Police Officer - Recruit candidates must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
Police Officer - Academy Graduate candidates must have been employed as a full-time, paid peace officer with a municipal, county, state, or federal law enforcement agency within the previous 24 months at the time of application.
Police Officer - Academy Graduate candidates must have graduated from an approved law enforcement training academy and be able to meet Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission equivalency standards.
Police Officer - Advanced Entry candidates must have been employed as a full-time, paid peace officer with a municipal, county, state, or federal law enforcement agency within the previous 24 months at the time of application, and must have been continuously employed as a full-time, paid peace officer for at least 24 months.
Police Officer - Advanced Entry candidates must have graduated from an approved law enforcement training academy and be able to meet Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission equivalency standards.
Police Officer Recruits must attend and successfully complete a Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission-approved law enforcement training academy within six months of hire.
Police Officers must be U.S. citizens and at least 21 years old at the time of hire.
A valid Washington State driver's license is required upon employment.
Candidates must successfully complete polygraph and psychological examinations and a criminal background investigation prior to hire.
Candidates must meet and maintain physical and health standards as a condition of employment.
Candidates must be able to possess a firearm in accordance with federal or state regulations as a condition of continuing employment.
Candidates must have knowledge of modern police-work principles and practices, laws governing arrest and prisoner custody, search and seizure, and rules of evidence.
Candidates must have knowledge of patrol procedures, criminal investigation techniques, criminal identification, and records maintenance.
Candidates must have knowledge of court rules and procedures and radio procedures.
Candidates must be able to prepare accurate, comprehensive, timely, and legible written reports and follow verbal and written instructions.
Candidates must be able to speak effectively to individuals and groups.
Candidates must be able to maintain composure and take responsible action in stressful or dangerous situations, and interact tactfully and respectfully with the public and enforcement officials.
Candidates must be able to practice first aid, use and maintain firearms, and safely and effectively use self-defense weapons and methods.
Responsibilities
Patrol designated areas of the City during assigned shifts in a patrol car, on a motorcycle, or on foot.
Respond to calls for police assistance or investigation; establish and maintain control of people and traffic at the scene; protect life and property; conduct preliminary investigations; gather evidence; take statements; issue citations; and make arrests.
Prepare written reports in accordance with departmental policies and procedures, including case, complaint, and shift reports.
Appear in court and testify as a witness or arresting officer.
Prepare and deliver public-service presentations to schools, community action groups, and the general public.
Maintain punctual, regular, and reliable attendance.
Under general supervision, performs general duty police work to enforce the law, preserve public safety and order, and apprehend offenders.
The information contained in this classification specification is a representative sample of essential and other functions performed in this classification. Specific essential functions are identified for position recruitment or other administrative procedures.
Distinguishing Characteristics: 1. Police Officers are employed at three distinct levels, Police Officer - Recruit, Police Officer - Academy Graduate, and Police Officer - Advanced Entry. 2. The levels are distinguished as follows: Police Officer - Recruit: 1. Requires no prior Police experience. 2. Police Officer - Recruits are employed at a rate 10% below step A of the salary range for Police Officer. 3. When recruits complete FTO training and are capable of independently performing assigned police duties, they advance to step A of the salary range. 4. As a condition of employment Police Officer Recruits are required to attend and successfully complete the law enforcement training academy approved by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) within 6 months of hire.
Police Officer - Recruit: 1. Requires no prior Police experience. 2. Police Officer - Recruits are employed at a rate 10% below step A of the salary range for Police Officer. 3. When recruits complete FTO training and are capable of independently performing assigned police duties, they advance to step A of the salary range. 4. As a condition of employment Police Officer Recruits are required to attend and successfully complete the law enforcement training academy approved by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) within 6 months of hire.
Police Officer - Academy Graduate: 1. Requires graduation from an approved law enforcement training academy prior to appointment. 2. Police Officer - Academy Graduates are employed at a rate 10% below step A of the salary range for Police Officer. 3. When Academy Graduates complete FTO training and are capable of independently performing assigned police duties, they advance to step A of the salary range. 4. Graduation from an approved law enforcement training academy and ability to meet standards prescribed by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission for equivalency is required.
Police Officer - Advanced Entry: 1. Requires prior police experience and graduation from an approved law enforcement training academy prior to appointment. 2. Police Officers - Advanced Entry who complete their FTO training are expected to independently perform assigned police duties. 3. Candidates who completed a law enforcement academy outside of Washington State are responsible for establishing equivalency, according to standards prescribed by the WSCJTC after appointment.
Examples of Duties: 1. Patrols designated area of the City during an assigned shift in a patrol car, on a motorcycle or on foot. 2. Responds to calls for police assistance or investigation; establishes and maintains control of persons and traffic at the scene; provides protection of life and property, conducts preliminary investigations, gathers evidence, takes statements, issues citations and makes arrests. 3. Prepares written reports in accordance with departmental policies and procedures, including case, complaint and shift reports. 4. Appears personally in court and testifies as witness or arresting officer. 5. Prepares and presents oral presentations as a public service to schools, community action groups and the general public. 6. Punctual, regular and reliable attendance is essential for successful job performance.
Typical Qualifications
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
1. Knowledge of the principles and practices of modern police work and the laws governing arrest, custody of prisoners, search and seizure and rules of evidence. 2. Knowledge of patrol procedures, criminal investigation techniques, criminal identification and records maintenance. 3. Knowledge of court rules and procedures. 4. Knowledge of radio procedures. 5. Ability to cope with a wide variety of situations with tact, discretion, courtesy and respect for citizen's rights. 6. Ability to prepare written reports in an accurate, comprehensive, timely and legible manner. 7. Ability to follow verbal and written instructions. 8. Ability to speak effectively to individuals and groups. 9. Ability to maintain composure and take responsible action during stressful or dangerous situations. 10. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with public and enforcement officials, general public and other employees. 11. Ability to practice first aid. 12. Ability to use and maintain firearms. 13. Skill in the safe and effective use of self-defense weapons and methods.
Required Experience/Education:
1. Police Officer - Recruit: High School graduation or GED equivalent. 2. Police Officer - Academy Graduate: Candidates must be employed as a full-time, paid peace officer with a municipal, county, state, or federal law enforcement agency within the previous 24 months at the time of application. Graduation from an approved law enforcement training academy and ability to meet standards prescribed by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission for equivalency is required. 3. Police Officer - Advanced Entry: Candidates must be employed as a full-time, paid peace officer with a municipal, county, state, or federal law enforcement agency within the previous 24 months at the time of application; and must have been continuously employed as a full-time, paid peace officer for at least 24 months. Graduation from an approved law enforcement training academy and ability to meet standards prescribed by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission for equivalency is required.
Special Requirements:
1. Police Officers must be a U.S. citizen and at least 21 years of age at the time of hire. 2. A valid Washington State Drivers' License is required upon employment. 3. Successful completion of polygraph and psychological examinations, and criminal background investigation are required prior to hire. 4. Ability to meet and maintain physical and health standards is a condition of employment. 5. Ability to possess a firearm in accordance with Federal or State regulations is a condition of continuing employment. 6. Conviction of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence may result in not being hired or termination of employment as a commissioned police officer.
Union:
Police Guild
Compensation (minimum-maximum):
$94,453.56 - $116,942.40
Exempt:
No
For general application or position questions please contact the hiring supervisor or Human Resources at [email protected].
The City of Olympia complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Manny Bosser, Director of Human Resources, at (360)753-8309 or [email protected]. This contact is for ADA accommodations only. If you have questions regarding this recruitment, please contact the manager noted in the Contact section near the top of this recruitment.