Become a Police Officer?

Education:  Requires the successful completion of the Civil Service examination and meeting additional requirements as stated in the Code of Iowa.  Requires the successful completion of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy and possession of a valid driver's license. 

Experience:  Requires a level of knowledge normally acquired through two years of full-time law enforcement experience as a sworn federal, state, or local police officer OR at least sixty semester hours of accredited college or university OR have two years of active duty military experience.  This is an entry level position.  Requires the ability to qualify with firearms.

Interpersonal Skills:  Requires the interpersonal skills necessary to interact effectively with a broad spectrum of the general population.  Contacts include department and City employees, City residents, crime victims, witnesses, and perpetrators, representatives from the legal and court systems, and elected City officials.

Analytical Abilities:  Evaluates crime scenes and investigative evidence, reconstructs the events of a crime, requests warrants based on deductions.  Analyzes the potential threat in combat situations to determine the appropriateness of deadly force.  Requires the ability to identify the nature of domestic or civil disturbances and resolve such incidents equitably.

Working Conditions:  Requires working outdoors a majority of the shift as well as operating a motor vehicle in all weather conditions ranging from mild to severe.  Requires occasional heavy exerting, lifting, pushing, running, and unarmed combat.  Exposed to occasional armed combat which can be life threatening or result in bodily injury.

Minimum Qualifications: There shall be strict adherence to the following minimum qualifications. Applicants not meeting or maintaining these minimum standards throughout the entire selection process will not be considered for employment as a peace officer with the City of Bettendorf. 

  • Citizenship: An applicant must be a citizen of the United States. 
  • Residence: Civil Service employees who are designated as emergency personnel must reside within Scott County, the corporate limits of the City of Bettendorf, or within fifteen (15) miles within the corporate limits of the City of Bettendorf by the most direct street, road, or highway. The appropriate residency must be established within 6 months of hire. Please view and read the full Residency Requirements
  • Age: Applicant must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application. 
  • Education: Applicants for a position as a police officer with the City of Bettendorf must have two years of full-time law enforcement experience as a sworn federal, state, or local police officer OR at least sixty semester hours of accredited college or university OR have two years of active duty military experience. 
  • Physical Requirements: An applicant who will become an officer is required to be in acceptable physical and mental condition to perform his/her duties under physically demanding conditions. The following specific requirements must be met and maintained throughout the entire selection process:
    • Uncorrected vision no worse than 20/100 in each eye, corrected to 20/20 in each eye. 
    • Has color vision consistent with the occupational demands of law enforcement.
    • Normal hearing in each ear. 
    • Medical conditions not specified will be evaluated by the Department's physician, whose decision will be final. 
    • Must meet ILEA (Iowa Law Enforcement Academy) physical fitness standards. Please read and review Physical Agility Test - Police
    • Please read and review Frequently Asked Questions of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.
  • Driving Record: Applicants must possess a valid license. An applicant will not be considered for employment at this time if:
    • Driving privileges have been suspended, cancelled or revoked in the three years prior to receipt of this application due to a moving traffic violation(s). These violations include, but are not limited to: driving while intoxicated, suspended, revoked or barred. Other suspensions, cancellations or revocations will be evaluated. 
    • Conviction of five moving violations in the three years prior to the receipt of this application. 
    • Other conduct not specified will be evaluated. 
  • Good Moral Character: An applicant must be of good moral character, which means that he/she can be trusted and is considered by those who know him/her to be a person of good reputation and good standing in the community. When conduct is of a nature that, if known, would tend to discredit the applicant as a peace officer, the applicant will not be employed. The character of a person is determined by past behavior. Many factors are relevant in this assessment. The Department seeks applicants whose histories show good judgment, maturity, a sense of responsibility, and the respect of others. Several factors will be considered:
    • Conviction or commission of a felony (as defined by Iowa Law) will disqualify an applicant. 
    • Conviction or commission of an aggravated misdemeanor (as defined by Iowa Law), less than 5 years ago will disqualify an applicant. Conviction or commission of an aggravated misdemeanor more than 5 years ago will be evaluated. 
    • Conviction or commission of a serious misdemeanor (as defined by Iowa Law), less than 2 years ago will disqualify an applicant. Conviction or commission of a serious misdemeanor more than 2 years ago will be evaluated. 
    • Conviction of domestic assault, child abuse, or other conviction resulting from domestic or child abuse will disqualify an applicant. 
    • A consistent pattern of unexplained failures to meet debt obligations will be evaluated. 
    • An applicant who intentionally gives false or misleading information to the Department at any time during the application process will be disqualified. 
    • History of excessive use of alcohol will be evaluated. 
    • An applicant who has used any illegal drug while employed in any law enforcement or prosecution position, or while employed in a position which carries with it a high level of responsibility or public trust, will be found unsuitable for employment. Unlawful sale of ANY controlled substance will disqualify an applicant. 
    • An applicant who has used any illegal drug, other than marijuana, within the last five years will be evaluated. 
    • An applicant who has used marijuana within the last three years will be evaluated. 
    • An applicant who is discovered to have misrepresented his/her drug history in completing the application will be found unsuitable for employment.
    • Other conduct not specified will be evaluated.