Entry Level Police Officer

Police Officer Position

The City of Sumner is establishing an Initial Eligibility List. 2026 Pay Range: $45.61 - $58.36 per hour plus potential for education premiums. This position is a full-time, Fair Labor Standards Act position. The incumbent in this position is a Civil Service employee. This position is eligible for representation through the Police Guild.

About Sumner: The City of Sumner's vision is to set the standard of excellence for a progressive small city. In working to achieve that vision, Sumner prioritizes and celebrates diverse perspectives, life experiences and differences. The City actively seeks and encourages people with diverse backgrounds and characteristics to apply and all come together with a goal of continuing to learn and improve to better serve the residents, businesses and visitors of our community. Sumner remains a traditional city of just over 10,000 residents with agricultural roots, known for decades as the Rhubarb Pie Capital of the World. At the same time, its compact, walkable layout aligns perfectly with progressive planning trends, as its classic Main Street becomes repurposed for boutiques, independent restaurants and daily services such as legal offices, financial advisors and doctors. While Sumner retains historic neighborhoods of Craftsman houses and an active high school right on Main Street, it also offers over 10,000 manufacturing and distribution jobs for companies such as REI, Keurig Green Mountain, Amazon.com, and Dillanos Coffee Roasters. With a downtown Sound Transit station with buses and trains, it is well connected to the Puget Sound region while striving to be a full service city with the largest YMCA facility in the state of Washington as well as a link trail system that will connect the Foothills and Interurban trails. Like the community, the city government is large enough to be professional but small enough to be creative. The City has won a variety of awards from the Governor's Smart Planning Award to recognition at the International Association of Chiefs of Police for its groundbreaking police work on victims' assistance. With a strong mayor format, the City has just over 100 employees who operate a cemetery, wastewater treatment facility, accredited police department, parks, full service public works and administration.

About the Sumner Police Department: The Sumner Police Department has 21 commissioned officers which include: Police Chief, Deputy Chief, two Sergeants, two Detectives, one School Resource Officer, and the remaining Patrol Officers. Additional staff include four administrative support staff, one Evidence Custodian, and one Parking Enforcement Officer.

The City contracts jail services with neighboring agencies and dispatch service is provided by South Sound 911. The City also provides contracted animal control services to six other cities and maintains a shelter in the city of Puyallup. The department participates in multi-agency teams for SWAT, Major Crimes, Civil Disturbance, Collision Investigations, and numerous traffic emphasis.

We are guided by our principles of professionalism, integrity, teamwork, and commitment. The department has been state accredited since 2005. Our vision is to set the standard of excellence for a progressive small city police department. General Purpose: Performs a variety of duties related to the suppression and prevention of crime, the protection on life and property and the preservation of the public peace; responsible for the enforcement of laws and for giving aid and information to citizens in the community. Supervision Received: This position reports to the Police Sergeants. Supervision Responsibilities: Supervises the community and ensures that laws and regulations are being followed.

Examples of Duties

The job duties and responsibilities represented in this job description in no way imply that these are the only duties to be performed. Employees occupying the position will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by a supervisor. While requirements may be representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and abilities to perform this job successfully, the employee will possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty with proficiency. Primary responsibilities include:

• Patrols designated areas of the City, either in whole or in part, during an assigned shift, to preserve law and order, to prevent and discover the commission of crime, and to enforce Federal, State, and City of Sumner laws and regulations;
• Answers calls and complaints involving traffic accidents, domestic situations, robberies, and other misdemeanors, disturbances, and felonies; takes necessary police action;
• Observes, reports, and acts on conditions conducive to crime and danger; checks buildings for security; observes residences, schools, sports fields, banks, and vacant areas; checks suspicious persons and vehicles;
• Issues infractions and citations, makes arrests, transports persons taken into custody, or takes other action as appropriate under the circumstances;
• Prepares all forms, reports, and follow-up reports necessary to file felony and/or misdemeanor charges;
• Prepares criminal cases for prosecution with either the City or County Prosecutor; interacts with prosecutors, attorneys, and court officials; testifies in court as required;
• Conducts preliminary investigations at the scenes of crimes and accidents; gathers evidence; locates and questions witnesses; testifies as a witness in court;
• Patrols an area of the City as directed in a patrol vehicle, bicycle, or on foot; interviews witnesses and/or complaints; collects material evidence and performs crime scene work; performs surveillance; apprehends, interviews, and arrests suspects; prepares and submits reports; assists other jurisdictions and agencies; participates in undercover investigation of narcotics, gambling, vice, and other activities, violations and crimes; may be called on any time for emergency duties;
• Conducts investigation assignments of suspected illegal activity or follow-up investigations of criminal cases. May also be called upon to conduct specialized investigations;
• Collects and documents evidence and requests lab analysis as appropriate;
• Reports traffic hazards and directs pedestrian and vehicular traffic flow when necessary or directed;
• Disburses unruly crowds; enforces vehicle operation and parking regulations; issues warnings, notices of infraction, or citations as appropriate; responds to emergency calls including hazardous waste spills, bomb threats, and a wide variety of other calls;
• Determines the nature of a call, investigates the circumstances, and takes any necessary and prudent action. May call for assistance of supervisors if necessary;
• Takes command at scene of crime or accident; administers first aid and requests medical aid as necessary; takes statements and interviews victims and witnesses; examines situation; records vital information regarding causes and circumstances;
• Performs community liaison activities; educates the public about crime prevention; provides general information on law and ordinances; explains process of filing a formal complaint, the extent of police patrols, and alternatives available to citizens;
• Directs citizens to appropriate authorities as necessary; participates in crime prevention and other community action programs to promote citizen awareness and education;
• May be called upon to provide or assist in other functions related to the duties and functions of Police Officer, such as drug awareness education, training management, crime prevention, scouting programs, etc;
• Serves and enforces civil process issued by the courts to include restraining orders, orders for protection, no contact order, anti-harassment orders, and subpoenas;
• Serves arrest and search warrants and transports persons in police custody;
• Prepares and writes a variety of reports and records, such as, but not limited to, reports on incident or arrest, calls for service, property impoundment, accidents, offenses, damages to property, field interviews, and results of investigations;
• Attends meetings, seminars, and other training classes to maintain current up-to-date knowledge of criminal and civil laws, as well as technical skills in order to remain proficient in the performance of duty;
• Assures that all equipment used in the performance of duty is clean, maintained, and operating properly;
• Maintains working relationships with surrounding police departments, Sheriff's Department, State Patrol, and relevant community service agencies to assure an accurate and timely flow of information as related to day-to-day duties and activities;
• Trains new personnel in geographical and cultural characteristics of the city and the general methods and procedures to use in the proper execution of police officer duties;
• Provides non-emergency assistance to people in need
• May be required to provide booking services and back-up assistance to Dispatchers, Jailers, Animal Control Officers, Evidence Custodian, and Records Clerk as needed;

Qualifications

DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Education and Experience Education equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade. Successful completion and graduation from the Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy. Must obtain and maintain Washington State Peace Officer Certification. Must be at least 21 years of age. Necessary Special Requirements Must hold a valid Washington State driver's license with driving record free from serious or frequent violations. Must pass a background check. Must attain successful completion of training requirements prescribed by the Department. NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES Knowledge of: Federal, state, county, and city laws, regulations, and ordinances; Criminal behavior and causes underlying