Police Officer - Entry Level

City of Lakewood (WA); Lakewood (WA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Lakewood seeks a Police Officer to perform general duty police work, resolve citizen concerns, protect life and property, and enforce laws within the city. You will respond to emergencies, investigate incidents, and work to build trust through community engagement.

The role involves regular attendance, shift work, and on-call duties, with opportunities to train and advance within a growing public safety department. A high school diploma and law enforcement coursework are valued.

Qualifications

• Requires high school graduation or equivalent.
• College-level coursework in law enforcement is highly desirable.
• Bilingual capability is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Act as primary investigator of crimes within designated areas; respond to on-scene emergencies.
• Patrol and respond to calls for service; ensure public safety and enforce laws.
• Prepare reports, affidavits, and testify in court when required.
• Coordinate multi-department responses and community relations events.
• Maintain equipment and demonstrate safe operation of vehicles and firearms.

Skills

Firearms handling

Vehicle operation

Interpersonal skills

Critical thinking

Physical fitness

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

College coursework in law enforcement

Job description

Under the direction of a Police Sergeant, perform general duty police work involving resolution of citizen and public safety concerns; the protection of life and property; the enforcement of laws and ordinances; the prevention and investigation of crimes; and maintenance of order. The incumbent in this position: will help create and nurture a community oriented public safety department as envisioned by the City Council and set forth in the department vision and values statement; will respond positively to citizen concerns, encourage citizen involvement and the development of creative approaches to public safety; will participate in the coordination of Police Department efforts to impact perceived and actual crime problems; and will provide feedback to the department on community concerns and initiatives.

Attendance:

• Maintain regular, reliable, and punctual attendance.
• May be subject to extended work hours and call back outside of normal shift hours or days.

Conduct Police Investigations:

• Act as primary investigator of all crimes occurring within assigned areas during duty hours; make on scene arrests when warranted; protect crime scenes in situations warranting additional investigation; use varying and justifiable degrees of physical force to overcome resisting suspects and to protect self and others from injury.
• Investigate and/or handle complaints involving family disputes, juvenile disputes, mentally disabled persons.
• Investigate traffic accidents in various weather and traffic conditions; physically direct traffic; place temporary traffic control devices such as portable stop signs, barricades and other forms of directional signing as needed.
• Provide the public with general information on laws and ordinances; explain process of filing a formal complaint; direct citizens to appropriate authorities as necessary, reassure the public regarding concerns with safety.
• Attend meetings, seminars and other training classes to maintain current knowledge of criminal and civil laws, as well as technical skills to remain proficient in the performance of duty; may train other employees.
• Patrol designated area of city in police vehicle, on foot patrol, bicycle patrol and/or other conveyances on an assigned shift; patrol business and residential districts to provide an element of safety by obvious visibility; look for crimes or potential crimes or hazardous situations in progress.
• Respond to emergency and routine calls for service.
• Perform computer inquiries from the patrol vehicle and stationary terminals.
• Serve and enforce civil process issued by the courts to include restraining orders, orders for protection, no contact orders, anti-harassment orders and subpoenas; serve arrest and search warrants.
• Pursue fleeing suspects on foot and in vehicles; perform rescue and pursuit operations.
• Provide first aid cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injured persons.
• Take immediate action to remedy hazards and protect life and property.
• Stop traffic violators and take appropriate remedial action; identify suspicious individuals and question their activities.
• 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 citizens, themselves, and fellow officers.
• Tactfully diffuse any verbal abuse which may occur in the course of performing work assignments. Endure verbal and mental abuse when confronted with hostile views and opinions of suspects and others encountered in an antagonistic environment.
• Testify in court hearings.
• Search for lost or wanted persons over varying terrain and conditions for extended periods of time.
• Perform searches of people, vehicles, buildings and large outdoor areas which may involve feeling and detecting objects, walking for long periods of time, detaining people and stopping suspicious vehicles and persons.
• Determine when a lawful search or arrest can or should be attempted; determine when and to what extent physical forces should be used, as governed by law and department regulations.
• Read, review, interpret, serve and enforce various court orders.
• Develop knowledge about known offenders and businesses possibly involved in or promoting criminal activity; correlate records of such criminal activity.
• Recover lost or stolen property; lift and move commonly recovered items such as bicycles, televisions, stereo components, tools, automotive wheels and parts, and small safes without destroying or damaging items.
• Assist in administrative duties such as coordinating multi-department response to persistent criminal activity, planning police/community relations events, and training, leading or coordinating non-sworn work units such as Parking Enforcement.
• Prepare affidavits for search warrants; interview witnesses and suspects. Develop and use informants and other investigative aids; appear in court to present evidence and to testify against persons accused of crimes.
• Provide assistance and referrals for domestic violence cases, indigent persons and stranded individuals.
• Prepare material to present at training sessions for police officers or others, including schools, businesses, private citizen groups, etc.

Relationship Building/Management:

• Attend neighborhood meetings and interact with community members to solve neighborhood problems, improve community and police relations and build public trust.

Report Writing:

• Document incidents and actions by writing case reports and field interview cards; maintain daily logs and prepare other related reports.

Safety:

• Actively champion a culture of and commitment to workplace safety through everyday actions and leadership.

Requires high school graduation or equivalent. College-level coursework in law enforcement or a related field, bilingual capability, and specialized law enforcement training are highly desirable.

Must be at least 21 years of age, possess a valid Washington driver's license and satisfactory driving record; meet department standards of physical ability; submit to thorough employment reference and background investigation; submit to psychological and general medical evaluation; submit to FBI record check and polygraph examination.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• City ordinances and applicable state and federal laws and WAC rules.
• Department policy and procedure.
• Modern police methods and procedures.
• Criminal behavior and causes of underlying criminality and social, psychological and physical needs of criminals/inmates.
• Geography and street locations.
• Laws of arrest, search and seizure including legal ramifications of action taken.
• Principles of crime and accident investigation.
• Basic techniques of crime prevention and criminal investigation.
• Identification and preservation of evidence.
• First aid principles and application.
• Organization and planning.

ABILITY TO:

• Use and care for firearms.
• Operate police vehicle and other police equipment.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
• Analyze dangerous situations rapidly and accurately.
• Maintain control in stressful, hostile and hazardous conditions.
• Enforce all applicable laws.
• Prepare clear and concise reports.
• Act without direct supervision and exercise independent judgment.
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Communicate effectively in English with co-workers, superiors and the general public, both orally and in writing.
• Interact effectively with individuals, groups and organizations representing a wide diversity of ethnicities, cultures, opinions and beliefs.
• Cope with situations firmly, courteously and tactfully, and with respect to the rights of others.
• Demonstrate the knowledge of and adherence to a high standard of personal and professional ethics.
• Effectively deal with violations of rules, policies, and procedures on an impartial basis.
• Maintain standards of physical fitness.
• Recognize when the application of deadly force is appropriate under state law and department policy.
• Employ deadly force in order to protect human life.
• Operate a motor vehicle, computers/keyboards, B.A.C. verifier machines, telephones, police radios, mobile data terminals, tape recorders, firearms, batons, handcuffs and other police related equipment.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

Work includes indoor and outdoor environment; subject to adverse weather conditions and possible verbal abuse; employees may be assigned to work evening and weekend hours, and are subject to call out. The performance of police duties requires above average physical endurance in running, climbing and lifting, as well as good balance, hearing and vision. Incumbents in this classification may be exposed to gunfire, toxic chemicals, traffic hazards, occasional driving at high speeds, communicable diseases and physical abuse from hostile or disoriented individuals.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES

Constant Demands: Seeing, hearing, and speech abilities to perform essential functions and communicate with others. Requires mental acuity to ensure thorough mental analysis of situations in a fast-paced environment. Walking standing, driving lifting; carrying; climbing pushing/pulling; bending and twisting at the waist; crouching; kneeling/squatting; reaching (below the knees, knees to shoulder, and above the shoulders); foot controls.

Frequent Demands: Repetitive hand and arm motion; handling/grasping; fine finger manipulation; talking; viewing computer screen; using phone communications: sitting for extended periods of time.

HAZARDS

Exposure to physical hazard may occur when interacting with hostile participants with potential for violence.

FLSA DESIGNATION

Non-Exempt, eligible for overtime.

UNION AFFILIATION

Lakewood Police Independent Guild.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

The City of Lakewood is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer that encourages, supports, and celebrates respect, empowerment, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging for all. We welcome your contributions.