Police Officer (Lateral/Waiver)

Salary: $39.17 - $52.48 Hourly
Location : Scottsdale, AZ
Job Type: Full-Time Regular
Job Number: FY2526-01071
Division: Uniformed Services
Department: Patrol Services
Opening Date: 07/01/2026
Closing Date: 7/31/2026 11:59 PM Arizona


Introduction

NOTE: This recruitment is open to individuals who meet the definition of Police Officer Lateral or Police Officer Waiver (see below).

Candidates with prior law enforcement experience are eligible to receive 5% for each year of service up to 30%.

About The Position:
City of Scottsdale Police Officers are responsible for protecting life and property, preventing, deterring and investigating crime, enforcing laws and responding to citizen requests through the use of community policing strategies to engage and educate the community.
A Police Officer Lateral is someone who has current Arizona P.O.S.T. Peace Officer Certification.

A Police Officer Waiver is an individual who has served honorably as a peace officer in Arizona and whose certified status has lapsed, or a person who has functioned in the capacity of a peace officer for another state or a federal law enforcement agency, may be eligible to gain AZPOST certification through Waiver Testing in lieu of attending an Arizona peace officer basic course at an academy.

To be eligible, a person must:

1. Have previously served as a certified peace officer in Arizona, another state, or federal agency.
2. Have completed basic and advanced training that demonstrates substantial comparability to the Arizona basic course.
3. Obtain an appointment from an Arizona Law Enforcement Agency.
4. Meet all of the minimum qualifications for certification as an Arizona Peace Officer as outlined in Arizona Administrative Code Rule R13-4-105.

At a minimum, substantial comparability is determined as follows:

1. If a person has graduated from a state approved POST basic training academy and has at least one year of experience as a POST academy certified peace officer, they meet the substantial comparability standard.

If a person does not meet the substantial comparability as listed in #1 above, then an actual training and experience comparison to Arizona's basic training will need to be conducted to determine if the applicant qualifies for the waiver process.

Applicant eligibility for the waiver (or out-of-state certified police officers) program will be determined during the background process.
Please Note :

• Be sure to check your email junk/spam folders regularly for possible notifications and/or self-schedule interview invitations from Governmentjobs.

IMPORTANT: Please review the current before submitting your application.

The application and supplemental questions are an integral part of the selection process, and must be completed in full in order for you to be considered as a candidate. Please complete each section and answer all questions as thoroughly as possible. DO NOT state "See resume" in lieu of answering. Unanswered questions, incomplete responses, omissions, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process.

Applications will be reviewed bi-monthly.


There will be a physical assessment included in the selection process for this position. The assessment will be conducted on various dates throughout the recruitment process. For more information on the selection process , please check the Scottsdale Police Department's website at

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• A high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) equivalent.
• Must be 21 years of age at the time of application.
• Must be a United States Citizen.

Licensing, Certifications and Other Requirements :

• Must possess and maintain a valid, unrestricted driver's license with no major citations within the past 39 months prior to the start date. The Arizona Department of Motor Vehicles requires that out-of-state driver's licenses must be surrendered within 10 days of relocating to the State of Arizona.
• Possess and maintain AZPOST Certification.
• Every person employed by the City of Scottsdale shall reside in the State of Arizona during his or her active employment by the City, regardless of whether the employee is approved to remote work.

Essential Functions


Performs duties and responsibilities commensurate with assigned functional area within a department(s) which may include, but are not limited to, any combination of the following:

• Performs law enforcement patrol activities.
• Operates a motor vehicle and observes and monitors the public to determine compliance/noncompliance with prescribed operating or safety standards and laws. Pursues and stops offenders, subdues resisting offenders using necessary force where appropriate, including deadly force.
• Issues citations and makes arrests; searches persons, places, and things; seizes and impounds property and evidence; transports arrested persons and property.
• Mediates disputes; performs crowd and riot control activities.
• Conducts law enforcement investigations.
• Protects crime and traffic accident scenes; conducts face to face and phone interviews; observes, gathers, records, processes, and preserves evidence; measures and diagrams crime and traffic accident scenes; prepares detailed written reports of investigative findings; performs data entry of various police activity into computerized records management system, seizes and processes evidence; presents testimony and evidence in court.
• Responds to citizen requests for assistance to fires, accidents, and crime scenes; administers first aid to sick and injured citizens for a wide variety of illnesses and injuries; assists distressed motorists and crime scene individuals; directs traffic; moves persons, vehicles, and other property.

Work Environment/Physical Demands


The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position or that an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Perform a multitude of tasks simultaneously or in logical and efficient succession.
• Sit for extended periods of time while driving a City vehicle.
• Physical agility to pursue offenders on foot; stop and subdue resisting offenders using necessary force where appropriate, including deadly force.
• Access paved, gravel, rough, or turf areas; climb elevations.
• Exposure to dirt, dust, pollen, inclement weather, temperature extremes, traffic hazards, body fluids, hazardous chemical, firearms, various evidence, firearms, and unpleasant odors.
• Perform first aid.
• Lift and move up to 160 pounds for long distances with or without assistance.
• Physically move persons, vehicles, and other property.
• Visually distinguish full range of color spectrum.
• Read maps.
• Use and maintain proficiency with a variety of law enforcement tools, including handguns, batons, and other weapons.
• Visual and muscular dexterity to operate a motor vehicle, computer equipment, and two-way radio maintaining constant vigilance to the surrounding area.
• Utilize two-way radio to hear and respond to radio communications, voice instructions, and/or commands under a variety of working situations and background noise levels consistent with scene processing and/or traffic control.
• Use appropriate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) when needed/required.
• Travel to/from various locations.
• Work overtime as required.
• Work a variety of scheduled shifts.

Click to view the full job description.

For more information about Scottsdale, Arizona, visit our site.

Benefits Highlights:
The City of Scottsdale offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• 12 Paid Holidays, which includes 1 Floating Holiday
• Vacation Accrual; starts at 10.3 hours/month
• Sick Leave Accrual; 8 hours/month
• Medical (which includes behavioral health coverage), Dental and Vision Benefits
• City Paid Basic Life Insurance (equal to one times employee annual salary); option of Supplemental Life Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement; $2,500/year
• Participation in the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS)
• Supplemental Retirement Plans through Nationwide; 457
• Pet Insurance
• Bilingual pay compensation
• Employer contribution of $10 per pay period to employee's PEHP (Post-Employment Health Plan) account

Please visit the Human Resources and Benefits Information page for more information.
Pre-Employment Requirements:

• This is a safety-sensitive position that requires candidates to successfully pass a post-offer drug screen prior to start date.
• As part of the medical examination, candidates must successfully pass an Audiogram Test prior to start date.
• As part of the medical examination, candidates must successfully pass a Visual/Ishihara Screening Test prior to start date.
• As part of the conditional job offer, candidates must successfully pass an Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (AZPOST) Medical Exam prior to start date.
• As part of the conditional job offer, candidates must successfully pass a psychological examination.

Selection Process:
Applicants whose education, training and experience most closely meet the needs of this position may be invited to participate in a selection process to include a background investigation, oral board interview, and physical fitness assessment. Final selection is contingent upon a background check which includes:

• Fingerprinting
• Criminal background screening
• Motor Vehicle Department Records Check
• Polygraph

Successful candidates will receive a post-offer, pre-employment drug test, pre-employment medical exam, physical fitness assessment (recruit and waiver candidates) and psychological evaluation. The timeframe for reapplication with the Police Department varies based on the position and the needs of the organization.

The City of Scottsdale reserves the right to change this process at any time, potentially without advance notice.

PLEASE NOTE: Years of experience are based on a work schedule of 2,080 hours per year for full-time positions and 1,040 hours per year for part-time positions, and while work experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis, depending upon the job classification, education may not be substituted for work experience.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY : It is the policy of the city to provide employment opportunities to all persons based solely on ability, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.
When advised, reasonable accommodations will be made in order for an "otherwise qualified applicant" with a disability to participate in any phase of the recruitment process. Please contact Human Resources to request an accommodation. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting HR Receptionist at View phone number on click.appcast.io. Requests should be made 24 hours in advance or as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. For TTY users, the Arizona Relay Service View phone number on click.appcast.io) may contact HR Receptionist at View phone number on click.appcast.io.

This position description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the position change.
Full-Time Positions:
The City of Scottsdale offers a comprehensive benefit package including vacation, holiday and medical leave as well as insurance for medical, dental, vision, life, short and long term disability insurance. For a more detailed overview of the employee benefits,


Part-Time Positions:
The City of Scottsdale offers paid medical leave for part-time staff.

Commute Solutions Program
City of Scottsdale provides free Valley Metro Platinum passes to employees for the bus and light rail systems when commuting; a vanpool subsidy is also available. Employees can decrease stress, decrease wear & tear on their vehicle, and help the environment all at the same time.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).
The City of Scottsdale is considered a qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). You may find more information about the PSFL program by going to the Federal Student Aid website by clicking
01


This position requires an applicant to be a US Citizen to be eligible. Are you a United States Citizen?

• Yes
• No

02


This position requires an applicant to be at least 21 years of age at the time of application.
Are you at least 21 years old?

• Yes
• No

03


Do you have a valid driver's license (not expired or suspended/revoked)?

• Yes
• No

04


Do you have any of the following restrictions on your driver's license? Please note that this does not include vision correction.

• Interlock Device
• Court Mandated Restricted Hours
• Other Non-Medical Restriction(s)
• I have no restrictions on my driver's license

05


Do you have at least one year of post academy experience in a U.S. state or U.S. Territory as a certified peace officer?

• Yes
• No

06


Did you graduate from a state approved basic Police Officer training academy? If so, please list the state academy and graduation date.
07


If you are currently certified as a peace officer in a U.S. state or U.S. Territory, please list the certifying agency (Arizona P.O.S.T or equivalent).
If you are not currently certified, please write "None."
08


After you review the grooming standards (link was provided on the job posting), answer the following:
I understand that, if employed by the Scottsdale Police Department as a Police Officer, I would need to conform to these grooming standards.

• Yes
• No

09


Which best describes your experience in applying for a position with the Scottsdale Police Department?

• No Experience
• Submitted Application
• Tested and/or Interviewed
• Submitted Background Packet

10


How did you learn about this job opportunity with the Scottsdale Police Department?

• City Web Page
• Scottsdale Police Web Page
• Social Media
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• CareersinGovernment.com
• Career Builder
• Indeed.com
• Jobing.com
• 911hotjobs.com
• Blue Line
• Policeone.com
• LawEnforcementJobs.com
• Radio ad*
• Newspaper/other ad*
• Job Fair (In-Person/Virtual)*
• Friend/Neighbor*
• City / SPD Employee*
• Handshake
• Email
• Recruitment Booth* (please list the recruitment event/location in the next question)
• Other

11


If you answered Other or any other option with an asterisk, please provide more detail.
12


I understand that any communication for this recruitment may come via an email from governmentjobs.com and I will check my email junk/spam folders regularly for possible notifications and/or self-schedule interview invitations.

• Yes
• No

Required Question