Start Your Career with MPD
Thank you for your interest in joining the Mishawaka Police Department. The Mishawaka Police Department is proud to offer competitive compensation and progressive scheduling. As of January 1, 2024, the department transitioned to 12-hour shifts, and first-class patrolmen (PFCs) now earn $90,000 annually after three years of service.
As a result of this strategic change, the Mishawaka Police Department is now among the highest-paid law enforcement agencies in the State of Indiana. Officers have many benefits and opportunities available to them, including generous insurance and retirement plans, along with various specialty divisions and training which ensure our officers can operate effectively and support our focus on public safety.
Opportunities & Benefits
Mishawaka Police Officers have an abundance of opportunities for growth and career advancement. Officers can serve in a variety of specialized units, including Major Crimes, Neighborhood Enforcement, K-9 and S.W.A.T. These units rely on motivated and dedicated individuals committed to public service.
Lateral Transfer Program
The Mishawaka Police Department accepts applications year-round from lateral officers that are currently eligible to be certified police officers in Indiana. A summary of the Lateral Transfer Program is outlined below.
- Individuals who have completed the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (Tier 1) and have law enforcement experience with another agency.
- Lateral transfers with at least three years of experience with another agency will be promoted to First Class Patrol Officer pay upon appointment. The lateral transfer hire will receive the current vacation time allotted to the rank of First Class Patrol Officer upon the completion of an approved FTO program.
- Lateral transfers with less than three years of experience will be promoted to First Class Patrol Officer on the third anniversary of the date of appointment as a Tier I certified law enforcement officer.
- Lateral transfers are eligible to maintain their current years of ILEA-certified service concerning vacation benefits outlined in the current collective bargaining agreement. Vacation selection will still be based on department seniority.
- Lateral transfers are provided with all required uniforms and all necessary equipment upon hire; in addition, lateral transfers will receive the clothing and equipment allowance as listed in the current collective bargaining agreement.
Questions? Contact the Mishawaka Police Department recruiter, Yadira Fernandez for additional information regarding our lateral transfer program and its requirements.
Build Your Career with the Mishawaka Police Department
Career advancement possibilities are abundant within the Mishawaka Police Department. We also offer a comprehensive salary and benefits package including competitive pay, clothing/equipment allowance, paid vacation/sick time and overtime, compensatory time accrual, health, dental, and vision insurance, along with a membership in the Indiana Public Retirement System (INPRS).
MPD Career Opportunities
- Uniform Division / Road Patrol
- Traffic Division
- Detective Bureau
- K-9 Unit
- S.W.A.T
- Honor Guard
- Motorcycle Unit
- Drone Operator
- Street Crimes Unit
- Crime Scene Technician
- Community Relations Unit
- Crime Scene Photographer
- Training Division
- Hostage Negotiator
- Critical Incident Team
- Hiring / Recruiting Team
- Background Investigator
- Emergency Response Team
- Field Training Officer (FTO)
- Drug Recognition Enforcement
- FACT (Fatal Alcohol Crash Team)
- Special Victims Unit (SVU)
- ILEA Instructor (General, EVO, Firearms, Physical Tactics, STOPS)
Vacations
Employees shall be entitled to paid vacation as follows:
- 1 year but less than 2 years: 5 vacation days and 1 personal day
- 2 years but less than 3 years: 9 vacation days and 2 personal days
- 3 years but less than 5 years: 9 vacation days and 3 personal days
- 5 years but less than 10 years: 13 vacation days and 3 personal days
- 10 years but less than 15 years: 17 vacation days and 4 personal days
- 15 years but less than 20 years: 22 vacation days and 5 personal days
- 20 years but less than 25 years: 26 vacation days and 6 personal days
- 25 years or more: 26 vacation days and 7 personal days.
Sick Leave
480 hours of paid sick time
Overtime
Overtime earned will be reimbursed to the police officer either in money or compensatory time off from duty at the rate of (2x) double the actual overtime worked by the officer. Training overtime is paid at 1.5.
Clothing / Equipment Allowance
When a new officer is hired, the city will furnish the officer with all the required uniforms and necessary equipment to perform the job. After the completion of one year of service, the officer shall receive clothing and equipment allowances for the maintenance and replacement of uniform and equipment. The clothing allowance is paid in two equal installments per year. The equipment allowance is paid once annually.
Insurance
Health, dental and vision insurance are available through the City of Mishawaka. Marathon health clinic is available for all employees and dependents covered by the employer’s insurance. Marathon provides services at a number of locations. Additionally, the City of Mishawaka offers a flexible spending account for healthcare and dependent care.
Pension
Any full-time police officer hired after May 1, 1977, must participate in the Public Employee’s Retirement Fund created in 1977 and administered by the State of Indiana.
MPD Hiring Process
Our hiring process is designed to ensure applicants meet our core values as well as all required physical fitness standards. Candidates must successfully complete each phase of the hiring process before advancing to the next stage.
- Application
- Written Aptitude Test
- Physical Fitness Test
- Oral Interview
- Thorough Background Investigation
- Polygraph Examination (After conditional offer of employment )
- Psychological Examination
- Physical/Medical Examination
- Pre-employment Drug Screening
- Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (16 weeks)
- 12-16 Week Field Training Program
MPD Minimum Requirements
The following lists the minimum requirements that an applicant must meet to be considered for appointment.
- Must be a minimum of twenty-one (21) years of age at time of application, but not yet forty (40) years of age at time of appointment.
- Must be a High School graduate or have a G.E.D.
- Must be a citizen of the United States of America before the date of making the application.
- Must have and maintain a valid, non-suspended, non-expired, non-conditional, non-revoked driver’s license.
- Must keep the City of Mishawaka informed of address and telephone information changes.
- Must be able to perform the essential functions of the job of patrol officer in a safe manner with or without a reasonable accommodation.
- Must not have been found guilty of a felony in any court that has not been annulled, expunged or sealed by a court.
- Must show a valid driver’s license for identification at the aptitude testing location to participate.
- Subject to mandatory drug testing.
Physical Fitness Testing Protocol
The following are the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) Physical Fitness Assessment Standards used by the Mishawaka Police Department. All applicants are required to pass the ILEA fitness standards.
Physical testing is conducted in the first and last week of training while at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. Each component is scored separately and the standard must be met on each and every component.
Vertical Jump
Standard: 16 Inches
This measures leg power, and consists of measuring how high a person jumps.
One Minute Sit Ups
Standard: 29
This measures abdominal, or trunk, muscular endurance. While lying on his/her back, the student will be given one (1) minute to do as many bent leg sit ups as possible
300 Meter Run
Standard: 71 Seconds
This measures anaerobic power, or the ability to make an intense burst of effort for a short time period or distance. This component consists of sprinting 300 meters as fast as possible.
Maximum Push Ups
Standard: 25
This measures the muscular endurance of the upper body. This component consists of doing as many push ups as possible until muscular failure.
1.5 Mile Run
Standard: 16 min 28 secs
This measures aerobic power or cardiovascular endurance (stamina over time). To complete this component you must run/walk, as fast as possible, a distance of 1.5 miles. ILEA: 15 Mile Run (in.gov).
Connect with Mishawaka Police
Contact the Mishawaka Police Recruiter for any additional questions or concerns regarding our hiring opportunities.
Recruiter Contact:
mpdrecruiter@mishawaka.in.gov
574-208-5550
Monday-Friday:
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location:
Mishawaka Police Department:
Phone: (574) 258-1678
Fax: (574) 258-1690
Alex Arendt
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