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Become an Officer

Thank you for your interest in becoming a police officer with the Columbus Police Department. The department is currently seeking qualified men and women to serve a progressive Nebraska community of approximately 21,000 residents. Current staffing allows for 36 sworn officers.

Minimum Requirements

Police officer candidates must be at least 21 years of age at the time of appointment and possess a high school diploma or G.E.D. United States citizenship is required along with the ability to speak and understand the English language. Candidates must have no felony or serious misdemeanor convictions of crimes involving moral turpitude. A valid Nebraska operator’s license is required at the time of appointment. Vision must be corrected to 20/20 without color blindness and hearing shall be in the normal range. Minimum health and medical standards are prescribed by the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center.

Testing and Selection Process

Appointments are made as vacancies occur. Candidates who fail entry level testing, or who are not appointed, may make application at a later time. All testing and ranking of Police Officer candidates is under the direction of the Columbus Civil Service Commission.

The testing and selection process will include the following steps at a minimum:

1. Upon notification by the Civil Service Commission, applications may be obtained and returned between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Columbus City Personnel Office. A supplemental questionnaire is also required. All required application materials must be submitted by the closing date indicated in classified advertising.
2. A written exam will be administered by the Civil Service Commission.
3. A physical agility test will be administered, usually within 24 hours of the written exam.
4. As a result of steps 1 through 3, candidates will be scheduled for oral interviews with the Civil Service Commission.
5. Based on the results of steps 1, 2, 3 and 4, a select number of candidates will be the subject of background investigations conducted by the Columbus Police Department. Candidates may be interviewed at this step by Investigators in order to clarify information supplied by the candidate on the supplemental questionnaire.
6. Based on the results of the above steps, the Civil Service Commission will certify three candidates for the Mayor’s consideration, with one additional candidate being certified for each additional vacancy. Appointments are made by the Mayor and approved by the City Council.
7. Psychological and physical exams will be administered to candidates after being offered employment. Polygraph tests and drug screening may be administered.
8. All candidates making application will be notified of the status of their application within thirty days of the completion of the testing and selection process. This notification will be made by the Civil Service Commission.

Salary and Benefits (Effective 10/01/09 through 09/30/10)

Sworn members of the Columbus Police Department under the rank of captain are represented in collective bargaining by the Columbus Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 72.

Police officer salary range is $2,909.00 to $4,033.50 per month in eight annual pay steps. After Field Training, officers are placed on step two.

The Pay Plan for Investigators and Police Officers for October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010. Pay rates quoted are monthly rates.

The Pay Plan for Sergeants for October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010. Pay rates quoted are monthly rates.

Overtime is paid at the rate of one and one half times the regular hourly rate. Holiday hours and vacation hours are counted as time worked for the purpose of calculating overtime

Sick leave is earned at the rate of eight hours for each full month of service, with a maximum accumulation of 1,040 hours. Unused sick leave is paid at 50% upon retirement. If death occurs, the full amount of sick leave is paid to your beneficiary. Sick leave may be also used to care for a family member.

There are ten paid holidays.

The City of Columbus provides a life insurance policy for all Police Officers equal to one and one quarter of their annual wages. Additional term life coverage is available at very low cost. Personal medical, and disability insurance is provided at $35.70 per month to the employee. Family coverage is provided at $214.40 per month. A prescription card is provided for the police officer. Dental insurance is also provided.

Vacation is provided at the rate of eighty hours per year after the first year of employment, one hundred twenty hours per year after six years of employment, and one hundred sixty hours per year after fifteen years of employment.

Police officers receive $25 per month for an associate degree, $65 per month for a bachelor’s degree, and $90 per month for a master’s degree. Police officers receive 80% reimbursement of tuition, books, and fees for pre-approved college course work.

All uniforms and equipment are provided at no cost to the employee. In addition, an equipment and uniform allowance of $48 per month is accumulated in a personal account for approved purchases.

A shift differential of 50¢ per hour is paid for hours worked between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

If required to carry a pager, police officers receive three hours of extra pay per day.

Police officers may take compensatory time in lieu of overtime and build up to 250 hours. Compensatory time is earned at time and one half. Once annually, officers may sell-back to the City up to 50 hours of compensatory time.

There is a minimum emergency call back benefit of two hours overtime when called in to work on a regular day off. Anytime an officer is called in to duty when not normally scheduled, overtime rate applies.

Police officers may elect to deduct pre-tax dollars into an approved deferred compensation program.

Up to 36 working hours are provided for compassionate leave.

Police officers are served by a credit union that offers preferred rates on savings and loans. Convenient payroll deduction is available.

A matching contribution program provides the police officer with pension benefits at retirement. Vested pension funds may be transferred should you leave City employment.

Training

All police officers must successfully complete training at the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center. After completion, the police officer must successfully complete a Field Training and Evaluation Program. In-service training is provided on a continuing basis.

Contact

Application forms may be completed and mailed to the address below.

Persons having any additional questions relating to a law enforcement career with the Columbus Police Department may direct those questions by: or mail to: