MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Coon Rapids Police Open New Continuous Recruitment for Part-Time Community Service Officers

COON RAPIDS, MN (August 3, 2026). The Coon Rapids Police Department has opened a new recruitment cycle for part-time Community Service Officers, offering students enrolled in law enforcement programs an opportunity to gain practical experience through non-sworn field and office duties.

The official employment posting opened July 24 and will remain available on a continuous basis, meaning the city has not established a fixed application deadline.

The city is seeking responsible and highly motivated candidates who can work approximately 30 to 32 hours per week. The schedule may include daytime, evening and weekend hours based on departmental needs.

Although classified as part-time, the position qualifies for health and dental benefits, prorated paid time off and holiday pay.

Compensation and Career Development

The city lists an hourly pay range of $27.11 to $33.79. Actual starting compensation may depend on the applicant’s qualifications and experience.

Community Service Officers are not licensed peace officers and do not exercise sworn police authority. Instead, they perform support duties that provide students with direct exposure to municipal law enforcement operations while allowing licensed officers to concentrate on emergency response, criminal investigations and enforcement responsibilities.

The department describes the position as a professional-development opportunity for students preparing for careers in law enforcement. Community Service Officers may be considered for internal police officer openings after completing their education and becoming eligible for Minnesota peace officer licensing.

According to the city, the starting wage for a sworn Coon Rapids police officer after graduation and Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training certification is $44.29 per hour.

Field and Office Responsibilities

Community Service Officers perform a combination of public-facing, administrative and operational duties. Responsibilities may include:

• Assisting with animal-control complaints and transporting stray animals
• Directing traffic and helping manage traffic flow at crash scenes
• Enforcing parking regulations and issuing ordinance citations
• Assisting motorists with vehicle lockouts and towing situations
• Responding to non-emergency service calls
• Conducting traffic-related surveys
• Maintaining supplies and equipment in police vehicles
• Transporting department vehicles for servicing
• Communicating information through police radio systems
• Preparing reports and completing administrative assignments

The work may involve exposure to weather conditions, traffic, animals and other circumstances commonly encountered during police-support operations. Candidates must be capable of performing semi-strenuous work, including lifting up to 50 pounds.

Applicant Requirements

Applicants must be currently enrolled, either full-time or part-time, in a college-level law enforcement program. Candidates must also possess a high school diploma or equivalent and hold a valid Minnesota driver’s license with a satisfactory driving record.

The application requires students to submit documentation verifying their enrollment, such as a current class schedule or academic transcript.

Candidates must demonstrate sound judgment, professionalism, clear written and verbal communication skills and the ability to handle sensitive information appropriately. Because Community Service Officers interact with residents and assist with police operations, applicants must also be able to work respectfully with people from different backgrounds and remain composed in challenging situations.

A New Recruitment Cycle

MinneapoliMedia reported on an earlier Community Service Officer recruitment in April. That application period closed April 27.

The July 24 announcement represents a new recruitment cycle with continuous applications rather than a republication of the previous deadline. The underlying responsibilities and career-development purpose of the position remain substantially similar.

Why This Matters

Community Service Officer programs provide an important bridge between classroom education and licensed police work. Students gain supervised experience serving residents, responding to routine community needs and learning how a municipal police department operates before assuming the broader authority and responsibility of a sworn officer.

For Coon Rapids, the position also expands the department’s capacity by assigning appropriate non-emergency duties to trained support personnel. That can help licensed officers devote more time to emergency calls, criminal investigations and public-safety concerns requiring sworn authority.

The continuous application period gives eligible law enforcement students a longer window to pursue paid, career-related experience while completing their education. With benefits, flexible scheduling and the possibility of consideration for future police officer openings, the position can serve both the department’s immediate operational needs and its longer-term effort to develop qualified officers familiar with the Coon Rapids community.

Interested applicants can review the complete qualifications and submit an application through the City of Coon Rapids employment portal.

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