Police Officer - Lateral Entry

Job Description

Job Description

The City of Port Townsend is accepting applications from experienced police officers who qualify for lateral entry to create a hiring eligibility list to use for future vacancies this year.  

HIRING BONUS FOR LATERAL POLICE OFFICERS: $12,500

Port Townsend is located on the Olympic Peninsula just two hours from Seattle. The city's 10,330 residents and over a million visitors a year enjoy its historic seaport character mixed with a vibrant creative culture.  

The department handles approximately 10,000 calls for service each year. Between incidents, officers enjoy time to pursue special projects, manage professional growth, and interact with residents, business owners, and visitors. The department's 17 commissioned officers and 4 support staff members maintain strong partnerships with area law enforcement agencies, fire departments, hospital staff, and mental health officials. 

To qualify as a lateral applicant, you must meet the minimum qualifications in the police officer job description (below) AND:

• have graduated from a basic law enforcement training as accepted by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission;
• have successfully completed field training and passed probation as a fulltime, active, sworn municipal, county, state, federal or trial law enforcement officer;
• have not been separated from law enforcement for more than 60 months at the time of hire; and
• be able to perform all essential functions

Residency requirement: All police officers must reside with fifty (50) road miles of Port Townsend city limits within six months of hire date.

Full job description available here.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• High school graduate or GED.
• Washington State driver's license at time of employment and ability to maintain a driving record acceptable to the City's insurance carrier.
• Minimum 21 years of age at time of employment.
• Submit to and pass a thorough background investigation, polygraph examination, psychological examination, physical agility test and a full physical examination prior to employment.
• No felony convictions, or convictions for misdemeanors involving moral turpitude.
• Current first aid card and CPR Certification at time of appointment.
• Successfully complete the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission approved Basic Academy.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Employees in this job description are required to maintain all mandatory job related certifications to include but not limited to Washington State Peace Officer Certification, firearms qualification, first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and Washington State driver's license.

BENEFITS

• WA State LEOFF pension plan
• Optional 457 Deferred Comp with 50% match of up to 4% base earnings
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance through WA Teamsters Welfare Trust Fund *
• Time loss/short-term disability insurance
• Life & AD&D insurance
• Retirees' Welfare Trust funded by employee
• Sick leave (earns 1 day per month)
• May be eligible for sick leave conversion annually
• Vacation (graduated accrual schedule starts at 8 hours per month)
• 12 paid holidays (accrued at 10 hours per month) **
• Up to 5 days of bereavement leave, if applicable
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

COMPENSATION

Base pay: $41.53-47.67 per hour (five-step system)

Total compensation range: $41.53-51.96 per hour (including maximum potential longevity, educational incentive, and specialty pay)

This position may be eligible for the additional compensation listed below. Details can be found in the Collective Bargaining Agreement:

• Longevity pay on a graduated schedule starting at 1% after 2 years up to 9% after 20 years
• Educational incentive: 3% for Associate's degree; 5% for Bachelor's degree
• Overtime pay
• Compensatory time
• Holiday pay (if scheduled or called in on a holiday)
• Specialty pay of 1% for assignments such as detective or Field Training Officer
• Jury duty pay at regular rate during service
• Call-back pay
• Plain clothes assignment and laundry allowance, when assigned by Chief

* Teamsters initiation fee is $100 and monthly dues are 2.25 of hourly wage x the base hourly rate rounded to the nearest dollar.

**Officers may be required to work on holidays.

The City of Port Townsend is an equal employment opportunity employer.