Mesa Police Department Human Resources Section
Out-Of-State Lateral

Do you love working in Law Enforcement but would prefer to perform your duties in a warmer climate?  Would you like to relocate to an area that is close to many diverse activities such as winter sports, California or Mexico beaches or even the thrill of Las Vegas? All within a 1/2 day drive?  You need to check out our Lateral Program just for out of state officers!!

Arizona Climate
January  66/37
April   83/49
July  100/73
October  87/54

After probation, lateral officers may use 50% of their police agency time towards the three year requirement for specialty assignments.

Minimum Qualification(s) Required - Police Officer - Lateral Out-of-State. At least two years of full-time experience as a peace officer in another state during the past four years, with at least one year spent in patrol, not including training or administrative assignments, and no more than a two year break between employment as a peace officer, and submitting the application to personnel. There is no age limit to qualify for the lateral police officer position.

Process:

1. Call Det. Shane Anderson for a prescreening interview at (480) 644-4869

2. Acceptable candidates after the prescreening interview will need to complete an application, and a background questionnaire.  These will need to be submitted with a resume and their last two performance evaluations to the Police Department.

3. Testing process will include a physical assessment, oral interview, background interview, polygraph, background investigation.  If candidate is given a conditional offer of hire then a psychological exam and medical exam must be completed.

4. Once hired, applicant will become a City of Mesa Employee and spend about 1 month studying for the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (AZ P.O.S.T.) waiver tests to become certified.  During that month the applicant will be meeting other criteria such as the P.O.S.T. driving course, firearms course, and physical fitness obstacle course.

5. Once applicant has successfully passed the waiver exams and become certified, they will complete a Department Lateral Academy for 3 weeks.  This academy is to familiarize themselves with forms, computer systems, radio system, etc.  They will then be placed into the Field Training Program where they progress at their own individual time frame.

1. $48,401.60 during the time officer is studying for AZ P.O.S.T. Waiver Tests.
2. Once applicant has successfully passed and become Arizona certified, they will be promoted to Officer-Lateral at the pay range of $56,284.80 to $62,212.80 depending on experience.  Two years experience: $56,284.80.  Three years experience: $59,113.60.  Four or more years experience: $62,212.80.  After that advancement the officer would fall under the merit system rules and top out in 4 years at $68,744.00.

Out-of-State Lateral Application | Testing Procedures & Background Questionnaire

To view/print the application you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader which can be downloaded for free at (www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html)  Adobe, the Adobe logo, Acrobat, and the Acrobat logo are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated.

For questions regarding the hiring or testing process, contact police.jobs@cityofmesa.org