Individuals who wish to become officers of the law in Nebraska must be equipped to check off all of the requirements which can be found in the section below. Once a person meets these, they can apply for job openings or during open recruitment times. If picked to go through the process, an applicant would first complete a written exam followed by the physical exam. An extensive background check comes next. There are several other exams which follow the background check: psychological, medical, drug tests etc. If selected a person will go to a Nebraska police training academy to be trained as a police officer.
Nebraska State Requirements
Minimum requirements for those wanted to be hired as a police officer in Nebraska:
- Be able to read at an 11th grade level
- Be at minimum 21
- Have a high school diploma/GED
- Have no convictions that were punishable by imprisonment for one year or more
- Have no domestic violence convictions
- Have no DUI/DWI convictions in the last two years
- Possess a valid Nebraska driver’s license
Salary for Nebraska Law Enforcement Jobs
The average income for police officers in Nebraska is approximately 47,600 a year. This is fairly average pay across the country. A person looking to increase pay may do so by serving in good standing for many years, also by gaining a promotion in rank or having a higher level degree. Detectives and criminal investigators can make around 64,000 a year.
School Programs in Nebraska with Law Enforcement Degrees
Although Nebraska does not require a person to have any college prior to applying, it is smart to pursue higher education after high school and before applying. Not only can this equip a person with more knowledge regarding legal issues and criminal justice, it can also give an applicant a leg up on other candidates who did not pursue a degree. Those with a higher education can also start out at a higher pay than other beginning officers.
- Bellevue University
1000 Galvin Road S, Bellevue, NE 68005
402-293-2000
- Central Community College
3134 W US Hwy 34, Grand Island, NE 68801
308-398-4222
- Chadron State College
1000 Main Street, Chadron, NE 69337
800-242-3766
- Doane College
1014 Boswell Avenue, Crete, NE 68333
402-826-2161
- ITT Technical Institute
1120 N 103rd, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68114
402-331-2900
- Metropolitan Community College of Nebraska
PO Box 3777, Omaha, NE 68103
402-457-2400
- Midland Lutheran College
900 North Clarkson, Fremont, NE 68025
800-642-8382
- Nebraska Wesleyan University
5000 Saint Paul Avenue, Lincoln, NE 68504
402-466-2371
- Northeast Community College
801 E Benjamin Avenue, Norfolk, NE 68702
402-844-7360
- Peru State College
600 Hoyt Street, Peru, NE 68421
402-872-3815
- Southeast Community College
301 South 68th Street, Lincoln, NE 68510
402-323-3400
- University of Nebraska-Kearney
2504 9th Avenue, Kearney, NE 68849
308-865-8441
- University of Nebraska-Omaha
6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68182
402-554-2800
- Wayne State College
1111 Main Street, Wayne, NE 68787
402-375-7000
- Western Nebraska Community College
1601 East 27th Street, Scottsbluff, NE 69361
303-635-3606