Patrol Officer - Lateral Hire

Wadsworth; Wadsworth (OH); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Wadsworth is seeking a Patrol Officer to patrol assigned districts, maintain high visibility, and respond to calls for police assistance to protect residents and property.

Officers appear in court to present testimony, provide information to the public, and perform station duties in support of field operations. The role requires readiness for shift work across days, nights, weekends, and holidays.

Qualifications

• Citizen of the United States.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Valid motor vehicle operator’s license.
• A driving record that qualifies the candidate to be insurable and to remain insurable under the city’s vehicle insurance policy as deemed by the City.
• Favorable employment history, including a minimum of one (1) year of experience at an Ohiolaw enforcement agency as a full-time Patrol Officer within the last twelve (12) months
• Criminal record free of felony convictions or other crimes of aggression or violence.

Responsibilities

• Patrol assigned district to maintain high visibility and deal immediately with violations of the law or public safety.
• Respond to calls for police assistance in order to protect the safety of persons and property in the community.
• Appear in court in order to present factual testimony in cases in which they may be involved.
• Give information to the public in order to assist citizens with their varied needs.
• Perform station duties which support the work of officers in the field.
• Work involves routine patrol, preliminary investigation and traffic regulation, and investigation duties with an element of personal danger and employees must be able to act without direct supervision.
• Policing is a 24/7 operation with varying hours on all shifts, weekends, and holidays.

Skills

Citizen of the United States

Valid motor vehicle operator’s license

Background as Patrol Officer

Criminal record clean

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

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Job Opportunities

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The City of Wadsworth is accepting applications for lateral hires for the position of Patrol Officer.

Minimum Qualifications for Employment:

An applicant must meet or possess all of the following qualifications to be eligible for a lateral hire appointment to the Patrol Officer position. An applicant must be appointed to a Patrol Officer position prior to reaching the age of forty (40):

• Citizen of the United States
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Valid motor vehicle operator’s license;
• A driving record that qualifies the candidate to be insurable and to remain insurable under the city’s vehicle insurance policy as deemed by the City;
• Favorable employment history, including a minimum of one (1) year of experience at an Ohiolaw enforcement agency as a full-time Patrol Officer within the last twelve (12) months
• Criminal record free of felony convictions or other crimes of aggression or violence.

An applicant must successfully pass a series of assessments prior to receiving a final appointment, which will include the following:

• A thorough background investigation, including criminal history and employment reference checks;
• A polygraph examination and/or computer voice stress analysis (CVSA);
• A psychological evaluation;
• A physical fitness test;
• A medical examination; and
• A nine (9) panel drug screen.

Compensation and Benefits:

The compensation starting rate for a lateral hire is dependent on the years of verified experience in their most recent employment as a Patrol Officer. The City offers excellent benefits to include accrued leave (e.g., sick, vacation, holiday), uniform allowance, comprehensive health insurance including medical, prescription and dental coverage, optional vision insurance, and participation in the Ohio Police and Fire Retirement System (OP&F).

The wage rate(s) for this position is determined by the collective bargaining agreement between the City of Wadsworth and the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association. To view the current compensation table for Patrol Officers, .

Application Period:

Beginning Date:September 24, 2026

Application Process:

A completed and signed civil service application and resume are required. Application forms are available in Human Resources. In addition, the application form can found on the City’s website at www.wadsworthcity.com under “Job Opportunities”.

To print a blank application, .

Applications may be dropped off in-person to Human Resources on business days, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Applications may also be submitted via FAX to [phone] or e-mail [e-mail].

Next Steps:

The City of Wadsworth will receive lateral hire applications during the posting period and may, at its discretion, schedule qualified applicants for oral interviews at any point during or immediately following the application period.

The City of Wadsworth appreciates the interest of all applicants in employment with us. However, due to the volume of applicants for this position and other job opportunities, the Human Resources Department will only communicate by telephone with those applicants that have been identified for further consideration.

Job Summary:

A Patrol Officer patrols their assigned district in order to maintain high visibility in the community and to deal immediately with violations of the law or public safety; responds to calls for police assistance in order to protect the safety of persons and property in the community; appears in court in order to present factual testimony in cases in which they may be involved; gives information to the public in order to assist citizens with their varied needs; performs station duties which support the work of officers in the field.

Work involves the responsibility for performing routine police assignments that are received from police officers of superior rank. Work normally consists of routine patrol, preliminary investigation and traffic regulation, and investigation duties in a designated area on an assigned shift which involve an element of personal danger and employees must be able to act without direct supervision and to exercise independent and reasonable judgment in meeting emergencies. Employees may receive special assignments which call upon specialized abilities and knowledge usually acquired through experience as a uniformed officer.

Policing is a 24/7 operation with varying hours on all shifts, weekends, and holidays.

Learn More:

We encourage you to learn more about the City of Wadsworth and the Wadsworth Safety Forces Department by visiting our website at: www.wadsworthcity.com