Rapid City, SD – The Rapid City Police Department is encouraging people from a wide range of backgrounds to consider careers in law enforcement as the agency works to fill several open positions. Officials say many people are surprised to learn they may already have the experience and education needed to begin the process.

Recruitment specialist Alexcia Kalal said the department is currently hiring entry level officers, certified officers and safety specialists. She said applicants do not need a criminal justice degree specifically, and many successful officers have come from completely different career paths.

“Let’s say you went to school to be an electrician. Let’s say you went to school for business and you decided you hated it and you’d rather be a cop,” Kalal said. “As long as you’ve got those sixty four college credits, you can come through with us.”

Entry level officer applicants must have either an associate’s degree, four years of prior military experience, or a completed technical degree through one of the department’s partner schools. Kalal said the associate’s degree can be in nearly any subject, which opens the door for people who may not have originally planned on a law enforcement career.

For people who do not yet meet those qualifications, the department offers other positions that can help them gain experience while continuing their education. Those opportunities include safety specialist and community service officer positions, which allow employees to work closely with officers and learn department operations.

Lt. Kelvin Masur said safety specialists help provide security and assistance at locations such as City Hall and the public library. He said the positions also help employees build relationships within the department and become more familiar with serving the community.

Kalal said some of the current safety specialist openings are part time positions paying more than $23 an hour, making them appealing for college students interested in law enforcement careers. She said the positions give employees hands on exposure to department systems, policies and daily operations.

“It’s a great opportunity there,” Kalal said. “You’re working within a lot of the systems and learning kind of the codes and everything for the police department, working closely with them.”

Department officials also emphasized the benefits available to employees. Those include student loan reimbursement, gym reimbursement, quarterly wellness days and a sabbatical program that gives employees additional paid leave after every three years of service.

Kalal said the wellness benefits are especially important because of the emotional and mental demands officers experience throughout their careers. She said the department wants employees to have opportunities to recharge and avoid burnout.

“It’s a really stressful career, and we understand that,” Kalal said. “Just for the mental health aspect of getting people away from burnout and giving them an opportunity to kind of come back as their best selves.”

Masur said training and development continue long after officers complete the academy. He said officers receive extensive preparation before working independently and continue learning throughout their careers.

“There’s a great deal of training our officers go through before they’re released out on their own,” Masur said. “But one other thing too to mention is once you go through that initial training, that training doesn’t stop there.”

Kalal said applicants should expect the hiring process to take between three and five months. The process includes a fitness test, written exam, panel interview, extensive background investigation, psychological evaluation and medical screening. She said the department wants to ensure the right candidates are selected to serve the community.

“We really want to make sure that we have the best of the best out there serving our Rapid City citizens,” she said.

Once hired, recruits are paid throughout the training process, including while attending the state law enforcement academy in Pierre. Department officials said Rapid City also covers academy and training costs, unlike some agencies where recruits must pay their own expenses.

Officials said officers can later pursue specialty assignments including SWAT, accident reconstruction, narcotics investigations, firearms instruction and emergency driving instruction. Brandyn Medina said the department offers a variety of career paths once officers gain experience on patrol.

“We’ve got a lot of different opportunities,” Medina said. “You can be an emergency driving instructor. We have the firearms cadre. You can teach other officers how to shoot.”

The department is also encouraging younger people interested in law enforcement to explore its cadet program, which allows high school students to assist during community events and gain experience around officers and department staff.

Kalal said one of the department’s biggest strengths is the diversity of backgrounds officers bring into the profession. She said the agency has hired people with experience in ministry, construction, sales, communications, plumbing and military service.

“So many different types of backgrounds and so many different walks of life can really prepare you for this in ways you wouldn’t even imagine,” Kalal said.