Career Opportunities

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Police Officer

The city accepts employment applications for the position of police officer on an on-going basis.

Several formal hiring processes are held each year. Candidates selected from these processes will attend basic police training at the Regional Police Academy located at Johnson County Community College, unless law enforcement certification has already been obtained. 

Application review of certified officers is continuous, and may result in an additional process for these candidates. 

The police officer hiring process consists of a series of interviews, a physical ability examination (a video of which can be found on the sidebar to the right), and a polygraph. Job offers are contingent on the successful completion of a post-offer job fit assessment, background, physical and drug screen.

Applicants selected to participate in the initial interview will be notified via the email address provided on the employment application. Applicants who do not have an email address must note a daytime phone number.

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Salary Range:

Police Officer I - $45,478 - $50,373 (Starting, no lateral experience)
Police Officer II - $50,373 - $57,366 (Completion of 2 Years)
Police Officer III - $57,366 - $65,329 (Completion of 5 Years)
Police Officer IV - $65,329 - $74,375 (Completion of 8 Years)
Master Police Officer - $74,375 - $80,782 (Completion of 11 Years)

Commissioned Officers eligible for a $2,000 new-hire bonus, restrictions apply (see "Lateral Entries" below).

Lateral Entries: Pay for Experience
Certified officers hired are eligible for a $2000 bonus.

Certified officers with road patrol experience will be awarded for a maximum of 5 years of completed service at the discretion of the Chief of Police. The established pay rate is based on comparable wages with current Shawnee Police Officers. Starting pay rates for completed prior years of service will be up to $57,366 annually.

*To qualify as a certified officer in Kansas, one must have graduated from a Kansas police academy or an academy in another state where the training standards are accepted by the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center.

**Patrol experience refers to patrol only. Experience in corrections, with railroad police, or other non-patrol duties will not suffice.

***Sworn employees must be able to give credible court testimony due to federal court decisions. Any prior finding of dishonesty, untruthfulness, or failing to be completely forthright in with all information will bring an officer's reputation into consideration when testifying in a court of law. No certified officer’s applications will be accepted if the applicant has prior Brady findings during current or previous public service employment.
Minimum Requirements:
  • Valid driver's license and an acceptable driving record
  • High school diploma or the equivalent
  • Legal to work in the US
  • Minimum 21 years of age by start date
  • Successful completion of physical ability test, background investigation including a job fit assessment, polygraph examination, pre-employment physical and pre-employment drug screen
  • Successful completion of oral examination by Staff and Police Chief
  • An employee of this classification performs duties related to public safety through enforcement of laws and ordinances, public education, and hazard correction
  • Kansas residency not required
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Certified Law Enforcement Officer
  • Honorably discharged or reserve member of the US Armed Forces or National Guard
  • College degree or sixty or more college credit hours towards a specific degree or program
  • Fluent in Spanish or other non-English language
  • Combination of education and work/life experience
Automatic Exclusions Include:
  • More than four (4) no contest/convictions of moving violations in the last three (3) years
  • No contest/conviction of driving under the influence of alcohol in the last three (3) years
  • No contest/conviction of driving under the influence of a controlled substance in the last three (3) years
  • Any misdemeanor equivalent illegal drug use within the past two (2) years
  • Any felony equivalent illegal drug use within the past five (5) years
Dispatcher
The city accepts employment applications for the position of dispatcher whenever a vacancy is needed to be filled.

The dispatcher hiring process consists of a series of interviews, a dispatch simulation test, and polygraph. Job offers are contingent on the successful completion of a job fit assessment, background investigation, post-offer physical, and drug screen.

Applicants selected to participate in the initial interview will be notified via the email address provided on the employment application. Applicants who do not have an email address must note a daytime phone number.

Salary Range:

Dispatcher I - $41,327 - $59,938 (Starting, no previous experience)
Dispatcher II - $46,703 - $67,720 (Completion of 2 Years)
Dispatcher III - $52,774 - $76,523 (Completion of 5 Years)

Candidates with police dispatcher experience are eligible for a $2,000 new-hire bonus (restrictions apply).

Lateral Entries: Pay for Experience

Lateral entries for dispatchers with previous police dispatching experience may be awarded for a maximum of 2 years of completed service at the discretion of the Chief of Police. The pay rate will be established based on comparable wages with current Shawnee Dispatchers. Starting pay rates for completed prior years of service will be up to $46,703 annually.

In addition, dispatch candidates with previous police dispatching experience may be eligible for a $2000 sign on bonus. $1000 of this bonus will be awarded upon hire, and the other $1000 will be awarded upon successful completion of the Communications Training program.

Minimum Requirements:
  • Valid drivers license and an acceptable driving record
  • High school diploma or the equivalent
  • Legal to work in the US
  • 18 years of age by start date
  • Ability to communicate effectively
  • Successful completion of background investigation including a job fit assessment, polygraph examination, pre-employment physical and pre-employment drug screen
  • Successful completion of oral examination by Staff and Police Chief
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Prior dispatching experience
  • Prior experience with Intergraph, REJIS, KCJIS, NCIC
  • Honorably discharged or reserve member of the US Armed Forces or National Guard
  • College degree or sixty or more college credit hours towards a specific degree or program
  • Fluent in Spanish or other non-English language
  • Combination of education and work/life experience
Automatic Exclusions Include:
  • Admitted or charged felony drug crimes within the past five (5) years
  • Admitted drug use within the past two (2) years
  • Criminal or domestic violence crime conviction
  • Criminal or UCMJ felony conviction