Police Officer - Entry Level

City-of-Eugene,-or; Eugene (OR); On-site; USD 81,000 - 103,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bilingual pay up to 5%

Comprehensive city benefits

Job summary

The City of Eugene is seeking qualified applicants for Police Officer to serve the Eugene community. Beginning testing phases will be scheduled on a rolling basis with a 90-day timeline from testing to the first day of employment.

Applicants must meet DPSST certification standards, be 21 by February 26, 2027, and pass a comprehensive background, physical, and drug screening. The position offers bilingual pay benefits and strong City benefits.

Qualifications

• At least 21 years of age by February 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.
• Must meet DPSST standards for basic certification.

Responsibilities

• Perform a variety of law enforcement duties; respond to incidents and investigations.
• Patrol assigned areas, enforce laws, make arrests, preserve crime scene evidence.
• Summarize events in reports; conduct preventative community policing for diverse neighborhoods.

Skills

First responder

Patrol operations

Communication

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Application Deadline

Monday, October 12, 2026 at 5 p.m P.T.

Accepting Online Applications Only

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 August 20, 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. If you'd like to be eligible to receive an early invitation to schedule your testing, please make sure to submit your complete application as soon as possible. By submitting your application early, you will also be provided access to a paid practice test and a testing study guide as well as the opportunity to participate in an ORPAT practice session.

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 February 8, 2027 hire date.

Salary Range

• SalaryStep
• 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.

Work Location

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

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.

Duties, Knowledge, and Abilities

To view detailed information on the duties, knowledge, and abilities that may be expected for this position, see classification: Police Officer.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they are able to perform every task in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes with relevant transferrable skills from a variety of sources and experiences. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.

When screening your application, the City will consider an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience which provides the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to meet minimum qualifications for this position.

Minimum Qualifications

• At least 21 years of age by February 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 within twelve months of appointment.

Background Investigation

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

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 applicants will be required to sign a statement agreeing to refrain from using tobacco products while on duty.

Selection Process

Dates at a glance:

• ORPAT practice sessions Saturday, September 19, 2026 9-11 a.m. (optional) Apply by September 17, 2026 to get more information about the ORPAT practice session.
• Written test and ORPAT Saturday, October 17, 2026. The City reserves a right to select candidates from a standby list for available testing sessions. Weapons and backpacks are not allowed at any portion of the testing process. You may be subject to a search when entering a facility for testing.
• Interviews: October 18-20, 2026 (Sunday-Tuesday.) Out of state applicants will be given preference for interviews on Sunday, October 18, 2026.
• Full Background completed by December 17, 2026
• Chief Interview: December 23, 2026
• Psychological Evaluation and Medical Exam: December 28, 2026-January 4, 2027
• Projected Date of Hire: February 8, 2027

Eligibility List

This posting may also be used to establish an eligibility list of applicants for future vacancies. Candidates that are placed on the eligibility list will be notified via email which will include the duration of the list and how notification of call up will occur.

Salaries and Fringe Benefits

Recruit Police Officers receive a beginning annual salary of $80,849.60 annually; with experience, education, and training officers can advance to the top step of $103,064.00* annually. After three years of employment, officers are eligible for premium pay for education and certification. Premium pay can be worth up to 19.5% of an officer's base salary. Up to 5% shift differential.

Bilingual Pay Benefit: Per the EPEA Contract, the City shall pay an employee at 5% of base wages for a required intermediate or advanced level competency. To qualify for bilingual pay, the employee must have demonstrated fluency in the required language and successfully pass a fluency examination administered by the City's Employee Resource Center division.

For full benefit information including retirement benefits.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The City of Eugene is committed to a respectful work environment. We value the cultural, educational, and life experiences of each employee. We believe that a diverse workforce enables us to deliver culturally responsive services to all members of our community. As part of our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion we desire to welcome, respect, and create a sense of belonging for a wide range of identities and experiences in our workforce. Women, people with disabilities, and persons of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance

The City of Eugene complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Any applicant with a qualified disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act may request accommodation by contacting an employment coordinator at [phone].

Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986

In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, the City of Eugene will request all eligible candidates who accept employment with the City to provide documentation to prove they are eligible for employment in the United States.