As a police officer with the Minnetonka Police Department, I am responsible for enforcing both criminal and traffic laws, along with city ordinances.  Police officers also respond to civil disturbances, traffic accidents, and medical emergencies.     

I am currently assigned to the K-9 Unit as a K-9 handler with my four-legged superhero partner "Kato".  Kato is a seven year old Belgian Malinois who was imported from Winnipeg, Canada in 2014.  Kato helps officers locate missing persons, suspects who have fled on foot from officers, illegal narcotics, and evidence at crime scenes.

Police officers in Minnesota are required to have a minimum of an Associates Degree (2 yrs) along with a POST-certified law enforcement certificate.  The POST law enforcement certificate is where students learn how to enforce/apply the criminal and traffic laws, and shoot a handgun/rifle/shotgun. 

As a K-9 handler, Kato and I attended a 15 week police K-9 course where we learned to read and community each others body language.  Kato also learned to track and locate human odor and the odor of illegal narcotics.  Kato is also certified in physically apprehending humans.   After the 15 week K-9 school, Kato and I continue to train over 200 hours each year, and are required to re-certify every year on the above-mentioned duties.  

The current starting wage for a police officer at Minnetonka Police Department is $75,000 a year, with experienced officers earning over $100,000 a year.  Wages/salaries can vary greatly throughout the state of Minnesota depending on the size of the law enforcement agency and the city/county an officer works in.    

Society will continue to need police officers to maintain law and order.  There is a current demand for police officers which at times can be competitive.  Specialized police units like the K-9 Unit are also competitive.

As a K-9 handler, I enjoy being able to communicate both verbally and nonverbally with my  K-9 partner to help aid other officers.  The nose of a police K-9 has the ability to do the work of many officers.

Becoming a police officer is a fun and exciting career, but it can also be a mentally/physically demanding occupation.   Police officers respond to incidents which often require both patience and slight second decision making in sometimes stressful environments.

If you enjoy working in different environments while helping people problem-solve, then police work might be for you.