Lateral Police Officer

City of Port Orchard; Port Orchard (WA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job description

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.  HRA VEBA account is also provided.  Retirement benefits are provided through LEOFF and optional Deferred Compensation.  Employees receive 96 hours of holiday leave annually with an additional 24 hours on their anniversary date.  Vacation leave is accrued at 0.0385 hours per straight time hour paid in the first year of employment, with increases thereafter.  Employees earn 96 hours of sick leave per calendar year.  More information can be found by clicking on the "Benefits" tab of this job posting.

This recruitment is for an experienced law enforcement officer. To qualify for this recruitment you must have already:
(1) successfully completed an approved basic law enforcement academy and be eligible for lateral certification by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission without attending the state's full basic law enforcement academy;
(2) successfully completed a field training program with a previous law enforcement agency;
(3) been employed as a full-time sworn police officer for a minimum of eighteen (18) continuous months with a single agency; and
(4) not been out of full-time law enforcement service for longer than three (3) years at date of hire.

The base pay range for this position is $41.54 - $49.48.  It is the City's practice to start employees at the lower end of the salary range.  Starting salary range is between $41.54 - $45.49.

The advertised pay range is the full range for a police officer.  Lateral police officers may be placed up to Step 5 (of 6) in recognition of previous work experience on a year-to-year basis, with subsequent step(s) occurring ever 12 months thereafter.

This position is eligible for education pay.  The pay range for an employee holding an Associate's is $42.37 - $50.47 and for an employee holding a Bachelor's is $43.20 - $51.46.
This position is also eligible for longevity pay, with an increase of 0.25% each year the employee is employed with the City, starting on year 3.  An employee completing a 47 year career with the City would expect to make $55.05 in the last year of employment based on 2024 numbers, for a salary range of $41.54 - $55.05. Taking these numbers into account, the salary for this position could ultimately range between $41.54 - $57.25 based on the 2024 pay scale, with the upper pay appropriate for an employee holding a Bachelor's with 47 years of longevity pay.

As of December 14, 2022, a Lateral Police Officer who has completed the Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy, met all other criteria to be eligible for consideration as a Lateral Police Officer Candidate under the City of Port Orchard's Police Civil Service Rules, and been given an unconditional offer and accepted the position of Patrol officer with the Port Orchard Police Department, is eligible to receive a $10,000 recruitment incentive.  This will be paid on the first available paycheck after date of hire, as determined by Payroll.  An additional $5,000, 40 hours of sick leave, and 40 hours of vacation leave may be received after successful completion or probation.  For further details, contact Human Resources.

Oral board examinations are scheduled on as needed basis. The Chief of Police may fill vacancies from the entry level or lateral civil service lists.

The job description follows.

This is a full-time position.  Incumbent may be required to attend meetings during other than normal work hours and may also be called back to work before or after regularly scheduled work hours or on scheduled days off.  A Police Officer will be required to work Saturdays, Sundays, holidays and will be subject to shift assignment and/or rotation in accordance with established procedures.

Major Function and Purpose 

A Police Officer's primary purpose is to maintain peace and order and to protect life and property through impartial enforcement of federal, state and local laws.

General Function

Under general supervision from the Police Sergeant, the Police Officer is responsible for protecting lives and property within his/her jurisdiction.  It is important for persons in this position to maintain a high public profile in order to deter criminal behavior.

Supervision Responsibilities

This is a non-supervisory position.  However, a Police Officer may supervise a new officer or Police Reserve Officer as required.Job Duties and Responsibilities

This job description reflects 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, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements.  Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including working in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods, or to otherwise balance the work load.

• Operates a motor vehicle for extended periods of time in all environmental conditions, and on occasion at high speeds and in congested traffic situations
• Apprehends those suspected of unlawful activity, cautiously observing legal guidelines regarding arrests and individual civil rights
• Patrols city limits from a police car, other police vehicle or on foot to monitor activity
• Monitors and enforces traffic laws and safety ordinances within a prescribed jurisdiction
• Patrols and examines buildings and residences to detect suspicious conditions
• Detects and/or prevents criminal activities
• Directs traffic in congested and emergency areas; reports safety hazards
• Identifies and eliminates hazards to public safety
• Issues citations for various infractions
• Responds to scene of accident and investigates cause
• Responds to calls for service and assistance
• Provides first aid as needed
• Investigates and interviews victims, witnesses and potential suspects
• Appears in court to testify as needed
• Conducts detailed investigations and gathers information that pertains to suspected criminal activities
• Conducts follow-up investigations based upon reports and other data compiled by department personnel
• Searches for and preserves evidence
• Makes oral and written reports
• Prepares reports pertaining to arrests and investigations
• Records information related to daily patrol activities and preparation of reports based on this information to aid in the prosecution of offenders
• Maintains liaison with other departments and agencies
• Participates in various training sessions
• Become qualified and obtain any certifications required by local, state or federal law
• Conducts light preventative maintenance on departmental equipment
• Meet minimum department standards on firearms qualification

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
While requirements may be representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and abilities, to perform this job successfully, the incumbent will possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.

A Police Officer must possess excellent skills in interpersonal relations and communication.  A high level of maturity, emotional stability and the ability to exercise sound judgment under stress, particularly in crisis situations, is essential to the performance of duties.  He/she must be able to respond to varying situations with tact and diplomacy and know how to deal with stressful, hostile or irrational persons, whether due to physical or mental disability, drugs, socio-economic differences, or other factors.

A Police Officer must display a pleasant and professional demeanor when in contact with citizens to establish a positive public image.  In addition, he/she must appreciate and observe the importance of maintaining confidentiality of all information acquired in the discharge of his/her duties.

Maintenance of personal health and good physical condition is a basic job qualification.  A Police Officer will receive training in the use of a variety of job-related equipment and will be expected to utilize all apparatus and equipment proficiently and appropriately, including the use of firearms.

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that provides the desired skills, knowledge and abilities.

Physical Requirements
The employee will routinely encounter emergency situations that may require rapid evacuation of an area in order to avoid personal injury or to provide assistance to another individual, and must therefore have the physical ability to walk and run.  A Police Officer must also have the physical ability to engage in physical altercations and confrontations and to subdue or calm a combative individual, and to rescue victims

A Police Officer will be required to operate a City patrol car safely and efficiently.  In addition, proficient use and maintenance of any other job-related tools, apparatus or equipment, including use of firearms, is required.

Recruiting Requirements
A Police Officer must:

• Be 21 years of age or older
• Be a citizen of the United States of America, lawful permanent resident, or a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipient
• Be able to speak, read and write the English language
• Possess valid Washington state driver's license
• Have the ability to read, understand and interpret ordinances, laws, and other operating procedures and to communicate orally and in writing
• Have the ability and willingness to maintain strict confidentiality
• Possess a high school diploma or GED equivalent
• Be capable of passing applicable civil service or city required employment testing, including, but not limited to, medical examination, to include a drug screening, psychological examination, and polygraph or voice stress analyzer (VSA) examination (when legally permissible)
• Be capable of satisfactorily completing prescribed courses of training at the academy and during in-service training progress, as required
• Be legally permitted to possess a firearm in the State of Washington

Working Conditions

Work is performed both indoors and outdoors, and he/she will be required to perform normal duties in inclement or severe weather conditions.  The employee may have exposure to hazards such as chemicals, insect stings, and temperature extremes.  The employee may also have exposure to blood and communicable disease.  A Police Officer may expect to encounter hostile or violent individuals and may be subject to verbal and/or physical attack or assault from such individuals, or may have gunfire directed at him/her.  Tasks may require the employee to wear protective clothing or equipment.

A Police Officer is subject to shift rotation, and may be required to work overtime as the need arises.  Subpoenaed appearances in court to testify in the prosecution of individuals charged with misdemeanor or felony offenses is a regular and ongoing occurrence, and such appearances may be required during a Police Officers days off, or before or after a regularly scheduled work shift.  In addition, the Officer may be contacted by supervisory personnel at his/her residence during off-duty hours for guidance and/or counseling.

A Police Officer shall serve a probationary period as established by the City of Port Orchard Civil Service Rules and Regulations.

Requirements outlined in this job description may be subject to modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities who are otherwise qualified for employment in this position.  However, some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the Employer and employee and is subject to change as the needs of the Employer and requirements of the job change.

The City of Port Orchard is an equal opportunity employer.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the Employer and employee and is subject to change as the needs of the Employer and requirements of the job change.