CITY OF MERIDIAN : POLICE : EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

The City of Meridian is a caring community that is a premier place to live, work, and raise a family. It is located in the center of the Treasure Valley between Boise and Nampa. The city has a Mayor/Council form of government. Meridian is a growing city with a wealth of opportunity for increased diversity and continued economic vitality. As one of the fastest growing cities in the United States and Idaho, we continue to embrace our growth through directed and comprehensive planning. Meridian was also picked as one of the country�s top 100 family communities in 2005. The Meridian School District is the largest in the state.

Interstate I-84 bisects the city, and we are only 15 minutes from the largest airport in the state.

Department Information:

We are a highly motivated department made up of dedicated and professional personnel, whose mission is to provide the highest quality of service in partnership with our community, to preserve and protect life and property through education, prevention and enforcement.

The department has three major divisions: Patrol, Investigations, and Community Services. Specialty areas include K-9, traffic, field training, SWAT, school resource officers (SRO), investigations, and narcotics. The department has a strong training budget and encourages the development of specialized skills. All police officers are required to be Idaho POST certified.

Our Community Services Division includes: Records, Ordinance Enforcement, Animal Control, Crime Prevention, Crime Analysis, Our Victim Witness program, and our volunteers.

Dispatching is done from a regional communications center operated by the Ada County Sheriff�s Office.

In June of 2002, we moved into a new 30,000 square foot police station. Our current staffing is authorized for 80 sworn members, 23 non-sworn members and three part time employees.

Starting salary for police officers is $2,946 − 3,468 per month depending upon law enforcement certification level. Top salary for the position of patrol officer is $5,841. Applicants with prior law enforcement service in a similar sized or larger agency may be credited for prior years of service on a sliding scale, which becomes effective upon completion of the 12-month probationary period.

All applicants must have sixty (60) credit hours of completed academic study from an accredited college or university �OR- an Idaho Basic Law Enforcement Certificate �OR- an equivalent law enforcement certification from a cooperating state -OR- four years active duty military with honorable discharge.

If interested in applying, applicants may obtain a job application from the web-site www.meridiancity.org, download and complete the application and send it to the Human Resources Department. Those who are deemed to meet the minimum employment requirements will be notified of a written testing date. Each applicant must successfully pass the written examination which will be administered by the department. On the same date as the written examination, each applicant must successfully pass the Idaho Peace Officers physical proficiency examination. Each applicant must also pass a certification interview with a member of the department.

The next step is an oral interview by a board of officers and an HR representative. Successful applicants will then be required to complete a background questionnaire. They must then be able to pass a background investigation, polygraph, medical examination, psychological examination, and pre-employment drug test.

All applicants must be able to complete Idaho POST certification requirements, which may include 10 weeks at the Academy, and department�s 14 week Kaminsky based Field Training Program.

All new employees receive 8 hours of sick time and 8 hours of vacation time per month. Sick time may be accrued up to 720 hours. Vacation time increases with longevity and employees can accumulate an amount equal to two years at their current accrual rate. Vacation time may not be used until the probationary period is completed.

The City of Meridian also has an extensive benefits package that includes: eligibility in medical, vision, and dental coverage plans, PERSI (State Retirement System), PERSI 401k choice plan and a 457 Deferred Comp plan, short term and long term disability, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), a tax deferred flexible spending account plan for medical, child care and insurance premium costs, and an education reimbursement program for those seeking higher education.