How to Become a Police Officer in Nebraska

• Bellevue, Nebraska
• Grand Island, Nebraska
• Kearney, Nebraska
• Lincoln, Nebraska
• Omaha, Nebraska

Becoming a Police Officer in Bellevue, Nebraska

The Bellevue Police Department is a full-service municipal police agency that serves the more than 50,000 citizens of Bellevue, Nebraska. In addition to providing law enforcement and community services to the citizens of Bellevue, the 98 law enforcement professionals of the Bellevue Police Department also work closely with Offutt Air Force Base and law enforcement personnel within the Omaha Metro area.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the employment process for Bellevue police jobs. Individuals who want to learn how to become a cop by meeting police officer requirements in Bellevue may use this guide’s step-by-step instructions:

1. Meet Minimum Employment Requirements
2. Register for Pre-Employment Testing
3. Apply for Employment
4. Complete and Pass Department Employment Testing
5. Attend Policy Academy Training

Step 1. Meet Minimum Employment Requirements

Before applying for a job with the Bellevue Police Department, you must first study minimum employment requirements for Bellevue police jobs to ensure you qualify. All candidates for Bellevue police jobs must:

• Be at least 20 years old (and at least 21 by the time of policy academy graduation)
• Possess a high school diploma or GED ( college degrees are preferred, but no mandatory)
• Have no felony convictions or serious misdemeanor convictions

Step 2. Register for Pre-Employment Testing

The executive recruiting firm, Morrow and Associates, handles the application and testing process for the Bellevue Police Department. You must therefore contact Morrow and Associates at 402-330-1019, as they will coordinate your registration and administer the written and physical exams required for Bellevue police jobs.

You may register online through Morrow and Associates. You will be required to download, complete and return a Registration packet. You may also pick up and/or drop off the Registration packet at: Morrow and Associates, 17310 Wright Street, Suite 103, Omaha, NE 68130.

The exam process through Morrow and Associates is conducted multiple times throughout the year. You may review upcoming registration dates here.

You may also contact the Bellevue Police Department at 402-293-3106 or professional.standards@bellevue.net if you have any questions regarding the employment process for becoming a police officer in Bellevue.

Step 3. Apply for Employment

Upon the successful completion of both the written and physical exams through Morrow and Associates, the Department will mail you an application for employment. Provided you meet all minimum requirements for employment, you can expect to begin testing through the Department.

Step 4. Complete and Pass Department Employment Testing

You must pass all remaining employment testing through the Bellevue Police Department, which includes undergoing an oral interview, a background examination, a psychological exam, a drug screen, and a medical exam.

Step 5. Attend Policy Academy Training

All new police officer recruits of the Bellevue Police Department must attend mandatory training through the police academy.

Becoming a Police Officer in Grand Island, Nebraska

The Grand Island Police Department (308-385-5400) provides law enforcement services for the 43,000 citizens of Grand Island, Nebraska, as well as for citizens residing in the more than 30 rural communities in the 90-square-mile area surrounding Grand Island.

Individuals who want to learn how to become a cop by meeting police officer requirements in Grand Island can use this guide and its step-by-step instructions:

1. Meet Minimum Employment Requirements
2. Apply for Employment
3. Undergo Preliminary Background Check
4. Take Physical Fitness Evaluation
5. Take the Civil Service Competitive Writing Examination
6. Undergo a Background Investigation and Interview
7. Participate in a Panel Interview
8. Undergo Medical Examination
9. Attend Academy Training

Step 1. Meet Minimum Employment Requirements

If you have aspirations of becoming a police officer in Grand Island, you must first determine if you meet minimum employment requirements. In other words, to attain Grand Island police jobs, you must:

• Have no felony convictions
• Have no domestic violence convictions
• Be a citizen of the United States
• Be in good physical condition
• Be at least 21 by the time of appointment
• Possess a high school diploma or GED

Step 2. Apply for Employment

You may view employment opportunities and apply for available jobs through NeoGov. You may also reach the NeoGov application system through the City of Grand Island’s Job Opportunities page.

You may also request information on open recruitment dates by contacting the Grand Island Police Department at 308-385-5444 ext. 190 or employmentapplications@grand-island.com.

You may also view the Grand Island Police Recruitment Video for more information on becoming a police officer in Grand Island.

Step 3. Undergo Preliminary Background Check

The first step in the employment process, if chosen by the Department as a candidate, is to undergo a preliminary background check.

Step 4. Take Physical Fitness Evaluation

All potential candidates who pass the preliminary background investigation will then qualify to take the physical fitness evaluation, which includes an obstacle course-style assessment.

Step 5. Take the Civil Service Competitive Writing Examination

Candidates who successfully pass the physical fitness evaluation are eligible to take the civil service competitive writing examination.

Step 6. Undergo a Background Investigation and Interview

Only those candidates who successfully pass the civil service writing examination are eligible to participate in a panel interview.

Step 7. Participate in a Panel Interview

Only those candidates who pass the background interview and investigation will receive an invitation to participate in a panel interview. Upon completion of the panel interview, only those candidates recommended by the panel will receive a conditional offer of employment.

Step 8. Undergo Medical Examination

Upon receiving and accepting a conditional offer of employment, candidates must take and pass a thorough medical examination.

Step 9. Attend Academy Training

Select candidates working toward Grand Island police jobs are required to attend an academy training program through the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center.

Becoming a Police Officer in Kearney, Nebraska

The Kearney Police Department in Nebraska currently has 53 sworn officers and 5 full-time community service officers who work throughout two divisions: Operations and Services. These law enforcement officers of Kearney, Nebraska, serve the city’s more than 30,000 citizens.

Individuals who have interest in becoming a police officer in Kearney can use this guide, which provides step-by-step instructions on the employment process:

1. Meet Minimum Employment Requirements
2. Submit an Application for Employment
3. Complete a Written Exam and a Physical Agility Exam
4. Undergo Department Testing
5. Complete Police Academy Training

Step 1. Meet Minimum Employment Requirements

If you want to learn how to become a cop by meeting police officer requirements in Kearney, you must first study the Department’s minimum employment requirements for Kearney police jobs. In particular, all Kearney police officer candidates must:

• Be at least 21 years old
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Possess good moral character
• Be in good physical condition
• Have no felony convictions

Step 2. Submit an Application for Employment

The Kearney Police Department does accept applications for employment available outside of open recruitment periods. However, during open application periods, candidates for Kearney police jobs can register with the Civil Service Commission to take both a written exam and a physical agility exam and can complete a City of Kearney Application for Employment.

Candidates may also apply for employment in-person at: the City of Kearney’s Human Resources Division, 18 East 22^nd Street, Kearney, NE 68848-1180. You may contact the HR Department at 308-233-3215.

Step 3. Complete a Written Exam and a Physical Agility Exam

All candidates for Kearney police jobs must complete and pass a written exam and a physical agility exam through the Civil Service Commission. Once all candidates have completed the pre-employment exams, the Civil Service commission will establish an eligibility list, which is then used by the Department during hiring periods.

Step 4. Undergo Department Testing

Although the Kearney police department does not have information readily available regarding its employment process, standard employment testing for other municipal police departments in Nebraska, including Omaha and Lincoln, includes: a background investigation; a panel interview; a psychological examination; a polygraph examination; and a thorough medical examination.

Step 5. Complete Police Academy Training

Police officer recruits of the Kearney Police Department must attend mandatory police academy training, followed by an extensive field training program.

Becoming a Police Officer in Lincoln, Nebraska

The Lincoln Police Department houses more than 200 police officers assigned to five geographical teams and a number of smaller substations.

If your goal is becoming a police officer in Lincoln, this guide provides step-by-step instructions on the employment process:

1. Meeting the Requirements
2. Submit an Application for Employment
3. Take the Written Exam
4. Take the Physical Fitness Ability Test
5. Undergo an Oral Interview
6. Complete Employment Testing
7. Complete Policy Academy Training

Step 1. Meeting the Requirements

Individuals interested in learning how to become a cop by meeting police officer requirements in Lincoln must first determine if they meet the minimum requirements for employment. In particular, all candidates for Lincoln police jobs must:

• Possess a high school diploma or GED
• Be a United States citizen
• Have no felony or domestic violence convictions
• Have a valid driver’s license
• Be at least 21 years old

Step 2. Submit an Application for Employment

Provided you meet the Department’s minimum requirements for employment, you can begin the process of becoming a police officer in Lincoln. Before you can submit an application for employment, however, you must first determine if the Department is hiring. You can check the Testing Dates page on the Lincoln Police Department’s website to learn about upcoming testing dates and the acceptance of applications.

If the Lincoln Police Department is not currently hiring, you may complete an Online Recruit Form to receive more information about Lincoln police jobs and to receive notification of testing dates.

If the Department is hiring, you must complete an online application form when the position of police officer appears on the City of Lincoln Job Openings page.

Step 3. Take the Written Exam

Once you have submitted an application for employment, and the Department has determined you meet minimum eligibility requirements, you will be contacted with upcoming testing dates. The first step in the employment process is the pre-employment written examination, which measures your cognitive abilities and your ability to perform the job of a Lincoln police officer. Only those candidates who score at least 70 percent will be eligible to continue the employment process.

You can expect the City of Lincoln to send you a study guide for the written test approximately two weeks prior to your test date.

Step 4.Take the Physical Fitness Ability Test

If you pass the written exam with a score of at least 70 percent, you will be eligible to take the Physical Fitness Ability Test, which takes place on the same day as the written test. The Physical Fitness Ability Test consists of five events:

1. Vertical jump
2. Sit-ups
3. Push-ups
4. 1.5-mile run/walk
5. 120-yard shuttle run

All components of the test are scored, and you must receive at least 30 points for each event to pass. If you receive a score below 30 points on any of the events, you will have the opportunity to retest once.

Step 5. Undergo an Oral Interview

Provided you pass the Physical Fitness Ability Test, you will be scheduled for an oral interview, which will assess all areas of your work history, your education, your personal life, and your financial responsibility.

Step 6.  Complete Employment Testing

Following the completion of the oral interview, select candidates will be chosen for additional testing. This may include a:

• Psychological evaluation
• Drug screening
• Medical examination
• Adult basic education test
• Polygraph examination

Step 7. Complete Policy Academy Training

Candidates who successfully pass all remaining employment tests will be given an offer of employment with the Lincoln Police Department. From there, all new recruits will be required to complete Police Academy training through the Lincoln Academy, which is 19 weeks long, followed by field training, which is 22 weeks long.

Becoming a Police Officer in Omaha, Nebraska

The Omaha Police Department, the largest law enforcement agency in Nebraska, consists of 821 sworn officers who are called upon to protect the more than 430,000 citizens throughout the city’s 119 square miles.

This guide serves to provide step-by-step instructions for individuals who want to learn how to become a cop by meeting police officer requirements in Omaha:

1. Meet Minimum Requirements
2. Submit an Application for Employment
3. Take the Written Exam
4. Complete the Physical Agility Exam
5. Undergo a Background Investigation
6. Complete the Employment Testing Process
7. Attend the Police Academy

Step 1. Meet Minimum Requirements

Before you can submit an employment application for Omaha police jobs, you must first determine if you meet the Department’s minimum eligibility requirements. In particular, you must:

• Be able to read at an 11^th grade level
• Be at least 21 years old
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Have no convictions that were punishable by imprisonment for one year or more
• Have no domestic violence convictions
• Have no DUI/DWI convictions in the last two years
• Possess a valid driver’s license

Step 2. Submit an Application for Employment

Before you submit an application for employment for Omaha police jobs you can visit the Join OPD page on the Omaha Police Department’s website or the Career Services page of the City of Omaha’s Human Resources Department website. Applications for employment are available on the Omaha Police Department during open recruitment periods.

You may also view the Omaha Police Department Recruitment Brochure for more information about becoming a police officer in Omaha.

Step 3. Take the Written Exam

Upon applying for employment, eligible candidates will be contacted by the Department to become employment testing. The first step in the employment process is the written exam, which is designed to measure your ability to fulfill the duties of an Omaha police office. Only those candidates who pass the written exam are qualified to complete the employment process.

Step 4. Complete the Physical Agility Exam

Candidates who pass the written exam are required to take and pass a physical agility exam, which measure agility, endurance, and strength. This is a pass/fail test.

You can watch the Physical Agility video to learn more about the standards for the physical agility exam.

Step 5. Undergo a Background Investigation

Following the physical agility exam, all eligible candidates are placed on an eligibility list, which ranks candidates according to their written exam score. Select candidates are chosen from the eligibility list to continue with the process, which includes undergoing an extensive background investigation. If chosen, you will be required to complete a detailed background questionnaire.

Step 6. Complete the Employment Testing Process

Candidates who successfully pass the background investigation will be given a conditional offer of employment, at which time they must complete all employment testing, which may include a medical exam, drug screen, and psychological exam.

Step 7. Attend the Police Academy

All new recruits for the Omaha Police Department are required to complete Police Academy training, which includes classroom instruction and 15 weeks of field training.

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