Probationary Police Officer

Salary: See Position Description
Location : Billings, MT 59101
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 202500122
Department: Police Department
Division: Police Field Operations
Opening Date: 08/07/2025

"Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis."
Position Overview
Work Schedule: Varies to include, day/noon/night shift, holidays, weekends/weekdays
Salary: $32.2355/hour
The Billings Police Department is accepting applications for police officer. We are a progressive, community-oriented police department seeking motivated, career-minded individuals to join our team. Applications will be accepted continually and Applicants will proceed to the next step in the hiring process once enough applications have been submitted. The City of Billings is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Previous applications are not held over from one process to the next. All applicants must submit a new application at this time.
Job Summary:
Responsible for performing a variety of duties involved in the enforcement of laws and the prevention of crimes; conducting and participating in general investigations of crimes, accidents, and cases; controlling traffic flow and enforcing state and local traffic regulations; and performing a variety of technical and administrative tasks in support of the Department. Responsible for investigating major crime scenes and alleged or suspected criminal violations of state or local laws to determine whether evidence is sufficient to recommend prosecution.
Scope of Responsibility:
Working under limited supervision, incumbent makes non-routine choices within established policies and procedures. Incumbent is able to perform advanced troubleshooting or analysis. Incumbent must maintain cooperative relationships with other departments within the city and with the public.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Pro-Active Patrol

• Patrols a designated area of the City to preserve law and order; discovers and prevents the commission of crimes; enforces traffic and other laws and ordinances; checks buildings for physical security.
• Enforces traffic laws and ordinances; checks speed with radar; issues warnings and citations.

Calls for Service

• Responds to general public service calls and complaints including domestic disturbances, civil complaints, property control, automobile accidents, robberies, and related misdemeanor and felony incidents.
• Directs traffic at fires, special events, and other emergency or congested situations.

Investigation

• Contacts and cooperates with other law enforcement agencies in matters relating to the apprehension of offenders and the investigation of offenses.
• Investigates crimes and accidents; gathers and preserves evidence; interviews victims, complainants and witnesses; identifies and interrogates suspects; apprehends and arrests offenders; testifies and presents evidence in court.

Evidence Collecting and Handling

• Collects, processes, photographs and presents evidence including fingerprints, fibers, blood, and related physical evidence.

Public Relations

• Maintains contact with citizens regarding potential law enforcement problems and preserves good relationships with the general public; takes an active role in areas of public education relative to crime and crime prevention.

Report Writing

• Prepares reports on arrests made, activities performed and unusual incidents observed.

Execute Legal Documents

• Serves writs, warrants and subpoenas within the department and with outside agencies; remains current on laws and procedures required for processing warrants.

Performs Other Duties as Assigned
Special Assignments: Full-time
The following assignments require a minimum of three (3) years of consecutive law enforcement experience with the Billings Police Department and additional proficiency levels.

• City County Special Investigations Unit-CCSIU (Detective and Patrol)
• US Marshal Violent Offender Task Force
• Street Crimes Unit-SCU (Detective and Patrol)
• Computer Forensic Examiner
• Court Officer
• Crime Prevention Officer
• Detectives
• Downtown Patrol Officer
• Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force
• Dual Purpose K9
• Domestic Violence Investigator (DVI)
• Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Officer (STEP)
• School Resource Officer
• Park Police Officer

Qualifications and Skills
Required Qualifications and Skills:

• Must be a citizen of the United States;
• Must be at least 18 years of age;
• Must have a high school diploma or have passed a GED test and been issued an equivalency certificate by the Superintendent of Public Instruction;
• Must have a valid Montana driver's license or must be obtained within thirty (30) days of employment;
• Must be able to successfully pass the Montana Physical Abilities Test (MPAT), written examination (new hires only, not lateral applicants), an oral interview, pre-employment drug test, a pre-employment physical, pre-employment psychological examination, an extensive background investigation, and a Federal and State criminal history background check.
• Must complete Basic Montana Law Enforcement Academy Course or Montana Law Enforcement Academy (MLEA) Equivalency Course and Field Training program within one (1) year of hire date
• Less than one (1) year of related work experience

Physical Demands and Working Conditions
Requires heavy physical effort, moving over 60 pounds, on an intermittent basis (less than 15% of the time). Requires high attention to detail or deadlines on an occasional basis (between 15% and 45% of the time). Work requires exposure to multiple disagreeable elements, at least three or more of which are intense, on an intermittent basis (less than 15% of the time).
Some requirements in this job description may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. All requirements are subject to modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and experience required. To perform this job successfully, the worker must possess the abilities and aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise. The City retains the discretion to add duties or change the duties of this position at any time.
The City of Billings offers a complete benefits package to our full-time employees including medical, dental, and vision insurance, retirement/pensions, paid holidays, vacation and sick leave. The City offers life and long term disability insurance to all full-time employees. Optional plans are available for employees that include health savings account, flexible spending account, and 457 deferred compensation accounts.

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