440
