Police Officer - Non Certified Trainee + Hiring Bonus
Job Description
Starting Hourly Wage: $23.56 (effective 10/1/2025 - September 30, 2026)
Starting Hourly Wage Upon Certification: $26.18 - $29.02 DOQ See attachment for complete FOP wage scale with scheduled increases 10/1/25 - 9/30/2028
APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR UPCOMING ACADEMY DATE: October 12, 2026 - dependent upon packet deadline for Training Academy
WRITTEN TEST MUST BE COMPLETED BY: October 15, 2026. This allows for scheduling of pre-employment steps and written exam. ACADEMY ADMISSION PACKETS DUE July 2026.
Position Open Until Filled
+HIRING BONUS: Selected candidates may be eligible for a hiring bonus of up to $6,500 based upon experience and qualifications. Hiring bonus amount must be authorized by the City Manager. *Hiring bonus is subject to the current Hiring and Retention Pay Policy as approved by City Council.
Next Interview Date: October 20, 2026. Applications, Pre-screening and testing must be completed prior to being interviewed. Applications received after the deadline or incomplete applications will be processed for the next interview cycle. Contact Human Resources for more information. Testing dates dependent on staff availability, so please apply early to reserve your spot!
I. The Position:
Police Officers serve and protect the public through police patrol, investigation, traffic regulation, and related law enforcement activities, as well as actively engaging with neighbors to take proactive measures in addressing citizen concerns. This individual will use his or her own judgment to respond to difficult and emergency situations and preserve the peace and enforce the law. Duties include patrol of commercial and residential areas, investigating violations of the law, and assisting at scenes of vehicular accidents and crimes, including questioning witnesses, victims and arresting offenders. As a non-certified Officer, selected candidates will begin working as a Police Officer Trainee, attending the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center to complete all necessary training. Trainees are paid during their time at NLETC to become Certified Police Officers with the Alliance Police Department.*
*If you have been Certified as a Law Enforcement Officer and believe you possess the qualifications to be hired as a Certified Officer in the State of Nebraska, please view the Job Posting for Certified Police Officer, or visit the Nebraska Crime Commission website linked below for more information on certification and reciprocity.
II. Location and Hours
This Full-Time position involves rotating shifts to provide 24-hour coverage serving the public and is located at the Alliance Police Department.
III. About the Position Type
This position is full-time and benefit-earning, medical, dental, vision and life insurance as well as leave accrual, holiday pay, comp-time accrual, and participation in a 9% matching retirement plan.
IV. In this Position, you Will:
Perform security patrols, traffic control, investigation and arrest of persons involved in crimes or misconduct.
Work assigned shift using own judgement in deciding courses of action to take in emergency situations.
Work under supervision of a Police Sergeant, prepare a variety of reports and records and preserve evidence.
V. Requirements:
High School diploma or equivalent
Be at least 21 years of age
Ability to meet the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center qualifications for certification
Birth certificate or accepted substitute prior to Academy admission
Valid Driver License prior to Academy admission
VI. Additional Requirements
Must be a United States Citizen; able to read and write the English language; furnish high school diploma or high school equivalency, desirable to be supplemented by a two-year college degree in law enforcement or a closely related field; possess a valid State Driver’s License without record of suspension or revocation in any state; ability to meet Department’s physical standards; no felony convictions or disqualifying criminal histories within the past seven years; be of good moral character; successfully complete the Civil Service Commission examination and screenings. Required supporting documentation must accompany the complete application.
Not sure if you meet the qualifications? Applicants should review and understand the Applicant Acknowledgement of NLETC Admission Criteria as well as the complete job description (attached to this page) when applying for this position. Candidates who successfully pass Police Officer Testing and are placed on the eligibility list after Civil Service Commission Interviews must meet the admission criteria as defined in State Statute in order to attend the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Academy. For additional information regarding physical standards, please visit the State's website here: Physical Requirements for Admission and Certification | Nebraska Crime Commission
Additional Information can be found on the NLETC's website: NLETC | Nebraska Crime Commission
For complete information on admission criteria to the Law Enforcement Training Academy, please click here: Chapter-08 Rev.3-24.pdf | Nebraska Crime Commission
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, please submit your complete Application Packet including:
1) City of Alliance Application from this page;
2) Resume and Letter of Interest;
3) Applicant Questionnaire attached to this page to determine your eligibility to meet the minimum requirements.
CANDIDATES MUST SUBMIT ALL DOCUMENTS TO BE CONSIDERED.
Online application coming soon! or you may submit your complete packet to:
City of Alliance - PO Box D - Alliance NE 69301 or email to [email protected]
Candidates who meet the pre-screening process and successfully pass the IPMA Police Officer Test will be eligible for interviews. To purchase the optional study guide, visit the PSHRA website here: POA, Cognitive Series Study Guide (Online) – Public Safety Compass An essay test will also be administered.
About the Hiring Process - Estimated Timeframe: 4-6 months
Becoming a Certified Police Officer takes a great deal of commitment from candidates. That's why the City of Alliance will help applicants as they work through the phases of hiring: Application, Testing, Interviews, Pre-Employment Conditions, and Certification.
Step 1: Application and Screening
Applicants must submit a complete application packet (described above) to Human Resources at the City of Alliance. Once your pre-screening is completed and you have met the minimum requirements necessary for this position, you will be notified of your eligibility to take the written test.
Step 2: Testing
After application approval, candidates will be contacted and scheduled for the written exams administered by Human Resources.
-PSHRA Written Exam (68% passing grade)
-Police Officer Essay Question
Re-Testing for Entry Level Applicants
The City provides free testing for the first and second attempt. If applicants do not achieve the minimum passing score after the first and second attempt, applicants must wait 30 days before attempting a third test. The applicant will be offered the ability to take an alternate version of the entry level exam at a cost of $50.00. If applicants fail a third time, applicants may retake an entry level exam for the fourth and final time at a cost of $100, or the actual cost of the test. Applicants who fail to achieve the minimum passing score a fourth time will be required to wait 6 months before restarting the application and testing process.
Step 3: Interviews
Interviews are scheduled 3 times per year with the Civil Service Commission and Police Review Board. *Next Interview Date will be held Jene 2026. Once an applicant successfully passes the written exam, he or she will be scheduled for the next available interview. The Civil Service Commission will place applicants whom they have interviewed on an eligibility list. The City Manager may then extend conditional job offers to eligible candidates.
Step 4: Pre-Employment Conditions and Job Offers
Once a candidate has been offered and accepted a position, the City of Alliance will work with the individual to complete all necessary requirements for hiring Police Officers and Trainees in accordance with the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center, the City of Alliance Police Department, and Nebraska State Law. Pre-employment conditions include polygraph, extensive background checks, basic adult education reading and language test (TABE), drug test, psychological and physical exams.
Step 5: Certification and Training
After successful completion of all pre-employment conditions, the Police Officer Trainee will be scheduled for the next available Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Academy Basic Training session. This training will enable the new Trainee to become a Certified Officer in the State of Nebraska. Basic Training dates are set by the Training Academy and generally run for 3 1/2 months. Once certified, the individual will return to the Alliance Police Department as a Certified Police Officer.
2025/2026 Basic Training Academy Dates
NLETC Basic Training Dates
- 224th Basic: August, 2026
About the Job: The individual will serve and protect the community by police patrol, investigation, traffic regulation, and related law enforcement activities and use experience and judgment to respond to emergencies, preserve the peace and enforce the law. Hours involve rotating shifts to provide 24-hour coverage. Benefits include medical, dental, vision and life insurance as well as vacation and sick leave, holiday pay and participation in retirement plan.
Working for the City: The City offers an excellent benefit package including single or family medical, dental, vision, life and supplemental insurance, a matching retirement plan with 9% contribution by the employee and matched by the City, vacation, sick leave, comp time accrual, floating holidays and paid holidays. The City also offers an In-Lieu of benefit of $4200 per year for employees with other medical coverage, or a health savings account (HSA) with a City contribution of up to $140/month for qualified participants to help pay for out of pocket medical expenses. Sworn staff also have the use of take-home patrol vehicles. Officers are scheduled to allow for multiple days off in a row when possible (i.e. 4 on-3 off/ 3 on-4 off, etc.) to ensure staff maintain a positive work-life balance.
Applications and testing must be completed BEFORE interviews are scheduled. Testing dates dependent on availability of staff, so please apply early!** Optional Study guide can be purchased at: POA, Cognitive Series Study Guide (Online) – Public Safety Compass**Candidates who successfully pass the IPMA Police Officer Test will be eligible for interviews.
Additional Information can be found on the NLETC's website here: NLETC | Nebraska Crime Commission
Contact Human Resources for questions about the application process: 308-762-5400. Contact the department for job-related questions at 308-762-4955. The City of Alliance is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
About the Police Department
The Alliance Police Department consists of seventeen (17) sworn positions and eight (11) civilian personnel. The Department’s command staff includes the Chief of Police and two Lieutenants. Supporting the command staff are four Sergeants, all who are assigned to the Patrol Division.
The Department works closely with local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. The Department responded to over 28,900 calls for service in 2022. The Alliance Police Department remains an active law enforcement agency in the western Nebraska region. Opportunities for personal growth, experience and rewarding work are just a few benefits available to those interested in joining the law enforcement community and becoming a police officer with the Alliance Police Department. Check out more about the Department on Facebook! For a full job description of Police Officer and Police Officer Trainee, physical fitness standards, NLECT admission requirements, and application, click the links on this page.
If you need assistance to actively participate in the employment process, please email us at [email protected] or call at 308-762-5400.
The City of Alliance provides equal access to employment, programs and services.
Applicant Questionnaire available HERE: Questionnaire
COMPLETE JOB DESCRIPTION HERE: Police Officer Job Description
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Hiring and Retention Pay Policy