10/07/2026
Lateral Police Officer — $86,300–$116,770 annually
48/96 schedule. Approximately 243 days off per year.
Hayden PD is hiring.
Still.
And yes, we are being selective.
First, an important clarification: this is a lateral position.
We are looking for an experienced officer who is already trained and certified. We are not hiring entry-level recruits for this position and will not send an applicant to the academy.
If you are looking for an agency to sponsor you through a basic academy, this is not that opening.
We would rather run short-staffed for a while than hire the wrong person and spend the next several years dealing with avoidable problems.
We are not trying to fill a uniform.
We are looking for the right officer.
Someone with good judgment.
Someone who knows how to talk to people.
Someone who can work independently without turning every call into a federal incident.
Someone who takes ownership of their cases, follows through, and understands that in a small town, your reputation usually gets to the call before you do.
We should also be upfront about the kind of policing we do here.
Our call load is relatively light. Our traffic is not.
Hayden sits on a busy highway corridor, and traffic enforcement, impaired driving, and roadway safety are a significant part of what we do.
At the same time, this is not a large city where the radio never stops, and you are stacking calls before you clear the one you are on.
There are slower days here.
Sometimes much slower.
We need someone who is comfortable with that.
Someone who does not need constant chaos to feel productive.
Someone who can use quieter time to conduct traffic enforcement, follow up on cases, train, work on projects, interact with the community, or simply be visible and available.
If you need 20 calls holding to feel like you are doing police work, Hayden probably is not going to scratch that itch.
And that is okay.
This job is not for everyone.
It is also important to say this clearly:
Hayden PD is not intended to be a stepping stone to a larger department.
We are looking for someone who actually wants to be here.
We understand careers change, and life happens, but our goal is not to hire someone, invest in them, train them, equip them, and watch them leave 18 months later because Hayden was only a convenient stop on the way to somewhere bigger.
Small-agency policing is not lesser policing.
In many ways, it requires more.
You handle the call.
You investigate it.
You follow up on it.
You work with prosecutors.
You see the same people again.
And you are accountable for the quality of your work.
Hayden is a growing community in Northwest Colorado, about 25 minutes from Steamboat Springs. Our officers work a 48/96 schedule — two days on, four days off.
That works out to approximately 243 days off per year.
Those four days are actually useful.
Spend them with your family. Hunt. Fish. Ski. Camp. Travel. Sleep. Work on the house. Sit on the couch and refuse to put on pants.
We are not judging.
The point is that you have time to live somewhere worth living.
We also offer:
• Competitive lateral pay
• 48/96 schedule
• Modern equipment
• On-duty workout time
• Opportunities for advancement to Corporal, Detective, and Sergeant
• Regional specialty assignments, including opportunities with the Northwest Colorado SWAT Team
• Opportunities to become an instructor in areas such as fi****ms, defensive tactics, emergency vehicle operations, Taser, less-lethal systems, field training, and other disciplines
• Opportunities to handle investigations from beginning to end instead of handing everything off to another unit
• A department where officers are expected to think, make decisions, and take responsibility for their work
• Relocation assistance may be available for the right candidate
We are looking for an experienced officer who wants a slower pace without becoming complacent.
Someone who understands that a lighter call load does not mean a lower standard.
Someone who can stay productive without being micromanaged.
Someone who wants professional opportunities but also wants a life outside of work.
We are not looking for someone who is checked out.
We are not looking for someone who cuts corners.
We are not looking for someone who needs constant supervision.
And we are definitely not looking for someone whose plan is to work here just long enough to get settled in Colorado before jumping to the next agency.
We would rather leave the position vacant.
Seriously.
Being short-staffed is inconvenient.
Hiring the wrong person is expensive, exhausting, and bad for everyone.
But if you are a solid lateral officer looking for a department where you can do meaningful work, have professional opportunities, enjoy a slower pace, and still have four days off after every two you work, we should talk.
No high-pressure recruiting pitch.
No recruiter blowing up your phone.
No pretending this is something it is not.
Just a real conversation about the job, the department, the community, and whether Hayden is somewhere you could actually see yourself staying.
Apply or express interest here:
https://www.haydencolorado.com/271/Town-of-Hayden-Employment
Hayden Police Department
Work two. Live four. Stay awhile.
