Police Officer - Lateral

Police Officer

Nestled along the shores of the Puget Sound and just a scenic ferry ride from Seattle, the City of Bremerton offers an exceptional blend of career opportunity and quality of life. From the vibrant Harborside district—featuring the Kitsap Conference Center, waterfront hotels, dining, and the Port of Bremerton Marina—to the creative energy of the Bremerton Creative District and Quincy Square, there's something here for everyone. Enjoy local attractions like the Puget Sound Navy Museum, stroll the waterfront Bremerton Boardwalk, or relax at Harborside Fountain Park. Cross the iconic Manette Bridge to explore charming shops and cafés, or unwind at Evergreen Rotary Park. Outdoor enthusiasts and golfers alike will appreciate the city-owned Gold Mountain Golf Course, while arts and culture thrive at venues like the Admiral Theatre and events such as the Bremerton Blackberry Festival. With its strong sense of community, natural beauty, and growing opportunities, Bremerton is an ideal place to build your career and make a lasting impact—explore our openings and discover your future here.

General Function

Provides emergency aid, security and protection to the citizens of Bremerton by patrolling business and residential areas, responding to requests for information and assistance, investigating criminal activity and otherwise ensuring the proper enforcement of laws and regulations.

Representative Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Patrols as directed in preventing crime and to enforce federal, state and city laws and regulations. Observes, reports, and acts on conditions conducive to crime and danger such as checking buildings for security, assisting other officers on traffic stops and checking suspicious persons and vehicles. Reports traffic hazards and directs traffic flow when necessary. Determines the nature of a call, investigates the circumstances, and takes any necessary and prudent action, such as making arrests and transporting prisoners. Searches prisoners, collects personal effects and assures proper safeguarding of personal effects. Provides assistance to the public in emergency and non-emergency situations. Administers first aid and requests medical service. Performs crisis intervention in sensitive situations such as family disputes. Provides general information to the public on laws and ordinances. Assists persons with complaints and inquiries or directs them to the appropriate authorities. Prepares a variety of records and reports, such as reports on arrests, property impounded, accidents, offenses, and damage to property; assists in searching, booking, processing and supervising prisoners. Performs investigative assignments on serious crimes. Conducts interviews of victims, witnesses and suspects and submits progress reports on cases under investigation. Collects and documents evidence and may arrest suspects. Appears in court and is available to testify in matters which the officer has knowledge of. Maintains proficiency in the use of police related equipment. Prepares and maintains legible, concise and understandable activity logs and other related or similar types of information as a personal reference record of incidents and details. May perform special assignments including investigation, crime prevention, traffic control, or K-9. May assist in the training of new employees and reserves. Checks business and private property for security. Investigates such conditions as open doors, broken windows, vehicles parked in suspicious places.

Other Duties: Regular attendance is an essential requirement Performs related work as assigned and/or required Knowledge of: Federal, state, county and city laws, regulations and ordinances as they pertain to law enforcement duties and responsibilities. Ability to: Analyze situations and adopt a quick, effective and reasonable course of action, particularly under conditions which are psychologically and emotionally stressful. Communicate effectively with persons in physical and/or emotional distress. Administer first aid or perform other lifesaving procedures in accordance with training. Write clear and accurate reports. Adapt to and utilize current and new technology, devices, equipment, computers and software. Skill in: Use and care of firearms. Must be able to routinely qualify with and proficiently operate all assigned weapons, including the ability to accurately fire, clear malfunctions, disassemble and clean weapons. Driving motor vehicles under emergency and non-emergency conditions. Properly operating and maintaining police issued or assigned equipment. Observation and the ability to remember names, faces and details of incidents.

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee is frequently required to walk, stand or sit for long periods of time (including driving). The employee must occasionally lift and carry equipment. The employee must possess sufficient physical strength, endurance and flexibility to perform rescue operations or other law enforcement duties. Examples of the situations officers may encounter, with varying degrees of frequency, during the performance of their duties include: quickly entering and exiting vehicles; lifting, moving and dragging heavy objects; climbing over or pulling oneself over obstacles; jumping down from elevated surfaces; climbing through openings; jumping over obstacles, balancing on uneven or narrow surfaces and using body force to gain entrance through barriers, move through heavy underbrush; and suddenly move out of the way of danger. The employee must posses sufficient physical strength, endurance and flexibility to run varying distances in pursuit of fleeing suspects and upon capture, must be capable of exerting sufficient force or exertion to physically subdue, restrain, control and arrest violent or combative subjects. The employee must be able to use hands to manipulate, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and smell. The employee must speak clearly; hear and understand radio, telephone and normal range verbal communications. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions

Work may be performed in an office setting or in the field which may include exposure to dangerous and hazardous situations. Working hours may be irregular or long, depending upon the demands of any given situation. The employee is subject to call-back for emergency situations. Physical hazard from traffic and violent offenders may be present. The employee frequently works in outside weather conditions, including possible extreme weather conditions. The employee may be exposed to working near moving mechanical parts; in high, precarious places; with explosives; with firearms; and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, fire, smoke extreme cold, extreme heat, varying light conditions and vibration. The noise level in the environment is usually moderate. The employee may be exposed to personal danger, including but not limited to: armed and/or dangerous persons/animals; persons and/or articles having contagious/communicable diseases; hazards associated with emergency driving, vehicular surveillance, traffic control and working in and around traffic; hazards associated with natural and man-made disasters, the use and operation of electrical equipment. The employee is occasionally exposed to, and must effectively deal with morbid, repugnant or otherwise unpleasant situations.

Qualifying Education and Experience (Minimum Requirements)

Applicant must be certified through the Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) or an equivalent academy to the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC). Basic training does not mean military or police reserve training or any other federal program not approved by the WSCJTC. As specified in WAC 139-05-210, out-of-state applicants are required to complete an equivalency certification process through the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC). This includes successful completion of the Basic Law Enforcement Equivalency Academy. The Department retains the right to send a lateral applicant to the WSCJTC Police Academy if it is determined during the hiring process that a candidate's existing training is not comparable. Pass a comprehensive background investigation including financial investigation, polygraph and/or truth verification examination, psychological and medical evaluations. Washington State Peace Officer Certification must be obtained within one year of hire. Must have been employed as a full-time law enforcement officer with a municipal, county, tribal or state law enforcement agency for at least 24 months continuously, within the last 36 months. High School diploma or General Education Degree (GED) is required. College level work in law enforcement or related field and specialized law enforcement training are highly desired. Read, speak and write the English language. Current Washington State driver's License and good driving record. Must be a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States of America. Must be twenty-one (21) years of age at time of hire.

Examination Process and Required Documents

Required Application Materials: On-line application, personal résumé and a copy of your Washington State Peace Officer Certification are required. Incomplete application packets will not be considered. It is the responsibility of the applicant to carefully list all pertinent experience and training. Applicants can apply on-line at: Oral Examination: An examination panel will evaluate applicant's education and experience through an Oral Examination. Placement on the Civil Service Register is determined by weighted examination scores as follows: Oral Board Examination - Passing Score 70% Weight 100% Meeting or exceeding qualifications does not guarantee applicants will be invited to participate in the examination process. Qualified candidates receiving a final score of 70% or higher will be placed on the eligible register. Applicants selected for hire must successfully pass a background and criminal history check. Any applicant who wishes to appeal any part of an examination shall file an appeal in writing with the Civil Service Officer within five (5) working days (Civil Service Rule 9.23A)