Police Officer - Lateral

Police Officer - Lateral

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Police Officer - Lateral

Salary

See Position Description

Location

Eugene, OR

Job Type

Full-Time Regular

Job Number

04497

Department

Police Department

Division

Police Patrol

Opening Date

08/20/2026

Closing Date

Continuous

• Description

• Benefits

• Questions

General Statement of Duties

THIS POSITION IS OPEN UNTIL FILLED

Applications will be reviewed weekly.

ONLINE APPLICATIONS ONLY

Information on How to Apply (

Joining the Eugene Police Department will give you the opportunity to be part of a progressive, professional law enforcement agency that serves a city of more than 178,000 residents. In a typical day, the Eugene Police Department receives about 282 calls for service (103,000 calls each year). EPD staff members also engage in proactive community education and crime- prevention activities to help protect all of Eugene's residents.

The Eugene Police Department mission in fulfillment of the public trust, works in partnership with our community to promote safety and security, enforce laws, prevent crimes, and safeguard the constitutional rights of all people. Joining the Eugene Department will allow you to:

• Have a rewarding career with competitive pay and benefits

• Work in a fast-paced environment with varied work including promotional and special team opportunities

• Benefit from excellent training opportunities

If you have the qualities of integrity, professionalism, teamwork, strong communication skills, empathy, compassion, and the ability to problem solve in a dynamic situation, then we would encourage you to join our department. Classification: Police Officer (

Salary: Lateral Police Officers will start at a higher pay step than entry-level applicants. Below is a wage scale matrix used by the Eugene Police Department as a guide- it does not guarantee a specific rate of pay. Factors considered in a lateral applicant's entry wage include the level of certification, agency size, specialized training and assignments, and other job-related factors that would help an officer be successful in our agency. "Police Experience" refers to municipal, county and state police agencies. Corrections, reserve officer, security officer, and federal officer experience do not fulfill our requirement for certified police experience needed as a lateral applicant.

Successful lateral candidates will be offered a pay step commensurate with their related experience typically at Step 5 or Step 6.

Salary Step 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

Lateral Police Officer positions are eligible for relocation reimbursements per IRS regulations. A 50-mile relocation minimum is required to qualify for a reimbursement up to $7,500. Itemized receipts must be submitted within 45 days from your start date.

Police Officers may also earn up to an additional 15% premium pay (depending on qualifications) after three years of employment. In addition, Police Officers can qualify for a 5% increase for demonstrated fluency in an eligible language (such as Spanish or American Sign Language). Pay listed is for regular hours worked; Police Officers may have opportunities to work overtime assignments which can further increase pay.

The City of Eugene participates in the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System - a program providing comprehensive retirement and disability benefits for employees. The City of Eugene provides life insurance and family health, dental, and vision care benefits; offers competitive vacation, sick leave, and holiday benefits; provides uniforms, weapons, and equipment. For more information, view benefits summaries ( as well as see information about all employee benefits ( .

Department, Division: Police Department, Patrol Division

Union Representation: Eugene Police Employees’ Association (EPEA)

Work Location: Eugene Police Department Headquarters; 300 Country Club Rd. Eugene, OR 97401; 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.

Benefits: The City of Eugene offers robust and competitive benefits. For more information, select the Benefits Tab, or view benefits summaries ( as well as see information about all employee benefits ( .

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.

Living & Working in Eugene: For more information on living in Eugene, how the City of Eugene operates, and more, visit this page. (

Examples of Duties Performed - Duties may include but are not limited to the following

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

Qualifications

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 transferable 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

To meet the minimum qualifications to be a lateral candidate at the Eugene Police Department, the following Experience, Education, and Certification requirements must be met at the time of hire (date of hire is anticipated to be within 60 days from application):

Experience

At least three years of continuous service exercising police powers at a city (municipal), county or state police agency responsible for responding to emergency 9-1-1 calls.

The service must be current, full-time, and continuous with no more than a 30-day break in service at the time of application, and the candidate must have been so employed within 90 days of the Eugene Police Department hire date.

Education

High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.

Background

Must pass a police background investigation.

Physical and Psych

Must pass a psychological evaluation, physical assessment and drug 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.

License and Certificate

Valid Oregon driver’s license (or, the 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 out-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).

Must meet the City of Eugene driving record standards (no traffic crimes, suspensions, diversion agreements, and/or multiple moving violations within the previous 36 months)

Certification

Lateral officers with a state certification recognized by Oregon do not have to attend the DPSST Basic Academy.

Lateral officers with a state certification not recognized by Oregon, must attend a two-week Career Officer Development Academy at DPSST in Salem upon hire.

For the most current information regarding certification recognition and requirements and to answer any specific questions, please contact DPSST directly at

Supplemental Information

Hiring Process Components

The Eugene Police Department plans to hold ongoing lateral testing processes. The process will include the following components:

• Weekly review of applications for candidates that meet the minimum qualifications

• Oral Interview

• Background Investigation

• Interview with the Chief

• Medical and Psychological exams

Candidates who pass the interview will need to pass a full employment background. Please view this list of documents ( that will be requested as part of the background investigation. Those passing that phase will receive a conditional job offer and will complete a psychological testing and interview process along with a full physical prior to receiving an official offer of employment.

Career Path Opportunities

During your career as a sworn member of the Eugene Police Department, you will have a number of options for your career path. In addition to special teams and ad hoc team assignments, there are options for promotion through the ranks to experience positions of leadership. There is also an opportunity to join our Investigations division in a detective role. Special team opportunities include but are not limited to: SWAT, Crisis Negotiations, Explosive Disposal Unit, Honor Guard, K-9 Unit, Traffic Enforcement Unit, Crowd Control Team, and the School Resources Team. Other potential assignments include Field Training Officer, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Airport Officer and Bike Officer.

Additional Information

Please find additional information about the Eugene Police Department’s police officer hiring on our website hiring.eugenepolice.com under the suitcase icon or jobs information.

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.

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.

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 View phone number on click.appcast.io

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.

If a job posting indicates this position is temporary (not limited duration) then the employee serves at will. Temporary employees do not receive benefits through the City of Eugene unless required by City, State or Federal code/statute.

Representation

Employees in this classification are represented by the Eugene Police Employees' Association (EPEA), and their salaries may be subject to a monthly payroll deduction after 31 days of employment.

Salary and Benefits

The normal starting salary is the first step shown on the posting. Other placement in the salary range may be considered depending on qualifications and experience. Periodic advancement through the salary range is dependent upon merit. The City provides a full range of benefits, including holidays, vacation, sick leave, retirement benefit, and life insurance. Health, dental, and vision benefits are available.

To view a summary of benefits ( , benefit premium rates ( , and/or the EPEA contract ( click the respective link. Click here to view information on all Employee Benefits and Wellbeing programs.