Lateral Police Officer

Police Officer

The City of Mount Vernon has an exciting opportunity for experienced police officers who have a passion for community service and are looking for a new opportunity to serve the City of Mount Vernon. Our mission is to consistently seek and find ways to affirmatively promote, preserve, and deliver a feeling of security, safety, and productive, quality services to citizens and visitors in our community.

Examples of work performed include patrolling a designated area of the city in a police patrol vehicle and/or on foot to deter and discover crime; doing on-the-scene investigations at crime scenes; aiding persons in trouble; and rendering appropriate public services as needed. Other duties include enforcing traffic and parking ordinances, operating a radar unit to discover speed violations, routinely checking vehicle identification against current lists of stolen vehicles and identification of violator drivers against lists of outstanding warrants, providing traffic control assistance as necessary, issuing citations to violators of city ordinances, serving warrants of arrest, arresting persons on misdemeanor and felony charges, handcuffing and searching arrested persons and securing their custody, completing necessary reports concerning the alleged crime, circumstances of arrest and available evidence and witnesses, responding to reports of possible crime and taking action as situation requires to secure the scene, interviewing victims and witnesses, gathering evidence and arresting suspects, completing incident and arrest reports, investigating persons suspected of being engaged in crime, ascertaining and securing evidence pertaining to alleged crime, and arresting suspects for probable cause.

Other duties include reporting to the scene of automobile accidents, administering emergency first aid and summoning aid cars and other patrol units for assistance in treating the injured and controlling the scene, interviewing principals and witnesses, making general drawings of accident scenes, noting details, and completing a standard accident report, investigating and assisting drivers in stalled vehicles and pedestrians who appear to be hurt or in trouble, interviewing persons with complaints or inquiries, giving information on law and ordinances and attempting to resolve the problem or to direct them to proper authorities, investigating family disputes, reports of maltreatment of children, and complaints about mentally ill persons, taking principals into custody or turning them over or referring them to appropriate agencies such as juvenile and medical authorities, preserving the peace during conflicts between individuals and groups, and answering citizen complaints. Additional duties include performing guard duty at hospitals and in court, transferring prisoners to and from jail, doing thorough investigations of reported crimes, including collecting and preserving evidence, interviewing victims and witnesses, locating, arresting, and interviewing suspects, arranging line-ups for victim and witness identification, gathering evidence and conducting necessary searches, developing information pertinent to the investigation and following that information to a conclusion, preparing case file detailing all aspects of an investigation, obtaining and executing search warrants when directed, and presenting to detective division for filing with prosecuting attorney.

Other duties include developing street contacts to obtain information about crime, maintaining contact with paroled criminals and suspects at large, doing undercover and decoy work, checking known and possible stolen property outlets such as pawnshops and junkyards, testifying in court and serving all proper court documents, serving as court officer if necessary, attending training sessions as necessary, performing all specialized duties depending upon individual officer's background and abilities and the needs of the department, responding to such complaints as bomb threats and taking appropriate action, including searching for hazardous material, and representing the department in public as public speaker when assigned to do so.

Required knowledge and abilities include knowledge of federal and state laws and established principles, practices, policies and procedures of police work, modern police methods and procedures, laws of arrest, search and seizure, principles of crime and accident investigation, basic techniques for crime prevention and criminal investigations, identification and preservation of evidence, organization and planning, geography and street locations, skills in the use and care of a variety of firearms, investigative techniques and procedures, and ability to maintain self-discipline and credibility through honest and ethical behavior, adapt to shift work, analyze situations quickly and objectively, recognizing actual and potential dangers, and to determine a proper course of action, write clear incident reports, organizing details logically, read, understand, and interpret laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations, learn applicable city ordinances, cope with situations firmly, tactfully, and with respect for individual rights, speak well and express oneself clearly, communicate effectively with a diverse population, including those with social and behavioral problems, establish and maintain effective relations with fellow employees and with citizens from all racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds, perform strenuous physical tasks, such as pursuing fleeing suspects on foot and arresting suspects who resist, and observe and remember details.

Qualifications include minimum of 21 years of age, high school diploma or GED, minimum of 90 quarter hours (60 semester) at an accredited college or university, U.S. citizen, valid Washington state driver's license, ability to successfully pass the following: oral civil service examination, physical fitness examination, background investigation, polygraph examination, psychological examination, medical examination, must have been employed as a full-time law enforcement officer with a civilian law enforcement agency within the last twenty-four (24) months. That employment must have lasted a minimum of one year. Applicants shall have successfully completed probation and possess current basic certification upon application from the Washington state criminal justice training commission (WSCJTC), which can be obtained by successfully completing the WSCJTC basic law enforcement academy. Out of state candidates who have been previously certified in another state, must pass the WSCJTC equivalency examination. If not currently employed must successfully complete the public safety testing physical ability test.

Interview process: Only those applicants meeting all application procedures and minimum qualifications may be admitted to the interview process. Because this recruitment is continuous, interviews will be scheduled periodically. Candidates will be selected for panel interviews based upon the needs of the police department and other relevant factors as determined by the chief examiner. The interview process will be 100% of the final examination score. There will be a minimum passing score on the interview.

Application process: To apply please visit Include with your application the following: a cover letter that addresses the following questions: why are you interested in joining the Mount Vernon police department? why do you want to serve the Mount Vernon community? why is this career move right for you? a resume, unofficial transcripts from each accredited college, or university, you have attended including explanation of credit hour conversion, supplemental questions (your application will not be considered if not included): describe your definition of "policing". describe three challenges or issues you see the police profession facing now or in the future? during your police career, describe a project or program that you played an instrumental role that you're most proud of? lateral police officer supplemental questionnaire

For a complete job description please contact View email address on click.appcast.io. The city of Mount Vernon provides and enforces a drug free workplace and maintains a smoke free work environment. The city of Mount Vernon is an equal opportunity employer.