Lateral Police Officer (2026-040)

City-of-Woodbur; Woodburn (OR); On-site; USD 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Starting wage based on years

Medical, dental, and vision options

Uniforms and equipment provided

PERS retirement

Premium pays on FTEP

Vacation and sick leave

Vacation accrual benefits

Bilingual pay

Moving expense assistance

Employment incentive

Job summary

City of Woodburn is hiring Lateral Police Officers in Woodburn, OR to perform a variety of law enforcement duties. Starting wage is based on years of service with full benefits and PERS retirement. On-site work with a focus on public safety and community engagement.

Ideal candidates have at least 2 years of sworn officer experience, Oregon basic certification, and the ability to work rotating shifts. Bilingual skills and a commitment to community policing are valued.

Qualifications

• Have been employed for at least 2 years as a full-time sworn officer with current Oregon Police Basic Certification, or equivalent certification from another state.
• Pass physical fitness, vision, hearing, psychological, and drug exams and a thorough background investigation.
• Must be able to work overtime and rotating shifts including holidays and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Respond to and investigate incidents; patrol assigned areas; enforce laws and ordinances; make arrests; preserve crime scene evidence; and prepare incident reports.
• Engage in community policing and interact with a culturally diverse community; participate in department training and education.
• May be assigned to specialized units or teams within the department.

Skills

Two years experience

Bilingual language skills

Education

High School diploma or GED

Tools

Police Certification

Job description

Lateral Police Officer, Woodburn, $39.11 - $48.03

Employment Type

Full Time

Application Start Date

09-15-2026

Application End Date

10-02-2026

Location

Woodburn

State/County

OR

97071

Country

United States

Work Style

On-site

Government and military

Experience

2 years

Education

High school or GED

Description

The Woodburn Police Department is currently hiring for Lateral Police Officers to perform a variety of law enforcement duties, such as responding to and investigating diverse incident scenes; patrolling assigned areas; enforcing laws and ordinances; making arrests; preserving crime scene evidence; summarizing events in report format; and performing preventative community policing for culturally diverse neighborhoods and may be assigned to specialized units or teams in department.

Members of the Woodburn Police Department work closely with our culturally dynamic community. Each member of our organization is a vital component in providing leadership and confidence to our citizens through education as well as enforcement. WPD Officers are equipped with the tools and training necessary to be effective and contemporary when serving the community. Many members of the department are instructors and leaders not only in the law enforcement arena, but in service and community organizations.

Lateral Police Officers are offered the following:

• Starting wage step based on years of service
• Choice of two (2) medical, dental, and vision programs
• All uniforms and equipment provided
• Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)
• Premium pays offered at completion of FTEP
• Paid vacation and sick time. 40 hours of sick and 40 hours vacation credit upon hire
• Vacation accrual rates corresponding to years of service at current agency
• Bilingual pay upon successful certification
• Up to $1,500 reimbursement for moving expenses for moving from 50+ miles
• Employment incentive ranging from $6,257 - $11,527 (according to starting wage based on years of service, and, being certified in Oregon or out-of-state). Incentive is paid in three equal installments with the last payment upon successful conclusion of probation.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Have been employed for aminimum 2 (two) years as a full‑time sworn officer in a municipal, county, state, or federal law enforcement agency, within the 2 year period prior to appointment as a lateral Police Officer and possess a current Police Basic Certification by the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, or possess a current basic law enforcement qualification certification issued by the state in which he/she attended the basic law enforcement academy, performing duties equivalent to a patrol officer in Oregon. Lateral officer experience is defined as exercising police powers at a municipal, county, state public safety agency responding to emergency 9-1-1 calls for service.
• Pass physical fitness testing, physical/vision, hearing and psychological examinations, drug testing, and pass a strict Police Department background investigation.
• Must be able to work periodic overtime and a variety of 24 hour rotating shifts including holidays and weekends.

Education

High School graduate or have completed a G.E.D., AND

Certifications/Licenses

• Possess and maintain a valid Oregon class C driver's license orout of state equivalentand an acceptable driving record.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual language skills in Spanish/English or Russian/English
• Post high school education and/or degree in criminal justice, public or business administration, sociology, psychology or a related field

Pass physical fitness testing, physical/vision, hearing and psychological examinations, drug testing, and pass a strict Police Department background investigation.

Must be able to work periodic overtime and a variety of 24 hour rotating shifts including holidays and weekends.

Oregon's minimum standards to work as a law enforcement officer and background disqualifiers can be found in OAR 259-008-0010-0070.

Applications are reviewed as they are submitted and interviews are offered. Applicants who successfully complete the selection process will, after a conditional job offer, go through an extensive background investigation, medical and psychological assessment and drug testing. City of Woodburn is a drug free workplace, including marijuana.

Lateral Police Officers are subject to 12 month probationary period. Premium incentive pays are available depending on assignment. For more information on benefits and incentives, WPA contract on https://www.woodburn-or.gov/hr.

Interviews will be offered as applications are submitted.

Per Oregon Revised Statutes 408.225 and 408.230, the City of Woodburn grants preference in hiring and promotion of veterans and disabled veterans as defined by state law. If you are eligible and wish to claim Veterans' preference points, please indicate so on your application. Please note that you need to submit documentation of your eligibility at the time of your application.

City of Woodburn is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Women, veterans and minorities are encouraged to apply

The purpose of the following questions is to provide us with statistics needed to evaluate our recruitment program as well as to prepare statistical reports required by Federal, State and local agencies.

Do you have a disability

How did you hear about this job?

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If you are a veteran and would like to be given Veteran Preference Points, you must attach your DD214 or DD215 to your application, with the social security number redacted. This document must show the character of service. Would you like to claim Veteran's preference in public employment for this recruitment?

References

Please list 1 reference you wish to include (Personal/Professional). Please include: Name, title/relationship to you, phone number, and email. * Required

Please list another reference you wish to include (Personal/Professional). Please include: Name, title/relationship to you, phone number, and email. * Required

Please list another reference you wish to include (Personal/Professional). Please include: Name, title/relationship to you, phone number, and email. * Required

APPLICATION QUESTIONS

Can you after employment, submit proof of your legal Right to Work in the United States? * Required

Have you ever been discharged or asked to resign from any employment? * Required

If yes, please explain fully as to the details of the discharge. If no, please put N/A in this section in order to continue. * Required

Have you ever been employed by the City of Woodburn? * Required

If you have been previously employed by the City of Woodburn please provide details of that employment. If no, please put N/A in this section in order to continue. * Required

Are you related to any City employee or City official? * Required

Please let us know who you are related to any City of Woodburn employee or elected official. If you are not related to a City employee or a City official, please put N/A in this section in order to continue. * Required

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Other documents

I hereby certify that every statement I have made anywhere in this application is true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that misrepresentations or omission of facts called for in this application, is cause for cancelation of the application and/or dismissal from employment. I authorize this employer, City of Woodburn, to make any necessary and appropriate investigations to verify the information contained herein. By submitting my application, I declare I have read and understand the above information.