Lateral Police Officer

Port Orchard Police Department; Port Orchard (WA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision, and life ins.

HRA VEBA account

Retirement benefits through LEOFF

Clothing allowance $750

Leave benefits per union contract

Recruitment incentive: $10,000

Additional $5,000 and extra leave on/​

Placement of probation after hire

Job summary

Port Orchard Police Department is recruiting an experienced Patrol Officer to protect lives and property while maintaining community trust. Lateral candidates with certified background will be considered, subject to eligibility and field training completion.

The role emphasizes proactive, community-oriented policing and adherence to public safety standards. The position requires prior sworn experience, successful academy completion, and the ability to operate in diverse enforcement and patrol

Qualifications

• Must have completed an approved basic law enforcement academy and be eligible for lateral certification without attending the state's full academy.
• Must have completed a field training program with a previous agency.
• Must have been employed as a full-time sworn police officer for a minimum of 18 months with a single agency.
• Must not have been out of full-time law enforcement service for longer than 3 years at date of hire.

Responsibilities

• Respond to emergency and routine calls for service.
• Apprehend violators or offenders of the law; use justifiable force when necessary.
• Tactically de-escalate verbal attacks and maintain safety.
• Operate a patrol vehicle for long periods and in various conditions.
• Conduct patrols by city vehicle, on foot, bicycle, or other conveyance; ensure visible safety presence.
• Monitor and enforce traffic laws and safety ordinances.

Skills

Lateral certification eligibility

Education

Basic law enforcement academy

Job description

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 hourly pay range for this position is $47.41 - $54.03. Starting salary range is between $47.41 - $49.68 per hour based on years of experience.

The position is eligible for education, longevity and bilingual pay.

Education pay means 2% for an Associate Degree and 4% for a Bachelor’s degree or higher.

• Longevity pay provides an increase of 0.25% each year the employee is employed with the City, starting on year 3.
• Bilingual pay means 2% for fluency in Spanish, Tagalog, Korean and/or American Sign Language.

More information about the requirements can be found in the union contract.

Below are some examples of the pay range for the position using these additional pays.

• Employee holding an Associate’s degree or receiving bi-lingual pay: $46.50- $52.99 per hour
• Employee holding a Bachelor’s degree: $47.41 - $54.03 per hour
• Employee completing a 32 year career with the City: $45.59 - $56.11 per hour (using 2025 numbers)
• Bilingual employee with a Bachelor’s degree, 47 years of longevity pay: $45.59- 60.91 per hour (using 2025 numbers)

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 a holiday leave bank in lieu of holidays, vacation leave and sick leave in accordance with the union contract. In accordance with the Guild CBA, a $750 clothing allowance is also provided. More benefit details are available by clicking on the "Benefits" tab at the top of this job posting.

A Lateral Police Officer who has completed the Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy or is eligible to attend the Washington Law Enforcement Equivalency Academy and 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.

Major Function and Purpose

A Patrol Officer's primary purpose is to protect the lives, property, and rights of all members of the community. Officers will work to reduce crime, and the fear of crime, while remaining proactive and innovative in their approach to the enforcement of the law. Officers are expected to be team members with the community through transparency, accountability, and engagement.

General Function

Under general supervision from the Sergeant, the Patrol Officer will help to create, nurture, and maintain a community-oriented public safety department in alignment with the department’s mission, vision, and values.

Supervision Responsibilities

This is a non-supervisory position. However, a Patrol Officer may be assigned to serve as a Field Training Officer for a new officer or Police Reserve Officer.

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. These listed duties and responsibilities in no way imply these are the only duties to be performed. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including, but not limited to: working in other function areas to cover absences or provide relief, to equalize peak work periods, or to otherwise balance the workload. Accordingly, individuals occupying this position will be required to follow any job-related instructions, tasks, or other duties as assigned by the Director or designee and must be able to proficiently perform all assigned duties.

• Respond to emergency and routine calls for service
• Apprehend violators or offenders of the law; in situations where lawful arrests are resisted, the Officer must be prepared and able at times through training, judgment, and high levels of physical exertion, to use justifiable levels of force to overcome the resistance and protect the suspect, community members, themselves, and fellow officers
• Tactically de-escalate any verbal attacks that may occur while performing work assignments; endure verbal and mental assault when confronted with hostile views and opinions of suspects and others encountered in an antagonistic environment
• Operate a motor vehicle for extended periods of time in all environmental conditions, occasionally at high speeds and in congested traffic situations
• Conduct patrols in a City vehicle, on foot, bicycle, marine vessel, and/or other conveyance on an assigned shift; patrol business and residential areas to provide a visible element of safety
• Monitor and enforce traffic laws and safety ordinances; issue infractions as appropriate
• Look for criminal or potential c