Police Officer (Lateral or Entry Level)

Salary : $81,144.00 - $103,650.48 Annually
Location : Lake Oswego, Oregon, OR
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: View phone number on click.appcast.io
Department: Police Department
Opening Date: 08/21/2026
Closing Date: 9/20/2026 5:00 PM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: LOPOA


The Position
The City is seeking qualified individuals who are interested in becoming Police Officers to join our law enforcement team. Located in the northwestern corner of Clackamas County, on the banks of the scenic Willamette River and hugging the shore of a 405-acre lake, Lake Oswego is a community rich with art, culture, historic resources, quality schools, vibrant business districts, and an abundance of activities and events for all ages.


Working out of the newly constructed Police and City Hall facility in downtown Lake Oswego, the Department has a number of resources to provide exceptional levels of service while offering a number of opportunities to Police Officers such as Detectives, Motorcycle Officers, School Resource Officers, K9 Officers, Adult Resource Officer, and the Training Unit. Additionally, the Department has its own 911 dispatch center (LOCOM), on site Behavioral Health Specialist, Peer Support Team, Chaplain, and fitness facility. Non-sworn Community Service Officers, Evidence, Records and Administrative personnel round out the valuable support for the Department and community.


The Department has a philosophy of community-oriented policing and empowering officers to deal with problems proactively. Respect, Excellence, Trust, and Service guide our values-driven organization in our mission to cultivate an exceptional quality of life for everyone in our community. This dedication to service and collaborative City approach has garnered tremendous community and elected official support for our team and earned our department a 92% overall satisfaction rating (2023).


As part of their duties, Lake Oswego Police Officers can expect to get to know members of the business community and neighborhood residents; patrol assigned areas on foot or in the car; conduct routine and detailed investigations into criminal and civil matters; enforce state and local traffic laws; and demonstrate a service orientation with an understanding of community-oriented policing.


This is a uniformed, police position responsible for general police duties and the enforcement of laws and ordinances. An employee in this class is under the direct supervision of a shift sergeant and performs law enforcement activities which include, but are not limited to, the protection of life and property; conducts routine and detailed investigations into criminal and civil matters; locates and preserves physical evidence; enforces city and state traffic laws, and issues verbal and written warnings; performs special investigative and undercover assignments when required; writes reports and other documents; makes court appearances and gives testimony; may be assigned to the detective, traffic, crime prevention, or other related units; and may be given assignments as required by the chief of police. Incumbents in this class report to a higher professional police classification, such as sergeant, lieutenant, captain or chief of police. This position is represented by the Lake Oswego Police Officers Association (LOPOA).


IMPORTANT

READ TO THE END AND COMPLETE THE STEPS UNDER "APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS"

Education and Experience Requirements
To qualify, candidates must be a U.S. citizen, have no felony conviction, be at least 21 years of age, have as a minimum a high school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent, vision correctable to 20/20, a valid driver's license, and the ability to successfully complete a thorough background investigation and post-offer psychological and medical examination, including pre-employment drug screen. This position is subject to mandatory participation in electronic funds transfer (EFT) for payment of net wages (i.e., Direct Deposit or PayCard).

For a complete list of the essential duties, knowledge, skills and abilities required, and physical and mental demands please review the complete job description at


As a result of this process, the Department will establish an eligibility list effective for one year. This is subject to change at the discretion of the City.


If selected to continue through the process, you will be contacted with instruction for next steps.

Supplemental Information
SUMMARY OF BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION

Note: The benefits and compensation outlined below are subject to change as the LOPOA is currently negotiating a new labor agreement with the City of Lake Oswego.
BENEFITS AVAILABLE:

• Medical Insurance choice between traditional indemnity plan or health maintenance organization (HMO)

• Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield - employees currently pay up to 7% of total medical and dental coverage not to exceed $130/month
• Kaiser Permanente - employees currently pay up to 7% of total medical and dental coverage not to exceed $115/month

• Sick Leave Upon Hire: New and lateral hires scheduled to work a forty (40) hour workweek will receive the equivalent of six (6) months (48 hours) of sick leave upon hire rather than accruing sick leave on a monthly basis. Upon completion of the six (6) months, they will accrue sick leave monthly as described in Article 26.1 of the LOPOA labor agreement.
• Education Reimbursement Program

INCENTIVE PAY AVAILABLE:

• Education and certifications at the completion of field training and DPSST basic or career officer development Academy

• 5% for two years of college-level course work or DPSST Intermediate Certificate
• 6% for two years of college-level course work and DPSST Intermediate Certificate
• 10% for a four-year degree or DPSST Advanced Certificate
• 11% for a four-year degree and DPSST Advanced Certificate
• 15% for an advanced college degree (Master's or Doctorate Degree)

• Employees who are determined by the City to be fluent in additional languages shall receive an additional 5% of their base pay.
• Shift Differential - Employees regularly assigned to work graveyard shift shall receive an additional 5% of their base pay for all hours worked in their graveyard shift.
• Premium pay assignments - Motor Officers, Training Officers, K-9 Officers, School Resource Officers, Adult Resource Officers, Transit officers, and Detectives shall receive an additional 5% of their base pay while so assigned. Those assigned to ancillary duty assignments such as Mobile Field Force, Crisis Negotiation, or SWAT shall receive an additional 5% of their base salary when working in that capacity.
• Longevity pay for more than six (6), nine (9) and twelve (12) consecutive years of service with the Lake Oswego Police Department.

LATERAL POLICE OFFICERS

In recognition of their previous work experience, qualified lateral police officers are eligible for the following additional benefits and incentives:

Education and certification pay:

• Qualified lateral police officers will receive additional pay for college course work and/or DPSST Certification at the time of hire as described below.

• 5% for two years of college-level course work or DPSST Intermediate Certificate
• 6% for two years of college-level course work and DPSST Intermediate Certificate
• 10% for a four-year degree or DPSST Advanced Certificate
• 11% for a four-year degree and DPSST Advanced Certificate
• 15% for an advanced college degree (Master's or Doctorate Degree)

Language premium:

• Employees who are determined by the City to be fluent in additional languages shall receive an additional 5% of their base pay.

Vacation:

• Qualified lateral police officers will be eligible to receive up to sixty (60) hours of banked vacation time.
• Qualified lateral police officers may be considered for accelerated vacation accrual rates based on their time as a sworn police officer.

Longevity Pay:

• Qualified lateral employees will be eligible for longevity pay as described in Article 8.5 of the LOPOA CBA, commensurate with their years of relevant experience in the related field.
• Qualified lateral employees will receive 3% longevity pay if they have more than six (6) years relevant experience, 4% for more than nine (9) years relevant experience, and 5% for more than twelve (12) years relevant experience.
• Qualified lateral employees will receive the longevity incentive pay upon hire as described in LOPOA CBA Article 9.3

To Qualify as a lateral employee, the candidate must:

• Currently be employed in the equivalent position applied for or hold current certification for the position applied for;
• Currently possess any certifications as required by the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST);
• Have completed a field training and evaluation program where required;
• Have three (3) or more years of experience in the position applied for; and
• Be in good standing with a State of Oregon Law Enforcement Agency

RETIREMENT:

• Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) Member contributions are paid on your behalf by the City.

• Tier 1 & 2 PERS eligible employee contribution rate is 29.54% + 6% pick up
• OPSRP Police and Fire PERS eligible employee contribution rate is 27.34% + 6% pick up

• City maintains a 457 deferred compensation plan and contributes 3% of base salary into the employee deferred compensation account

For more detailed information on medical plans, benefits, incentives, and premiums, please review the tab on the job posting, or the full Lake Oswego Police Officers' Association Labor Agreement:


IMPORTANT

READ TO THE END AND COMPLETE THE STEPS UNDER "APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS"

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Entry Level and Lateral

Applications must be submitted to


Incomplete applications will not be accepted and resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed job application. The City Application must be submitted by: 5:00 p.m., Sunday, September 20, 2026

Entry Level and Lateral (All applicants)

Pre-Employment Profile:

In order to be considered for employment with the Lake Oswego Police Department, you must complete and attach the supplemental questionnaire form called "Sworn Pre-Employment Profile."


You will find the Pre-Employment Profile form at the link below. Please complete the questionnaire and then attach the document to your on-line application. Any 'Yes' answers in the Pre-Employment Profile document must have an explanation. Those explanations may be attached on a supplemental page in either a WORD or PDF document. You must complete this step before you certify and submit your application.
Link to the Sworn Pre-Employment Profile :


If you have questions regarding this step of the process, please feel free to contact Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io or


Entry Level Only (those without a current police office certification)

Preferred :

Entry level candidates are encouraged to, but not required to, complete Frontline exams through National Testing Network (NTN) and submit their scores to the Lake Oswego Police Department. Scores for exams more than a year old will expire and cannot be reviewed.
SUMMARY OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Lake Oswego Police Officers' Association (LOPOA) Members

The following material is a brief summary of each benefit and does not replace or supersede any provisions of the insurance contracts.

Vacation accruals in Article 24
Deferred compensation percentages in Article 8
The City will contribute a total of 2.5% of base salary into individual employee deferred compensation accounts per pay period. Base salary does not include incentive or assignment pay. The City accepts no liability for the success or failure of individual investment programs. This selection is subject to applicable tax rules.

Shift differential for night shift in Article 8
Employees regularly assigned to work graveyard shift shall receive five percent (5%) of their base pay for all hours worked in their graveyard shift. This graveyard shift differential does not apply if the employee works overtime on day or swing shifts, or if an employee regularly scheduled to work day or swing shift works graveyard overtime.

Incentive schedules in Article 9
Incentive pay will be given to those employees who meet the requirements contained herein and have made a written request submitting proof of college-level course work and/or certification of the degree obtained to the Police Department. An eligible employee shall begin to receive such additional pay the first of the month following receipt of such proof of qualification, and shall lose incentive pay the first of the month following ineligibility.

Incentive pay requirements are as follows:
Option 1. Two (2) years of college-level course work or Department of Public Safety Standards and Training Intermediate Certificate/ Dispatcher Certification, and has maintained satisfactory performance;
Or
Option 2. Two (2) years of college-level course work and Department of Public Safety Standards and Training Intermediate Certificate/Dispatcher Certification, and has maintained satisfactory performance;
Or
Option 3. Four (4) year college degree or Department of Public Safety Standards and Training Advanced Certificate/Dispatcher Certification, and has maintained satisfactory performance;
Or
Option 4. Four (4) year college degree and Department of Public Safety Standards and Training Advance Certificate/Dispatcher Certification, and has maintained satisfactory performance.
Or
Option 5. Advanced college degree (Master's or Doctorate Degree)

No new employee shall receive incentive pay until their successful completion of FTEP and their DPSST basic or career officer development Academy training. A lateral employee who meets the education Incentive pay requirements, as set forth above, will be eligible for the applicable incentive pay upon hire.

Employees who are eligible for incentive pay shall receive five percent (5%) of the top step for their classification upon satisfying the requirements on Option 1 above; six percent (6%) of the top step for their classification upon satisfying the requirements on Option 2 above; ten percent (10%) of the top step for their classification upon satisfying the requirements of Option 3 above; eleven percent (11%) of the top step for their classification upon satisfying the requirements on Option 4 above; or fifteen percent (15%) of the top step for their classification upon satisfying the requirements on Option 5 above.

Longevity pay structure in Article 8
a. Those who have more than six (6) consecutive years of service in the bargaining unit will be paid an additional three percent (3%) of base wages.
b. Those who have more than nine (9) consecutive years of service in the bargaining unit will be paid an additional four percent (4%) of base wages.
c. Those who have more than twelve (12) consecutive years of service in the bargaining unit will be paid an additional five percent (5%) of base wages.

Current Summary of Benefits
Lake Oswego Police Officers' Association (LOPOA) Members


The following material is a brief summary of each benefit and does not replace or supersede any provisions of the insurance contracts.

Medical Insurance

You may choose between a traditional indemnity plan or a health maintenance organization (HMO) plan. Coverage includes you and your dependents. Each plan includes a vision and prescription drug benefit.

Under the indemnity plan, Aetna Medical, once the participating provider out-of-pocket limti has been met, this plan will pay 100% of covered charges for participating and network not available providers. If you select Aetna Medical, your vision benefit will be provided by VSP Well Vision.

The HMO plan, Kaiser Permanente, guarantees delivery of necessary health services, which is provided exclusively by their own providers

Dental Insurance

The City provides a choice of comprehensive coverage through Moda Health (Delta Dental) and Kaiser Permanente. With your choice, you will have access to a plan that includes preventive, routine and major dental care, as well as orthodontic benefits (for child dependents only).

Life Insurance

The City provides a term life insurance benefit in the amount of the employee's annual base salary to a cap of $50,000. The plan also includes an accidental death and dismemberment benefit. You can choose to purchase additional life insurance for you and/or your spouse in increments of $10,000. You may also purchase life insurance in the amount of $2,000 for each eligible dependent at minimal cost. (Standard Life Insurance Company).

Long Term Disability Insurance

The City provides you with long-term disability (LTD) insurance up to $3,600 per month, following a 90-day waiting period. An employee may purchase additional coverage at his/her own expense. (Standard Life Insurance Company).

Workers' Compensation Insurance

You are provided workers' compensation insurance in accordance with Oregon Revised Statutes.

Public Employees Retirement Systems (PERS)

The City of Lake Oswego is a member of the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). Benefits paid by PERS are funded from two sources:

• member contributions* paid on your behalf by the City; and
• employer contributions*.

(*Contributions are made six months after employment unless you are currently a member of PERS).


You become vested with PERS when contributions have been made in each of five calendar years.

Employee Assistance Program

You and your family can receive up to five (5) free confidential counseling sessions per incident per year, as well as other benefits, such as free legal consultation and first time home owner assistance. EAP coverage is provided by Canopy.

Voluntary Employee Benefits Account (VEBA)

The City has established a Voluntary Employee Benefits Account (VEBA) to be used for medical expenses pre and post retirement. The City will contribute a dollar amount into your account as specified with the terms of the LOPOA collective bargaining agreement, as authorized by IRS Code 501(c)(9). Accumulated sick leave paid will be paid as a cash equivalent into the VEBA account. Additional information available in Human Resources.

457 Deferred Compensation plan

The City maintains a deferred compensation plan and contributes 2.5% of our base salary into an individual employee deferred compensation account per pay period.

Optional Benefits

Flexible Spending Account - The City offers a Flexible Spending Account Program after your have been employed with the City for six months. FSA's allow eligible employees to pay for non-covered health related expenses and child care expenses with tax-free income. In addition, you may use the FSA Premium Only Account to help cover the cost of your portion of the City's medical and dental insurance premiums. You do not need to wait six months to participate in the premium only portion.

Holidays

The City of Lake Oswego recognizes the following holidays during the calendar year.

1. Four hours New Years Eve*
2 New Year's Day
3. Martin Luther King's Birthday
4. President's Day
5. Independence Day
6. Labor Day
7. Memorial Day
8. Veteran's Day
9. Thanksgiving Day
10. Friday Following Thanksgiving Day
11. Four Hours Christmas Eve*
12. Christmas Day
13. Juneteenth
13. Personal Holiday

When Christmas Day or New Year's Day falls on Tuesday through Friday.

In lieu of holidays, LOPOA employees shall accrue ten hours credit for each full month worked. The employee may elect to take the credit as compensatory time off at a time mutually agreeable to the supervisor and the employee.

Vacation

Paid vacation time accrues on a yearly basis as follows:

0-3 years: (8 hrs per month)
4-9 years: (11 hrs per month)
10-16 years: (14.33 hrs per month)
17+ years: (16.67 hrs per month)

Vacation may be accrued to a maximum of two years with the approval of your supervisor.

Sick Leave

Sick leave accrues on a monthly basis at a rate of eight hours per each month worked. Sick leave may be used when you are unable to work due to illness or injury, or to attend a member of the immediate family, as defined in the LOPOA contract, when they are sick or injured. Sick leave may be accumulated to not more than 1100 hours sick leave use.
01


Are you a certified Police Officer

• Yes
• No

02


**Important** (Entry Level and Lateral)I acknowledge and understand that in order to be considered for employment with the Lake Oswego Police Department, I must complete and attach the supplemental questionnaire form called "Pre Employment Profile."You must roll back to step 1 of the application process, scroll down to Attachments and upload your completed Pre-Employment Profile form.You will find the Pre Employment Profile form at the link below. Please complete the questionnaire in either WORD or PDF and then attach the document to your on-line application. Any 'Yes' answers in the Pre-Employment Profile document must have an explanation. Those explanations may be attached on a supplemental page in either a WORD or PDF document. You must complete this step before you certify and submit your application.Link: you have questions regarding this step of the process, please feel free to contact Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io or View email address on click.appcast.io.

• Yes
• No

Required Question