Start Your Career with MPD
The Mishawaka Police Department is looking for individuals of strong moral character, integrity and professionalism to serve as positive role models in our community. We also welcome lateral transfers, including out-of-state officers, who are ready to bring experience and dedication to our team.
Now among the highest-paid police departments in Indiana, as of January 1, 2024, MPD has moved to 12-hour shifts and our first-class patrolmen (PFC) are making $90,000 annually, after 3 years of service.
Opportunities & Benefits
With opportunities to work in uniform road patrol, specialized units like K-9, S.W.A.T. and neighborhood enforcement, or in civilian roles such as dispatch, records, crossing guard, chaplain or grant specialist, there’s a place for you on our team.
Career Advancement Opportunities
Competitive Salary & Benefits Package
Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
Vacations, Sick Leave & Overtime
Clothing/Equipment Allowance
IN Public Retirement System Membership
Lateral Transfer Program
The Mishawaka Police Department accepts applications year-round from certified Indiana law enforcement officers through our Lateral Transfer Program. Explore eligibility requirements and program benefits below.
- Lateral Officers who have completed the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (Tier 1) and have law enforcement experience with another agency or are eligible to obtain an I.L.E.A. Law Enforcement Waiver.
- Mishawaka Police Department honors the lateral officers’ continuous years of services for pay and vacation benefits outlined in the current collective bargaining agreement. Vacation selection will be based on department seniority.
- Lateral transfers with at least three years or more of experience with another agency will receive the current pay and vacation time allotted for their years of service as a First-Class Patrol Officer.
- Lateral transfers with less than three years of experience from another agency will be promoted to First Class Patrol Officer on the third anniversary of their swear in date as 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 will receive uniform clothing and equipment allowances.
- Mishawaka Police Department accepts out of state lateral transfers. Please inquire with the Mishawaka Police Recruiter for additional information. All contacts made with lateral officers are kept confidential.
Questions? Contact MPD Recruiter at mpdrecruiter@mishawaka.in.gov or 574-208-5550.
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 and overtime, compensatory time accrual, health-dental-vision insurance and membership in the Indiana Public Retirement System (INPRS).
MPD Career Opportunities
- Uniform Division / Road Patrol
- Investigative Bureau
- Street Crimes Unit
- Community Relations Unit
- School Resource Officer
- Motorcycle Unit
- Crime Scene Technician
- Crime Scene Photographer
- K-9 Unit
- S.W.A.T
- Traffic Division
- ILEA Instructor (General, EVO, Firearms, Physical Tactics, STOPS)
- ILEA Instructor
- Honor Guard
- Special Victims Unit (SVU)
- Hostage Negotiator
- Critical Incident Team
- Hiring / Recruiting Team
- FACT (Fatal Alcohol Crash Team)
- Drug Recognition Enforcement
- Training Division
- Emergency Response Team
- Background Investigator
- Field Training Officer (FTO)
2025 Salary and Benefits Information
- Compensatory time accrual
- All overtime is paid at DOUBLE (2.0) time. Training OT is paid at 1.5
- 12-hour shifts
- 0630-1830 and 1830-0630 hours
- 2 rotations
- Every other weekend off
- Membership in Indiana Public Retirement System (INPRS)
- Take-home car program after first year of employment (Laterals after FTO completion)
- Retirement at 52 years of age with 20 years of service (Retirees receive FREE insurance)
- Deferred compensation matches up to 2%
- Recruit (post-hire & during academy) – $50,428
- Probationary Officer (after swearing in) – $60,867
- 2nd Class Patrol Officer (after first year) – $67,005
- 1st Class Patrol Officer (after third year) – $90,000
- All uniforms and equipment furnished first year
- $2,050 per year clothing allowance after first year
- $1,250 per year equipment allowance after first year
- Everside Health Clinic- Free for employee and dependents
- Good insurance plans with low premiums
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 480 hours of paid sick time
- Incentive pay for: Shift differential,
- Specialties, Living in Mishawaka city limits ($2,500)
- Strong Collective Bargaining Agreement
- New police station with state-of-the-art workout room
- Flexible Spending Account availability for healthcare and dependent care
- Paid vacations:
- 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.
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 OT is paid at 1.5.
Clothing / Equipment Allowance
When a new officer is hired, the city will furnish the officer with a complete clothing issue and all equipment necessary to perform the job. After the completion of one year of service, the officer shall be entitled to 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
Several different insurance plans covering hospitalization, dental and vision are available through the City of Mishawaka.
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 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 Testing
Following are the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) Physical Assessment Standards used by the Mishawaka PD.
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 secs
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)
Physical testing will be conducted in the first week of training and again in the last week. Each component is scored separately and the standard must be met on each and every one.
Connect with Mishawaka Police
Contact MPD recruiter for any additional questions or concerns regarding our hiring opportunities.
Recruiter Contact:
mpdrecruiter@mishawaka.in.gov
574-208-5550
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Phone: (574) 258-1678
Fax: (574) 258-1690
Alex Arendt
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