Behind the Badge: Coon Rapids Police Department Opens Recruitment for Civilian Police Technician

COON RAPIDS, MN

As law enforcement agencies across Minnesota continue to recalibrate how public safety work is delivered, the Coon Rapids Police Department is quietly expanding one of the least visible but most consequential roles inside the department. The city is now recruiting for a full time Police Technician, a civilian position responsible for the administrative and records backbone that allows modern policing to function with accuracy, accountability, and public trust.

The recruitment, announced jointly by the police department and the City of Coon Rapids, comes amid a broader effort to strengthen civilian support staffing and deepen community facing operations. Applications for the position close February 12, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. Central Time, according to the official posting on the city’s career portal.

A role that holds the system together

While patrol officers and investigators remain the most visible representatives of law enforcement, police technicians occupy a critical space behind the scenes. In Coon Rapids, the position is designed to manage the department’s records ecosystem, support investigations, and serve as a primary point of contact between residents and the criminal justice system.

According to the city’s job description, the police technician is responsible for classifying and coding police incidents, citations, and parking tickets into the department’s records management system. Accuracy here is not optional. These records must meet strict state and federal standards tied to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the National Crime Information Center, systems that connect local departments to courts, prosecutors, and other agencies nationwide.

The role also supports investigative work, including the transcription of recorded interviews and statements, the assembly of case files for prosecution and discovery, and the submission of cases to state authorities. Errors or delays at this stage can ripple outward, affecting everything from charging decisions to court outcomes.

The public facing side of policing

Beyond records and investigations, the police technician often serves as the public’s first point of contact with the department. Duties include staffing the front counter and non emergency phone lines, processing handgun purchase permits, coordinating the release of towed vehicles, and responding to routine records requests.

The position also involves background checks, scanning and validating reports, and assisting with the maintenance of property and evidence rooms. Access to sensitive criminal justice databases means candidates must pass a thorough background investigation and demonstrate the ability to learn and comply with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.

Pay, qualifications, and expectations

The City of Coon Rapids has set a competitive compensation structure for the role:

• Full salary range: $63,398.40 to $78,936.00 annually, or $30.48 to $37.95 per hour
• Hiring range: $30.48 to $32.23 per hour, depending on initial qualifications

Minimum qualifications include a high school diploma or equivalent and at least one year of relevant administrative or law enforcement support experience. Candidates must be able to type at least 60 words per minute and demonstrate proficiency in digital transcription. Preferred experience includes familiarity with offense classification and calls for service coding aligned with state and federal guidelines.

The department context

The Coon Rapids Police Department operates as a 24 hour agency, with approximately 65 sworn officers supported by an estimated 12 to 15 civilian and support staff. City leaders describe an employee focused culture that emphasizes professional development, wellness, and community trust.

Benefits outlined by the city include health and dental insurance, participation in the Public Employees Retirement Association, tuition reimbursement, deferred compensation options, paid holidays, and wellness initiatives such as on site workout facilities and designated wellness days.

The department also highlights its investment in community relationships through initiatives like the BRIDGE Committee, Building Relationships, Inspiring Dialogue, and Generating Empathy, which reflects a broader philosophy that public safety is sustained not only through enforcement, but through trust and engagement.

How to apply

Interested applicants can view the full job description and submit application materials through the City of Coon Rapids Career Portal on GovernmentJobs. The posting for the Police Technician position closes February 12, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. Central Time.

In an era when data accuracy, transparency, and public access are increasingly central to policing, the role of the police technician stands as a reminder that much of public safety work happens far from the squad car, inside the systems and records that quietly shape justice every day.

MinneapoliMedia