Police Officer ENTRY-LEVEL

City of Seattle; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

City of Seattle Police Department seeks Police Officers to serve Seattle residents as frontline public safety professionals. The role emphasizes ethical service and alignment with city values, with a multi-step hiring process including exams, background checks, medical and psychological evaluations.

Entry Level and lateral paths exist; applicants must meet eligibility standards, pass criminal and medical screenings, and demonstrate commitment to community trust and public safety.

Qualifications

• Be at least 20.5 years of age.
• U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, or DACA eligibility.
• High school diploma or GED.
• Pass pre-employment exams and background checks.

Responsibilities

• Maintain public safety and order, respond to emergencies, and protect lives and property.
• Operate in accordance with the City of Seattle Police Department mission and local laws.
• Complete interviews, investigations, and reporting as part of routine policing duties.
• Provide testimony and present evidence in judicial settings.

Skills

Public safety

Driving

Typing

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

SUMMARY

The Seattle Police Department is looking to create a diverse team of hardworking, committed individuals with a passion for public service and who are deeply aligned with our City's values of Race and Social Justice. The City of Seattle is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants are considered for positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, gender identity, political ideology, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, and local laws.

Please read the entire job bulletin information carefully, as it contains important information on the hiring process.

HIRING PROCESS

1. Apply: All candidates must submit an application to the City of Seattle as soon as possible. A resume and cover letter are not required.

2. Register and Complete Two (2) Exam Components: The law enforcement exam components must be self-scheduled through the National Testing Network (NTN). Examinations are offered virtually or at physical locations across the United States, and the City of Seattle will pay for the exam. The required exam components include:

• Frontline National (Law Enforcement) Exam
• Public Safety Self-Assessment (Parts 1 & 2)

You should receive your final exam results within approximately three weeks after applying and completing all components of your test (Frontline National and PSSA). Candidates who meet eligibility criteria and pass all portions of the exam will be ranked on an eligible list according to their exam scores. Candidates who pass the civil service exam must then complete and pass all the below pre-employment steps to become a Seattle police officer. If you have any questions, please contact us at [e-mail].

Exam Notes:

• Candidates are NOT required to complete the NTN Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ) for the Seattle Police Department.
• If you have taken the NTN exam for a department other than SPD within the last year, you can elect to send your scores to SPD at no cost via the "Department Add" feature in your NTN account. Please contact NTN candidate support if you need assistance transferring your scores to SPD.

3. Physical Ability Test: While scheduling your written exam, the NTN system will prompt you to schedule your Washington Physical Ability Test (WAPAT). We encourage you to complete your WAPAT with NTN as soon as possible. Passing the WAPAT is required to move forward in the hiring process. If you are an out-of-state candidate, you will not be expected to travel to Washington to complete your WAPAT.

4. Backgrounding: Candidates who pass the WAPAT will receive a link via email from the Seattle Police Background Unit to fill out their personal history information. SPD will then conduct a thorough investigation into the candidate’s history. Ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications for this position listed below.

5. Medical Evaluation, Psychological Exam, and Polygraph Exam: Candidates must complete a medical evaluation that includes drug screening, medical history, vision and hearing test, and a stress EKG test. A psychological exam will be completed via Zoom. The medical tests can only be completed in person at specific Seattle locations currently.

6. Final Offer of Employment: If the candidate completes and passes all the above steps, they will be given an official offer of employment with the Seattle Police Department.

PREFERENCE POINTS

The City of Seattle offers multiple forms of preference points. Preference points can only be applied to passing exam scores. Once you pass the exam, instructions for requesting preference points will be emailed along with your final exam results. All requests for preference points will be evaluated in accordance with Rules 9.17 - 9.21 of the City of Seattle’s Public Safety Civil Service Commission.

• Veteran’s Preference: for candidates with qualifying military experience
• Language (Multilingual) Preference: for candidates with proficiency in a language other than English
• Human/Social Services Preference: for candidates who have two or more years of verifiable full-time professional or volunteer experience or equivalent (4,160 cumulative hours) delivering direct human/social services
• City of Seattle Work Preference: for candidates who have prior service as a Police Reserve in the Seattle Police Department as well as those who have served as 911 dispatchers and Parking Enforcement Officers

Please note that candidates must pass the WAPAT in addition to their civil service exams (Frontline National and PSSA) in order to be eligible for language or human/social services preference points.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Seattle Police Department is seeking individuals committed to understanding and protecting the ethical, cultural, and ethnic values of the City of Seattle and its residents as Police Officers. As first responders, Police Officers are vital to public safety and under regular supervision, perform basic police services in accordance with the mission, goals, and objectives of the City of Seattle Police Department and in compliance with governing federal, state, and local laws.

Entry Level Police Officer describes a candidate with no prior law enforcement experience or training, and those who have completed a self-sponsored academy and have not worked as a commissioned officer/deputy for a law enforcement agency.

Exceptional Entry Police Officer describes a candidate who has successfully completed a basic law enforcement academy and FTO, but who does not have the required 24 months of full-time service as a law enforcement officer in the last 36 months to qualify as a lateral applicant. Exceptional Entry Police Officer candidates must test with the entry-level candidates and are not eligible to take the Lateral entry exam.

Examples of duties

• Provides for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations. Explains laws and police procedures to residents.
• Operates a patrol car. Patrols city streets, areas and businesses to deter criminal activity and promote public safety.
• Investigates conditions hazardous to life or property; conducts initial investigations of crime and crime scenes; may assist detectives in criminal investigation work. Conducts search and seizure activities as appropriate. Collects and preserves crime scene and evidence.
• Arrests and/or detains suspected violators of the law. Reviews facts of incidents to determine if criminal act or statute violations were involved.
• Records facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.
• Renders aid to accident victims and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries.
• Transports individuals in custody.
• Presents evidence and testimony in judicial settings.

The City of Seattle provides police service 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Shift work, including nights, weekends, and holidays, is required.

Qualifications

ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS

• Be at least twenty and half (20.5) years of age.
• Hold United States citizenship, OR have legal permanent residency in the U.S., OR be a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient.
• Attained a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency (GED).

Applicants must meet all eligibility standards by the date of participation in the exam process.

MINIMUM EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Drug Use

• Have not used Marijuana within twelve (12) months prior to taking civil service exam, and
• Have not used cocaine or crack within the previous five (5) years, and
• Have not used club drugs, such as, but not limited to: Ketamine, GHB, Rohypnol, or MDMA (ecstasy) within the previous three (3) years, and
• Have not used any Hallucinogens, LSD, Mushrooms, or Psilocybin within the previous five (5) years, and
• Have not used PCP, Angel Dust, Wet or Phencyclidine within the previous five (5) years, and
• Have not used Opium, Morphine, or Heroin within the previous five (5) years, and
• Have not used Methamphetamine, Crank, Crystal, Ice, Speed, Glass, or Amphetamine within the previous five (5) years, and
• Have not inhaled aerosols, sometimes referred to as Huffing (paint) or Whippits (Nitrous Oxide) or used Khat within the previousthree (3) years, and
• Have not used any illegal drug(s) while employed in a criminal justice and/or law enforcement capacity, and
• Have not manufactured or cultivated illegal drug(s) for the purpose of the sales/marketing of the drug(s).
• Have not sold or facilitated the sale of illegal drugs.

Please note that use of illegal drugs and the illegal use of prescription drugs, referred to in this standard, means the use of one or more drugs, the possession or distribution of which is unlawful under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.

Offers of employment are conditioned upon a pre-employment drug screening to confirm abstinence from illegal drug use.

Traffic Record

A candidate's driving record will be thoroughly assessed and may be a factor for disqualification. Examples of infractions/traffic crimes that may be disqualifying:

• Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), Reckless Driving, or Hit & Run Driving.
• Suspension of your driver's license within five (5) years of the exam date
• Three (3) or more moving violations (speeding, negligent driving, etc.) within five (5) years of the exam date will be carefully reviewed.
• Two (2) or more accidents within five (5) years of the exam date, wherein candidate was judged to be at fault and or charged with a moving violation.

Criminal History

A candidate's criminal history, including all arrests, prosecutions, deferred prosecutions, "Alford" pleas, and non-conviction information will be thoroughly assessed and may be grounds for disqualification. The following will be disqualifying:

• Any adult felony conviction.
• Any misdemeanor or felony conviction while employed in a criminal justice and/or law enforcement capacity.
• Any domestic violence conviction.

Employment Record

A candidate's employment history, including any terminations, or leaving an employer in lieu of termination, will be thoroughly assessed and may be grounds for disqualification.

Financial Record

A candidate's credit history, including excessive credit card debt or unresolved accounts in collection will be thoroughly assessed and may be grounds for disqualification. The following will be disqualifying:

• Failure to pay income tax or child support.

Professional Appearance

All applicants are expected to maintain a professional appearance at all times. SPD has the sole discretion in determining what is considered professional, as it relates to the position of Police Officer. Any and all tattoos, branding (intentional burning of the skin to create a design), voluntary disfigurement (marring or spoiling of the appearance or shape of a body part), or scarification (intentional cutting of the skin to create a design) shall be carefully reviewed by SPD on a case-by-case basis.

Other Items

• A valid Washington State Driver's License is required prior to being hired.
• Ability to accurately type at least 35 wpm is highly desirable.
• Seattle residence is not required for application or appointment.

Job offers are contingent on review of credit, criminal and driving history as well as verification of information provided by the applicant as part of the application process.

Supplemental information

Please see the links below for additional details on the civil service exam and physical ability test:

• NTN Frontline National (Law Enforcement) Exam
• NTN Public Safety Self Assessment
• Washington State Physical Ability Test (WAPAT)

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants are highly encouraged to review the SPD website for further information about the hiring process.

The Public Safety Civil Service Exams Unit oversees the initial exam process, establishes an eligible list, and certifies candidates from the eligible list upon request by the Seattle Police Department.

The Police Department will directly contact and schedule eligible candidates for allthe remaining steps in the pre-employment screening process. The Seattle Police Department makes all hiring decisions after a pre-employment selection process, which includes a background investigation, additional interviews, a physical ability exam, a polygraph, and psychological and medical exams.

TESTING ACCOMMODATION: Disability accommodations are available to those who qualify. For more information on requesting an accommodation, please visit the NTN Testing FAQ Page (Question 16).

BENEFITS

The City of Seattle has a comprehensive benefits package for police officers. For more information about benefits, please click here.