Police Officer - Entry Level

Eugene Police Department; Eugene (OR); On-site; USD 54,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bilingual pay up to 5%

Benefits package

Job summary

The Eugene Police Department in Eugene, Oregon is recruiting for police officers with a commitment to public safety and community partnership. Applicants must complete a timely application and may be invited to testing; the process emphasizes a quick, first-come, first-served approach with ~90 days from testing to start date.

Entry-level officers start with a structured pay scale, with bilingual pay up to 5% of base salary.

Qualifications

• Age 21 by April 26, 2027.
• No felony convictions; No Class A Misdemeanor within 24 months of application.
• Must be able to work various shifts; nights, weekends, and holidays. Officers on patrol are on a 4/10 schedule.
• Must meet DPSST certification standards (OAR 259-008-0010).
• Vision and hearing standards per DPSST.
• CPR certification within twelve months of appointment.
• Background must pass a police background investigation.
• Must pass a physical assessment and drug test.

Responsibilities

• Respond to incidents as first responder and investigate scenes.
• Serve as direct link between the department and the public.
• Patrol assigned areas and enforce laws and ordinances; make arrests.
• Preserve crime scene evidence and summarize events in reports.
• Perform preventative community policing for diverse neighborhoods.

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

The Eugene Police Department (EPD) is a progressive, professional law-enforcement agency that serves the city of Eugene, Oregon. In fulfillment of the public trust, the Eugene Police Department works in partnership with our community to promote safety and security, enforce laws, prevent crimes, and safeguard the constitutional rights of all people.

Beginning on October 15, 2026 EPD is seeking new candidates to come serve with us. Invitations to the testing phase of the recruitment process will be sent on a rolling basis to those applicants with a complete application who qualify.

We run the testing process with a “first-come, first-served” approach to provide candidates a quick and efficient recruitment process. Our recruiting process takes approximately 90 days from the date of testing to the first day of employment.

For applicants who are not local to the City of Eugene, we only require one trip to the Eugene area for testing and interview. If you are successful in testing, interview, and the background process, we will issue a conditional job offer before giving you the option to return to the area again for the psychological evaluation and medical exam. If you are unable to return for the psychological evaluation and medical exam, we can accommodate other options.

This position performs a variety of law enforcement duties; first responder to incidents; serves as direct link between the department and the public; responds to, and investigates, incident scenes; assesses appropriate actions to incidents; patrols assigned areas; enforces laws and ordinances; makes arrests; preserves crime scene evidence; summarizes events in report format; and performs preventative community policing for diverse neighborhoods.

Applications received during this application period will be considered for a March 22, 2027 hire date.

Salary Range:

All Entry-Police Officers will start at Step 1. Applicants with a minimum of 2.5 years of full-time police service experience, exercising police powers at a City (Municipal), County or State police agency responsible for responding to emergency 9-1-1 calls, can apply to the Lateral Police Officer posting.

Salary Step Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6

Hourly Rate* $38.87 $40.79 $42.77 $44.92 $47.19 $49.55

Entry Level All Entry Level -- -- -- -- --

Bilingual Pay Benefit: This position qualifies for up to an additional 5% of base salary for bilingual pay. Please see “Supplemental Information” at the end of the posting for more information.

Benefits:

The City of Eugene offers robust and competitive benefits. For more info, click the Benefits Tab, or visit this summary page as well as this benefits package page.

Work Location:

Eugene Police Department 300 Country Club Rd. Eugene, OR. Must reside within 45 minutes of Eugene, OR

Schedule:

Must be able to work various shifts, nights, weekends and holidays. Officers assigned to a patrol team are currently working a 4/10 work schedule. Emergency response time for a Police Officer requires reporting to work and being ready for duty within 45 minutes of notification.

Union Representation:

Eugene Police Employees’ Association (EPEA)

Living & Working in Eugene

For more information on living in Eugene, how the City of Eugene operates, and more, visit this page.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• At least 21 years of age by April 26, 2027
• No felony convictions. No Class A Misdemeanor convictions within 24 months of application
• Must be able to work various shifts; nights, weekends, and holidays. Officers assigned to a patrol team are currently working a 4/10 work schedule
• Must meet State requirements including vision, hearing, and standards for basic certification as a law enforcement officer by the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST). To view the standards set by DPSST for certification view Oregon Administrative Rule 259-008-0010.

Education

High school diploma or GED

Experience

Two years of work experience, college coursework, or military experience.

License and Certificate

A valid Oregon driver's license, or ability to obtain by date of hire; must pass driving records check and, if hired, maintain a driving record that meets the City's standard. Oregon law requires that an of-state license holder must obtain a valid Oregon license (with appropriate endorsements) within 30 days of becoming domiciled in the state (ORS 803.355).

CPR certification

CPR certification within twelve months of appointment.

Background

MUST PASS A POLICE BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION Please view this list of documents that will be requested as part of the background investigation and see Oregon Administrative Rule 259-008-0010 and 259-008-0015 for more information.

Emergency response time for a Police Officer requires reporting to work and being ready for duty within 45 minutes of notification.

Physical

Must pass a physical assessment and drug test.

DRUG SCREEN, HEARING TEST and VISUAL ACUITY TEST

as required by the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST). To view the standards set by DPSST for certification, please visit DPSST's website and view Oregon Administrative Rule 259-008-0011.

Successful appl