Police Officer - Entry Level / Exceptional Hire / Lateral
Oak Harbor Financial Inc
A complete application in a minute
Tailored resume and cover letter, ready to send.
Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
City of Oak Harbor Police Department invites applications for Police Officer roles in our vibrant waterfront community. Under general supervision, officers provide police services to safeguard life and property, enforce laws, and protect rights while upholding community standards.
Officers work with a 3/12 or 4/10 schedule, receive education incentives and longevity pay, and enjoy comprehensive benefits. This is a full-time, on-site position with opportunities for professional development and
Qualifications
- Requires excellent communication and the ability to interact with the public with tact and discretion.
- Strong command of English written and spoken language is essential for reports and testimony.
- Problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills are important for community policing and investigations.
Responsibilities
- Respond to calls for service and interview witnesses or victims.
- Conduct preliminary and follow-up investigations; process crime scenes and gather evidence.
- Patrol the city by car, bike, or on foot to deter crime and enforce laws.
- Prepare case documentation, liaise with other agencies, and testify in court when required.
Skills
Education
Job description
Join our City of Oak Harbor team to help build a legacy of commitment to excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion in our vibrant waterfront community.
Policing....A call to duty. Are you up for the challenge? If you are looking for more than "just a job" and want to make a positive difference in your community every day, consider a career in law enforcement! Policing is a career with serious responsibilities and abounding rewards that really count in today's world. Few careers offer more opportunities for self-fulfillment than service as a law enforcement officer. Do you have what it takes?
The Oak Harbor Police Department is an accredited agency comprised of: Administration, Patrol, Detectives, and Special Operations. The authorized force consists of 29 Commissioned Personnel and 12 Non-Commissioned Personnel. The department is known for its successful community involvement and problem-solving approach to law enforcement. Additionally, the Police Department operates a city jail as part of its responsibilities, staffed by City Correctional staff and City Police Support Officers (PSOs). The department is proud of its increased commitment to training, including an internal bi-monthly training program, inter-agency training, as well as outside training opportunities for staff. Other areas the department participates in include: a Community Advisory Board, Reserve Officer Unit, Explorer Post and Citizens Volunteers. The Department has strong cooperative relationships with local agencies and participates in regional law enforcement, communications and emergency management task forces and organizations. The department enjoys continued quality relationships with the U.S. Navy and the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station located in and adjacent to the City of Oak Harbor. We take pride in providing services for our community and the variety of events which occur in the City each year, including: 4th of July, National Night Out, Oak Harbor Music Festival, and the Whidbey Island Marathon.
Officers work on a squad with a 3/12 schedule, rotating two months on days and two months on nights. Detectives work a 4/10 schedule.
The compensation begins with a pre-academy recruit level. We also offer education, longevity pay, and great benefits! (See benefits tab). We are a progressive department, anticipating department and community needs now and for the future!
Under general supervision, Police Officers perform police services in accordance with the mission, goals, and objectives of the Oak Harbor Police Department, and in compliance with governing federal, state, and local laws. It is the responsibility of police officers to safeguard the public peace, protect life and property, prevent crime, enforce the law, protect the rights of all persons and generally uphold the community-articulated standards.
- Respond to calls for service involving both criminal activity and community caretaking activities. Interview persons with complaints and make proper disposition or direct them to the proper authorities/community resources.
- Conduct preliminary and follow-up investigations, process crime scenes using all available techniques, gather evidence, obtain witness/victim/ suspect statements, apprehend suspects, make arrests and transport offenders.
- Give advice and general information to inquiries from the public.
- Practice efficient case management including the initial documentation of appropriate information, timely follow-up and case documentation, appropriate interaction with victims, cooperation with other agencies and departments and testifying as a witness in court in connection with arrests and investigations.
- Use available time to patrol the City by radio equipped car, bicycle or on foot to prevent, discover and deter the commission of crime, to enforce criminal law, to direct traffic and to enforce motor vehicle operation.
- Take proper safety precautions, which include the appropriate application of force, proper officer safety tactical movement and positioning and de-escalation and crisis management skills.
- Establish and maintain effective and cooperative relations with City officials, department heads, supervisors, other departments, co-workers, representatives of business and community as well as the general public. Respond to inquiries using good judgment, tact and courtesy, sometimes in stressful situations.
- Interact and communicate effectively with other social, governmental and private agencies on civil and criminal matters, sometimes in emergency situations.
- Present a professional demeanor with the general public.
- Operate safely police vehicles in normal and emergency circumstances in all weather. Properly maintain and use other department equipment.
- Read and apply department policies, rules, regulations, instructions, laws, ordinances and general literature pertaining to policing.
- Enter or retrieve computer data.
- Advise supervisor, orally and/or in writing, of activities, investigations and arrests.
- Assist the jailers in maintaining safe and secure operations of the Oak Harbor City Jail.
- As needed, may be re‑assigned to other divisions or duties (detectives, training, K‑9, community services, etc.).
- Laws, RCW, City Code, and Department Manual of Standards.
- City Rules & Regulations.
- Computer and word processing software operation.
- Problem‑solving and conflict resolution skills.
- Excellent oral communication and ability to communicate clearly, concisely and effectively and to maintain confidentiality as appropriate.
- Excellent written skills and ability to compose complex correspondence and reports as well as ability to research, organize and compile data into meaningful reports.
- Drive vehicles and operate all related job equipment.
- Interact well with citizens.
- Be flexible and adaptable in decision‑making.
- Good interpersonal sensitivity to people.
- Knowledge of English, spelling, grammar, vocabulary, punctuation and mathematics.
An equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential job functions may be considered.
- At least 21 years of age at time of application.
- A United States citizen and have the ability to read, write and speak the English language.
- A high school diploma or GED equivalent.
- To work with in the Use of Force continuum.
- Meet LEOFF Retirement system minimum medical and health standards.
- Able to successfully complete all required training.
- Willing and able to perform shift work, with evening and weekend work.
- Must have or obtain a Washington State Driver's License at time of appointment.
- Pass background investigation, including screening of criminal history, sexual offenses, recent drug use and driving record.
- Pass polygraph examination for law enforcement personnel.
- Conditional employment offer will include medical exam with drug screen, and psychological evaluation for aptitude to work in law enforcement.
- Able to meet response time per the Labor Contract.
Work is primarily performed outdoors in all types of weather. Potential for damage to health, life and property. Required to work varying shifts and holidays. Work requires a normal range of hearing and visual acuity, eye/hand coordination and manual dexterity. Move in excess of 60 pounds. Operate motor vehicles and equipment. Use handgun to protect lives. Communicate with radio equipment.
We expect employees to ensure compliance with all applicable safety practices and policies, including those established by OSHA/DOSH regulations and the City’s Accident Prevention Program (APP). This includes, but is not limited to, actively identifying, and correcting potential hazards that may affect employee and public safety, including those identified by co‑workers. Leading by example to promote a positive culture of workplace safety through everyday action, emphasizing safe completion of work throughout all aspects of developing and carrying out work plans.
The City of Oak Harbor is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment regardless of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability or any other status protected by law.
The City of Oak Harbor offers a generous benefit package to our employees that include:
Officers work on a squad with a 3/12 schedule, rotating two months on days and two months on nights schedule and a kelly day every 6 weeks. Detectives work a 4/10 schedule.
- Commissioned and Non- Commissioned employees receive an education incentive pay after completion of probation period of 1.5% - 6% salary increase depending on education level.
- Commissioned Officers also receive longevity pay of 3% - 5% starting at 10 years of service with the City of Oak Harbor.
- Non-Commissioned employees receive longevity pay of 1% - 3% starting at 10 years of service with the City of Oak Harbor.
Full-time employees receive vacation accrual on the following schedule. Sick leave accrual is one day per month. The vacation accrual rate for a part‑time employee shall be pro‑rated as a percentage of the full‑time rate.
- 0 – 5 years 8 hours/month
- 6 – 10 years 10 hours/month
- 11 – 15 years 13.33 hours/month
- 16 – 20 years 15 hours/month
- 21 + years 16.66 hours/ month
The City provides eleven (11) paid holidays per year plus two (2) floating holidays of your choice (total of thirteen (13) days).
A choice from three options is provided through the Association of Washington Cities (AWC).
- Kaiser $200 Deductible Health Plan,
- Regence High Deductible Health Plan (with a City funded HSA)
- Regence HealthFirst 250 Health Plan.
The City pays 100% of the premium for a fulltime, regular employee and 90% of the premium for spouse and dependent children.
The City provides a paid family vision plan which covers a yearly exam per person and a portion of vision hardware (frames, lenses and contacts) depending upon the use of accepted network providers.
Washington Dental Service/DELTA is preventive, incentive‑based dental coverage provided through Association of Washington Cities, and pays as follows: 70‑100% preventive, 70‑100% basic, and 50% major dental to a maximum of $2000/person/year. Included is an orthodontic rider for children of 50% orthodontic expenses to a maximum of $1000 per child/lifetime. The City pays 100% of the premium for a fulltime, regular employee and 90% of the premium for spouse and dependent children.
Required Pension Plan For All City Employees.
LEOFF (Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters) plan 2 is for safety service employees.
PSERS plan 2 is for Public Safety Service Officers (Corrections Officers).
Employee contribution rates (% of gross income) vary for the plans. The City makes a contribution as well.
The City pays for a $25,000 basic group life insurance policy as well as a long term disability policy for employee only through Standard Insurance Company.
The City of Oak Harbor is committed to promoting employee health and wellness, and offers a Wellness Program with fun and varied activities where regular employees can earn points to qualify for a Wellness Day off.
Free, professional and confidential counseling is available through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) via ComPsych. EAP is available to the employee and their immediate family, including their dependent children and anyone living in their household. Guidance counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to arrange an appointment with a qualified counselor in your area. Visit the EAP page for more information.
- Voluntary Group Life Insurance- in addition to our life insurance policy this is a self‑paid option.
- Deferred Compensation Plan – Mass Mutual or Washington State DCP- in addition to our city offered pension plan, this is a self‑paid option.
- Colonial Life & Disability – This is a self‑paid individual and/or family coverage for Cancer Care, Short Term Disability, Life, Accident, Critical Illness and more
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA)- Pre‑Tax deductions (IRS 125 Flexible Spending Account) for unreimbursed medical expenses and/or dependent day care
- Health Savings Account (HSA)- funded by the City, $3,500 individual, $7,000 family per year. Must be on the Regence High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)
'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M101.744%2012.4726L102.894%2016.1947L99.0021%2013.2201L101.744%2012.4726ZM105.3%208.40937H100.488L99.0026%203.59473L97.5116%208.41047L92.7%208.40385L96.5965%2011.3834L95.1055%2016.1942L99.0021%2013.2196L101.408%2011.3834L105.3%208.40992V8.40937Z'%20fill='white'/%3e%3cdefs%3e%3clinearGradient%20id='paint0_linear_5593_1381'%20x1='90'%20y1='9.44471'%20x2='99'%20y2='9.44471'%20gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse'%3e%3cstop%20stop-color='%2300AD70'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='0.998594'%20stop-color='%2300B67A'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='1'%20stop-color='%23DCDCE6'/%3e%3c/linearGradient%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
