Entry Police Officer

City of Lynnwood, WA; Lynnwood (WA); On-site; USD 106,000 - 129,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hiring bonus $5,000

Job summary

The City of Lynnwood is seeking entry-level Police Officers to join the Lynnwood Police Department. The role requires successful completion of physical ability tests, PST written assessments, and background checks to be considered for the hiring process.

Salary steps range annually from base wages of over $106k to about $128k, with a $5,000 hiring incentive tied to pre-academy and probation milestones. The position emphasizes service to the community and adherence to professional standards.

Qualifications

• Pass PST and PST Written Exam with 70% or better and complete the Physical Ability Test (PAT).
• Criminal background check, psychological assessment, polygraph, and medical assessment.
• Must maintain knowledge of state, county, and city laws and enforce them fairly.

Responsibilities

• Provide service to residents to safeguard lives and property.
• Enforce laws and protect civil rights.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of laws and department policies.
• Respond to crime and traffic scenes and preserve evidence and witnesses.
• Maintain records and prepare reports for judicial proceedings.

Skills

Situational awareness

De‑escalation skills

Written reports

Public safety

Communication

Physical fitness

Critical thinking

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Note: Prior to application with the City of Lynnwood, all candidates must pass the written and physical ability testing processes and have been referred by PublicSafetyTesting.com before becoming eligible to apply to the City of Lynnwood. Entry Police candidates must test with PST AND achieve a 70% or better on the PST Written assessment AND pass the physical ability test to be considered for our hiring process.

Our hiring process is as follows:

1. Physical ability tests (PAT) - Pass or Fail Examination
2. PST Written Exam - weighted 100%
3. Top 20 placed on Eligibility List
4. You will receive an email with a link to apply to our current posting
5. Criminal background check, psychological assessment, polygraph, and medical assessment
6. Chief's and/or Command Interview
7. Basic Law Enforcement Academy through Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission

This posting will open again soon for qualified applicants.

Hiring Bonus

Entry level police officers hired by the Lynnwood Police Department will receive a five thousand dollar ($5,000) incentive. Three thousand dollars ($3,000) will be paid upon successful completion of the departments pre‑academy Physical Ability Test (PAT). One thousand dollars ($1,000) will be paid upon successful achievement of solo status. One thousand dollars ($1,000) will be paid upon successful completion of their probationary period.

Police Officer Salary (2026 Base Wages)

• Step 1: Hourly Rate $51.1436; Per Pay Period $4,091.49; Annual Salary $106,378.69
• Step 2: Hourly Rate $55.5051; Per Pay Period $4,440.41; Annual Salary $115,450.61
• Step 3: Hourly Rate $57.7599; Per Pay Period $4,620.79; Annual Salary $120,140.59
• Step 4: Hourly Rate $60.1059; Per Pay Period $4,808.47; Annual Salary $125,020.27
• Step 5: Hourly Rate $61.9622; Per Pay Period $4,956.98; Annual Salary $128,881.38

Job Location and Equipment Utilized

Work is normally performed in an indoor and outdoor work environment, subject to seasonal heat and cold, temperature changes or extreme weather conditions, regular exposure to fumes, dust and odors, working evening and variable hours, shift work, emergency call‑out, and driving a vehicle to conduct work. Exposure to possible fights and confrontations, contact with dissatisfied or abusive individuals, fumes from vehicle and equipment operation, explosives, and contact with blood and body fluids. Also requires operation of a vehicle, including during adverse weather conditions.

The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position‑specific duties.

• Provide service to the citizens and visitors of the City of Lynnwood to safeguard and protect their lives, property, and constitutional rights.
• Acquire and maintain thorough knowledge of all state, county, and city laws and ensure equal and impartial enforcement.
• Support agency core values of professionalism, vigilance, and community.
• Acquire and maintain familiarity with administrative policy and execute service programs within assigned area of responsibility.
• Secure all information pertinent to the proper conduct of business prior to the tour of duty.
• Inspect and maintain all equipment used.
• Ensure civil treatment and protection of all rights of all persons coming within the scope of police authority.
• Maintain firearm proficiency.
• Comply with all safety standards and regulations.
• Work toward the achievement of departmental and divisional objectives within assigned area of responsibility.
• Maintain awareness of newly enacted laws and recent court decisions and their effect on police duties and responsibilities.
• Respond to crime and/or traffic accident scenes and ensure the protection of the scene and all physical evidence and witnesses until relieved by higher authority.
• Conduct preliminary investigation at crime scenes until either relieved by a detective or to a point where a lapse in the investigation would not hamper or jeopardize the outcome of the case.
• Discern crime, public disorder, nuisances, and other crime generating conditions and develop corrective strategies.
• Resolve neighborhood crime and/or disorder problems.
• Maintain radio communication during tour of duty, including mealtimes, and maintain a response time conducive to the needs of the citizens served.
• Promptly responding to all calls assigned and to those calls assigned other units where their closer proximity and the nature of the call demands immediate response.
• Maintain familiarity with the city and specific areas of assignment.
• Provide first aid and rescue services at crime scenes, accidents, disasters, and other emergency situations.
• Attend ongoing professional development training provided by the Department.
• Engage in a wide variety of traffic direction and crowd control activities, particularly in connection with traffic accidents, demonstrations, riots, and disasters.
• Attend community events as directed.
• Promote and preserve order, defend persons from imminent physical harm, respond to requests for protective service, resolve conflicts between individuals and groups and protect individual constitutional guarantees.
• Maintain records of daily activities and present testimony at judicial proceedings and other formal hearings.
• Prepare reports and preserve evidence using systems provided by the Department.
• Serve as an interpreter of the law to exercise discretion in determining whether to take no action, to advise, to warn, or to arrest.
• Enforce all moving violations and parking regulations according to city ordinances to ensure the smooth flow of traffic throughout the City of Lynnwood.
• Make recommendations to improve operational effectiveness.
• Encourage voluntary compliance with the law and reduce the opportunity for criminal activity.
• Give special speeches and presentations to civic and other groups to promote the police image as assigned.
• Evaluate officer performance and complete necessary report forms while assigned to the Field Officer Training and Evaluation Program.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Maintain regular attendance.
• (Some of the above tasks are assigned to specific officers.)

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to analyze situations quickly and objectively recognize actual and potential dangers and to determine the proper course of action.
• Ability to cope with situations firmly, courteously, tactfully and with respect for the rights of others.
• Ability to develop and maintain interpersonal relationships.
• Ability to understand and carry out complex oral and written instruction.
• Ability to understand the problems and attitudes of people of all ethnic and economic groups in relation to law enforcement agencies.
• Ability to write clear, concise incident reports organizing details logically and utilizing correct spelling and grammar.
• Ability to read, understand and interpret applicable federal and state laws and city ordinances, and established principles, practices, policies and procedures of police work.
• Ability to communicate effectively with co‑workers, superiors, and the general public, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to deescalate hostile and unpredictable situations and people.
• Ability to satisfactorily complete the prescribed courses of training at the police academy.
• Ability to maintain a high standard of physical fitness.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Good mental intelligence, emotional stability, self‑assurance, and a high degree of initiative and good judgment are required.
• Must possess good powers of observation and memory.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to reach overhead, above the shoulders and horizontally.
• Ability to run, walk over rough or uneven surfaces, climb stairs, bend at the waist, stoop, kneel or crouch, crawl, turn/twist.
• Ability to speak and hear to communicate and exchange information.
• Manual dexterity of hands and fingers to operate computers including keyboarding on a car mounted MDC for extended periods of time. Manual dexterity of hands and fingers to operate electronic devices to include, but not limited to, two‑way radio, cell phone, cameras, and other standard police equipment.
• Visual acuity to read and compose various reports and other documentation.
• Ability to perform heavy lifting, physical agility and to maintain stamina.

Eligibility Requirements

• Applicants must have a High School Diploma or certified G.E.D. Equivalent
• Be a Citizen of the United States of America or a lawful permanent resident who can read and write the English language
• Possess a valid Washington State Driver's License

Additional Requirements

Applicants must also meet the requirements of physical and medical standards as prescribed by the Lynnwood Civil Service Commission. A thorough medical examination, polygraph, credit check, and psychological assessment will be given prior to appointment. Successful candidates will be subject to a background investigation conducted by the Lynnwood Police Department.

The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods, or otherwise to balance the workload.

AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFIERS FOR POSITION OF POLICE OFFICER

INTEGRITY

1. Any material misstatement of fact or significant admission during the application or background process shall be disqualifying, including inconsistent statements made during the initial background interview or polygraph examination or discrepancies between this background investigation and other investigations conducted by other law enforcement agencies. In addition, any disclosures revealed by active law enforcement applicants (laterals) that reveal criminal actions or potentially damaging information to their employing agency may be revealed to their current employer.

2. Any forgery, alteration, or intentional omission of material facts on an official employment application document or sustained episodes of academic cheating.

3. As an adult, being convicted of any crime, felony or misdemeanor, involving perjury, false statements, or a crime of moral turpitude.

4. Recent or ongoing affiliation with, and/or support of, an organization or group which advocates the violent overthrow of the United States government, or whose professed goals are contrary to the interests of public safety.

ACADEMIC DISMISSAL

1. Being under current academic dismissal from any college or university where such dismissal is still in effect and was initiated within the past two years prior to the date of application.

2. Having been academically dismissed from any CJTC certified basic law enforcement academy wherein no demonstrated effort has been made to improve in the deficient areas, except: subsequent successful completion of another CJTC basic law enforcement academy shall rescind this requirement.

JUDGMENT UNDER PRESSURE

1. Admission(s) of administrative conviction or criminal convictions for any act amounting to assault under color of authority or any other violation of federal or state Civil Rights laws.

2. Any admission(s) of administrative conviction or criminal conviction for failure to properly report witnessed criminal conduct committed by another law enforcement officer.

ILLEGAL USE OR POSSESSION OF DRUGS

1. Any adult use or possession of a drug classified as a hallucinogenic within seven years prior to application for employment.

2. Any other illegal adult use or possession of a drug not mentioned above (including cocaine) within three years prior to application for employment.

3. Any illegal adult use or possession of a drug while employed in any law enforcement or military police capacity.

4. Any adult manufacture or cultivation of a drug or illegal substance.

5. Failure to divulge to the Department any information about personal illegal use or possession of drugs.

6. Any drug test of the applicant, during the course of the hiring process, where illegal drugs are detected.

*The following is a link to policy 1000 Recruitment and Selection that includes further details regarding disqualifiers.

https://public.powerdms.com/LYNNWOODWA/documents/26984

For more information about the Lynnwood Police Department watch our video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXrFydAdPKo

The City of Lynnwood is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants are considered for positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, gender identity, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, and local laws.