The academy also conducts training for lateral recruit officers (persons with qualified prior law enforcement experience). Lateral recruits attend an abbreviated academy lasting seventeen weeks. They are held to the same standards as basic recruits and receive training to qualify for the Colorado POST. Those officers who are already Colorado POST Certified will not need to take the test again. You will then be assigned to one of the six patrol districts and must also successfully complete field training & evaluation before serving in a solo field assignment.
Advanced pay scale based on years of service
A few reasons given by lateral officers for transferring over to Denver are:
Lateral Police Officer Qualifications
• Applicants who are retired or separated as a result of layoff can be considered providing:
2-YEARS PATROL DUTY: Additionally, all applicants must possess a minimum of two (2) years patrol duty (calls to service/street duty) while employed full time by state, county, municipal police or sheriff’s department. Academy training does not count toward the two-year minimum experience requirement. Experience accumulated as a deputy or officer employed at a correctional facility, college, university, District Attorney’s office, or as a Federal or Military Police Officer is not applicable experience.
Please fill out an interest form to receive the latest application information when it becomes available.
Minimum of two years patrol experience (not including time at an academy) to qualify for lateral status.
Receive lateral pay day one of the Denver Police Academy.
$75,225 annually for 2 to 4 years patrol experience
$94,630 annually for 4+ years patrol experience