We maintain the highest standards in the selection of our personnel since we depend upon them to provide the best quality service delivery possible to the Loveland community. 

Part of the hiring process is a complete and extensive background investigation. Applicants must be very up-front and honest regarding their personal and professional history. The information on all documents that are completed as a part of the selection/hiring process will be examined and researched as part of the background investigation. Candidates are given the opportunity to make corrections and update information prior to the start of the selection process. If intentional omissions or misleading / falsified information is detected, it may be grounds for disqualification from the process. The background investigation examines:

• Criminal History/Involvement with Illegal Drugs
• Past Employment Performance
• Residential History
• Military Records
• Financial History
• Driving History
• Civil Court Records
• Personal References
• Education/Campus Disciplinary records

Applicants are also strongly encouraged to review the Loveland Police Department Hiring Disqualifier Policy for questions about eligibility, as well as Policy 3.18 Personal Appearance for questions about tattoos, beards, etc.

Candidates who previously participated in a hiring process and were unsuccessful are subject to a waiting period before reconsideration, according to criteria on the Candidate Eligibility list.

Officer Benefits

View the City of Loveland Benefit Guide, the sworn Officer Retirement Plans, and the current Pay Plan for detailed information.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employee health clinic
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Vacation and medical leave
• 96 hours of paid Holiday Time employees can use throughout the year
• In-house gym available to employees 24/7
• Incentivized (pay or time off) fitness testing and pro-active check-ins with the department psychologist
• Short-term and Long-term disability plans
• FPPA Death / Disability coverage paid by department
• Employee Assistance Program
• In-house staff psychologist available to all employees
• Life insurance and retirement plans
  • Officers are required to contribute 10% of their base salary to a Money Purchase Plan while the City contributes up to 15%.
• Take-home car
• All equipment and initial uniforms (except footwear) provided by the department
• $900 yearly uniform allowance
• Issued Glock and AR-15 style rifle
• State of the art Northern Colorado Law Enforcement Training Center facility
• Overtime paid for court appearances
• Numerous overtime and special event pay eligible extra duty jobs, including City sponsored events and Blue Arena concerts, sporting events, etc.
• Over 30 collateral assignment opportunities to include SWAT, K9, drone team

Professional Staff Benefits

View the City of Loveland Benefit Guide and the current Pay Plan for detailed information.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance 
• Employee health clinic 
• Flexible spending accounts 
• Vacation and medical leave 
• 96 hours of paid Holiday Time employees can use throughout the year
• Incentivized (pay or time off) fitness testing and pro-active check-ins with the department psychologist 
• In-house gym available to employees 24/7
• Retirement plan with match
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Short-term/Long-term disability and Life insurance plans
• In-house staff psychologist available to all employees

Loveland PD hires approximately six months in advance of police academy, which begin in January and August each year.

The Recruit Police Officer selection process consists of:

• Frontline test (video-based Human Relations, Reading, Incident Observation & Report Writing)
• Pre-Interview Questionnaire (worksheet)
• Oral board interviews (Initial / Executive)
• Conditional job offer
• Comprehensive background investigation, including a drug screen, psychological exam, medical evaluation, polygraph exam, and fingerprinting
• Final job offer

To be eligible for a Recruit Police Officer position, candidates must meet the following minimum requirements by the date of hire:

• At least 21 years of age
• 90 quarter hours or 60 semester credit hours or an Associate's Degree, from an accredited college or university -OR- 3 years of active US military service with honorable discharge accepted in lieu of educational requirement
• Must reside within a 25-mile radius within 12 months of hire date
• Not meet any disqualifying criteria

The POST-certified Police Officer selection process consists of:

• Frontline test (video-based Human Relations, Reading, Incident Observation & Report Writing)
• Pre-Interview Questionnaire (worksheet)
• Oral board interviews (Initial / Executive)
• Conditional job offer
• Comprehensive background investigation, including a drug screen, psychological exam, medical evaluation, polygraph exam, and fingerprinting
• Final job offer

To be eligible for a Police Officer position, candidates must meet the following minimum requirements by the date of hire:

• At least 21 years of age
• Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) certification from an approved academy or provisional certificate
• 90 quarter hours or 60 semester credit hours or an Associate's Degree, from an accredited college or university -OR- 3 years of active US military service with honorable discharge accepted in lieu of educational requirement
• Must reside within a 25-mile radius within 12 months of hire date
• Not meet any disqualifying criteria

The Lateral Police Officer selection process consists of:

• Pre-Interview Questionnaire (worksheet) 
• Oral board interview (Executive)
• Conditional job offer
• Comprehensive background investigation, including a drug screen, psychological exam, medical evaluation, polygraph exam, and fingerprinting
• Final job offer

To be eligible for a Lateral Police Officer position, candidates must meet the following minimum requirements by the date of hire:

• At least 21 years of age
• Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) certification from an approved academy or provisional certificate
• At least 2 years of sworn Patrol experience  (equivalent to a peace officer under CRS 16-2.5-101) 
• Must reside within a 25-mile radius within 12 months of hire date
• Not meet any disqualifying criteria

Pay Plan and Hiring Bonus

• Lateral Police Officers with 2-3 years of patrol experience start at step 1 of the Pay Plan, and a $15K hiring bonus.
• Lateral Police Officers with 3-5 years of patrol experience start at step 2, and a $15K hiring bonus.
• Lateral Police Officers with 5+ years of patrol experience start at step 3, and a $15K hiring bonus.
• Lateral Police Officers also receive a 3 week vacation bonus

The 911 Communications Specialist selection process consists of:

• CritiCall Skills Test (remote/online)
• Oral Board interview
• Conditional job offer
• Comprehensive background investigation, including a drug screen, psychological exam, medical evaluation, polygraph exam, and fingerprinting
• Final job offer

To be eligible for a Communications Specialist position, candidates must meet the following minimum requirements by the date of hire: 

• At least 18 years of age
• High school diploma
• Not meet any disqualifying criteria

To be eligible for a Lateral Communications Specialist position, candidates must meet the following minimum requirements by the date of hire: 

• Above requirements for Communications Specialist
• At least 3 years of experience and employed as a Communications Specialist/Dispatcher within the last 12 months, including:
  • Operated an integrated CAD, radio, and phone system with multiple screens
  • Been a call taker and dispatcher for police, fire, and EMS
  • EMD certified
• Not meet any disqualifying criteria

Hiring Bonus

• Entry level Communication Specialists receive a $500 hiring bonus upon completion of training, and $500 upon one year anniversary.
• Lateral transfer Communication Specialists receive a $2,000 hiring bonus upon completion of training, and $2,000 upon one year anniversary.

The Records Specialist selection process consists of:

• Aptitude test
• Oral Board interview
• Conditional job offer
• Comprehensive background investigation, including a drug screen, psychological exam, medical evaluation, polygraph exam, and fingerprinting
• Final job offer

To be eligible for a Records Specialist position, candidates must meet the following minimum requirements by the date of hire: 

• At least 18 years of age
• High school diploma
• Not meet any disqualifying criteria