Police Officer LATERAL

City of Seattle; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Seattle Police Department is seeking lateral entry police officers dedicated to public safety and community service. As part of a dynamic team, officers will perform essential law enforcement duties and uphold the city's values of race and social justice. Successful candidates will enjoy a hiring bonus of $50,000 and participate in an extensive hiring process.

Benefits

Hiring bonus of $50,000

Comprehensive benefits package

Flexible work schedule

Qualifications

• Two years of post-academy experience as a certified law enforcement officer.
• Must meet minimum eligibility standards before taking the exam.

Responsibilities

• Maintain public safety by responding to emergencies.
• Conduct investigations of crimes and hazardous conditions.
• Arrest and detain suspected violators of the law.

Skills

Public safety

Emergency response

Community relations

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

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.

IMPORTANT ITEMS TO NOTE

• THIS EXAM IS FOR EXPERIENCED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ONLY, who meet all of the criteria for lateral entry. If you are not currently certified as a law enforcement officer or do not have required law enforcement experience, please apply for entry level police officer usingthis link.

• Hiring Bonus:The City of Seattle is offering a$50,000hiring bonus for lateral police officers. Please see theSeattle Police Department website to learn more.

• Speak with a Recruiter:Completethis form and a recruiter will text you!

• Attend anApplicant Workshop: Sign up hereto participate in an upcoming Seattle Police Applicant Workshop to learn more about policing careers, the Seattle Police Department, and tips to navigate our hiring process!

****Please read the entire job bulletin information carefully, as our testing process has changed.****

HIRING PROCESS

1. Apply: All candidates must submit an application to the City of Seattle as soon as possible. To submit an application, click “Apply” at the top of this job bulletin. A resume and cover letter arenotrequired.

2. Register and CompleteTwo (2)Exam Components: The law enforcement exam components must be self-scheduled through theNational 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 examcomponents include:
   

   • Frontline National (Law Enforcement) Exam

   • Public Safety Self-Assessment (Parts 1 & 2)

   You should receive your NTN exam results within approximately three weeks afterapplying and completing all components of your test (Frontline National and PSSA).

   Exam Notes:

   • CandidatesareNOTrequired tocomplete 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 canelectto send your scores to SPD at no cost via the “Department Add” feature in your NTN account. Please contact NTN candidate support if you needassistancetransferring your scores to SPD.

   • If you have any questions, please contact us [e-mail].
     
     

3. Lateral Oral Board:Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria for lateral police officer and successfully pass all components of the NTN test listed above will be scheduled for an oral board interview, which will take place virtually via Microsoft Teams. Candidates who pass the oral board interview will be ranked on an eligible list according to their exam scores. After being placed on an eligible list, candidates must pass the below pre-employment steps to become a Seattle police officer.
4. Backgrounding: Candidates who pass the civil service exams above 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 evaluatedin accordance withRules 9.17 - 9.21 of the City of Seattle’s Public Safety Civil Service Commission.

• Veteran’s Preference:forcandidates withqualifyingmilitary experience

• Language(Multilingual)Preference:forcandidates withproficiencyin a language other than English**

• Human/SocialServicesPreference:forcandidateswho 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:forcandidates who haveprior service as a Police Reserve in the Seattle Police Departmentas well as those who have served as 911 dispatchersand Parking Enforcement Officers

**Please note thatcandidatesmust passthe WAPAT in addition totheir civil service exams (Frontline National and PSSA)in order tobe eligibleforlanguageorcommunity servicepreference 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 servicesin accordance withthe mission, goals, andobjectivesof the City of Seattle Police Department and in compliance with governing federal, state, and local laws.

Lateral Entry Police Officer candidates are experienced police officers who have worked for other municipal, county, or state agencies for at least 24 of the past 36 months (post academy experience) at the time of testing, with full police powers and duties. An applicant MUST have experience as a patrol officer who has responded to 911 calls. Experience gained solely as a Corrections Officer does not qualify an applicant for lateral entry status, even if the applicant has completed an equivalent basic law enforcement academy.
If you are currently a police officer but do not meet the experience requirements of a Lateral Police Officer, you may qualify to test as an Exceptional Entry candidate. Exceptional Entry candidates should apply as an Entry Level Police Officer and take the entry-level exam.

• Providesfor public safety bymaintainingorder, 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,areasand businesses to deter criminal activity and promote public safety.

• Investigates conditions hazardous to life or property; conducts initial investigations of crime and crime scenes; mayassistdetectives in criminal investigation work. Conducts search and seizure activities asappropriate. Collects and preserves crime scene and evidence.

• Arrests and/or detains suspected violators of the law. Reviewsfacts of incidents todetermineif criminal act or statute violations were involved.

• Records facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.

• Rendersaid to accident victims and other personsrequiringfirst 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, isrequired.

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).

• Two (2) years of post-academy experience as a certified law enforcement officer (municipal, county, state) with FULL law enforcement power and duties during the last 36 months.

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

MINIMUM EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS:The following standards apply to all candidates for Police Officer.

Drug Use

Prior to the exam:

• Have not used Marijuana within twelve (12) months prior to taking civil service exam, and

• Have not used cocaine or crack within thepreviousfive (5) years, and

• Have not used club drugs, such as, but not limited to: Ketamine, GHB, Rohypnol, or MDMA (ecstasy) within thepreviousthree (3) years, and

• Have not used any Hallucinogens, LSD, Mushrooms, orPsilocybinwithin thepreviousfive (5) years, and

• Have not used PCP, Angel Dust, Wet or Phencyclidine within thepreviousfive (5) years, and

• Have not used Opium, Morphine, or Heroin within thepreviousfive (5) years, and

• Have not used Methamphetamine, Crank, Crystal, Ice, Speed, Glass, or Amphetamine within thepreviousfive (5) years, and

• Have not inhaled aerosols, sometimes referred to as Huffing (paint) orWhippits(Nitrous Oxide) or used Khat within thepreviousthree (3)years, and

• Have not used any illegal drug(s) while employed in a criminal justice and/or law enforcementcapacity, and

• Have not manufactured or cultivated illegal drug(s) for the purpose of the sales/marketing of the drug(s).

• Havenot sold orfacilitatedthe 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 enforcementcapacity.

• 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 tomaintaina professional appearance at all times. SPD has the sole discretion indeterminingwhat is considered professional, as it relates to the position of Police Officer.Any and alltattoos, 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 isrequiredprior to being hired.

• Ability to accurately type at least 35 wpm is highly desirable.

• Seattle residence is notrequiredfor 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.

Please see the links below foradditionaldetails on the civil service exam:

• NTN Frontline National (Law Enforcement) Exam

• NTN Public Safety Self Assessment

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants are highly encouraged to review theSeattle Police Department's "Careers and Opportunities" web pages for further information about the hiring process.

ThePublic Safety Civil Service Exams Unitoverseestheinitialexam process,establishesan eligible list, and certifies candidates from the eligible list upon request by the Seattle Police Department.

ThePolice Departmentwill directly contact and schedule eligible candidates forallthe 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,additionalinterviews,a physical ability exam, apolygraph, and psychological and medical exams.

TESTING ACCOMMODATION:Disability accommodations are available to those who qualify. For more information onrequestingan accommodation, please visit theNTN Testing FAQ Page (Question 16).

BENEFITS

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