Police Officer - Entry Level

Join the Bend Police Department and Step into a Career That Matters! Are you ready to make a real impact in one of Oregon’s most vibrant cities? The Bend Police Department is calling on driven, community‑minded individuals to join our forward‑thinking force. We’re not just about law enforcement — we’re about innovation, collaboration, and building trust with the people we serve. As a Bend Police Officer, you’ll be part of a dynamic team that values integrity, excellence, and teamwork. We’re proud to serve over 106,000 residents through progressive, community‑based policing that puts people first. Whether you're starting your journey or looking to advance your career, this is your opportunity to grow professionally while making a meaningful difference. If you're passionate about public service and ready to rise to the challenge, we want to hear from you. The position is represented by the Bend Police Association and is FLSA non‑exempt—meaning you’re eligible for overtime as you help shape the future of public safety in Bend. Candidates must maintain a drug‑free lifestyle as a condition of consideration for employment. Law enforcement agencies expect applicants to demonstrate sound judgment, personal responsibility, and long‑term reliability, and an individual’s substance‑use history is a significant factor in that assessment. Illegal drug use or the misuse of prescription medication may result in disqualification, delays in the hiring process, or concerns regarding integrity and accountability. A sustained commitment to remaining drug‑free reflects maturity, professionalism, and readiness to uphold the high standards required to serve and protect the community. Please note that while marijuana is legal in the State of Oregon, it remains illegal under federal law and must be disclosed accordingly during the hiring process. Job Highlights for Officers Starting Salary: $86,435.28 up to $105,062.40 (not including overtime or other pay incentives) Additional Certification Pay: 10% for Intermediate and 15% for Advanced certifications Uniforms and Gear: Supplied. Work Schedule: 11.25‑hour schedule, four working days followed by four days off to enjoy Central Oregon. Wellness Programs: On‑duty workouts, onsite mental health clinician, functional fitness, and more. Educational Reimbursements: Available. Incentives: Walking, biking, or carpooling to work. Additional Benefits: As noted within the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Community Enhancement Program: Additional 2% to gross wages. Language and American Sign Language Fluency: Qualify for a $2.00 per hour increase for fluency in languages other than English, as approved by the Chief of Police. VA On‑the‑Job training program available for our Veterans. As a Bend Police Officer you will Carry out the mission of the agency as defined in the mission statement; model and promote the core values of the organization. First responders to incidents serve as a direct link between the department and the public. Respond to and investigate incidents and crime scenes, take action at incidents, proactively patrol assigned areas, engage in information‑lead policing activities and make independent decisions to deter criminal activity. Enforce laws and ordinances, make arrests, preserve crime‑scene evidence, and perform preventative community policing. Serve arrest and search warrants. Direct traffic and patrol areas during incidents or any other occasion of a special or emergency nature. Investigate crashes, complete reports, make arrests or issue citations; render first aid. Conduct investigations concerning various types of crime, interview witnesses and suspects, take photographs, fingerprints and gather evidence. Attend judicial proceedings, present evidence and provide credible testimony. Participate in departmental meetings and attend in‑service training classes and schools. Book prisoners and transport prisoners when necessary. Assist other law enforcement agencies. Complete reports; conduct follow‑up investigations and re‑contacts. Render assistance to the public. Comply with the safety requirements of the position and actively promote safe work practices. In an emergency event or an officially declared State of Emergency, respond as directed to ensure the restoration of essential public services, facilities and infrastructure. Provide customer service and communicate effectively with citizens and coworkers. Perform other duties as assigned or directed. Knowledge Various law enforcement techniques and procedures. Various state and local criminal, traffic and civil laws, codes and ordinances, and their application. Federal and State laws regarding custody, interrogations, search and seizure, and other procedural aspects; knowledge of applicable case law, such as court decisions pertaining to search, seizure, and arrest. Departmental policies and procedural manual, guidelines, and chain of command. Basic investigative techniques. Detection and basic identification of hazardous and controlled substances and their effects. Operation of various types of firearms and other police equipment. Safety and health hazards. Use of defensive tactics. Court procedures and rules of evidence. Report writing techniques, crime coding system, and case preparation techniques. Correct and safe usage of police equipment. Community resources, such as social services, are available for people in crisis situations. Basic crime prevention techniques and information. Basic problem‑solving techniques and methodology. Geographical layout of city. Basic interview techniques. Principles of First Aid. Ability Analyze complex situations and develop effective responses that may include law enforcement or the utilization of other community resources. Identify criminal activities and decide upon appropriate response. Evaluate high‑risk situations and maintain flexibility; defuse tense situations. Make appropriate decisions as to response; use discretion as required and calmly deal with stressful situations. Apply knowledge obtained through past experiences and exposures along with skills obtained in training sessions in assessing new situations. Apply applicable laws and procedures to specific situations and issue correct citations as applicable. Safely operate a police vehicle in a pursuit situation and use defensive driving techniques. Operate, use and maintain a variety of police tools in a safe and effective manner, such as police radios, various types of weapons and defensive tools, handcuffs, gas mask, speed measuring devices, Intoxilyzer, flares, fire extinguisher, fingerprint kit, first aid kit, and other specialized equipment. Check equipment and tools for condition and performance. Judge when and what type of force is reasonable based on the circumstances. Effectively observe assigned areas to identify problems and probable violations of laws. Analyze crime‑scene requirements and investigation techniques. Collect, maintain and transport seized evidence in a safe manner. Provide testimony in a competent manner. Interview/interrogate witnesses and suspects; prepare clear reports and concise diagrams of events; remember names, faces, and details of incidents. Communicate well, both orally and in writing, using good grammar and spelling. Prepare clear and accurate reports and incident summaries in a timely manner. Deal with people of diverse cultural backgrounds and personalities in a tactful and effective manner. Access police systems on a computer as needed. Must be able to work various shifts and inclement weather as assigned. Lift heavy gear and traffic hazards. Develop and maintain physical fitness to subdue suspects and use appropriate physical force, move vehicles, and carry people. Be flexible and available for rapid response needs and shifting priorities. Keep updated on criminal intelligence, criminal/municipal statutes, training events and other briefing bulletins. Must be able to be observant and aware while performing multiple tasks. Candidates who meet the listed minimum qualifications, including an equivalent combination of education and experience, will be considered for an interview. Please ensure your application includes information about your education, relevant paid and unpaid work experience, and applicable licenses and certifications. Avoid referencing your résumé in the job duties section of the application. Minimum Qualifications High school diploma or equivalent; At least two years of college coursework at time of application, or Have served in the military with an Honorable Discharge, or Any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the job. Must be a minimum age of 21 years. Oregon Driver’s License upon hire. Academy Certification: be able to obtain certification by the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training – DPSST Minimum Standards of Employment as a Law Enforcement Officer within the first 12 months of employment. Required Qualifications Must successfully pass a comprehensive background investigation including criminal history check. Obtain an Oregon State Police Criminal Justice Information Systems clearance. Information regarding the minimum qualifications for Oregon law enforcement officers is available in section 259‑008‑0010 of the Oregon Administrative Rules. Work Environment Work in a 24‑hour environment with varied shifts including weekends and holidays. Duties are primarily performed on patrol in an assigned geographical area where the employee is exposed to varying and extreme weather conditions. When responding to emergencies, employee risks physical hazard from violent, aggressive, and hostile people, a variety of weapons, noise, chemicals, bodily secretions, sharp objects, traffic, drugs and drug paraphernalia and crime scenes. Physical exertion is required to climb stairs, go over walls, run, move heavy objects, crawl through tight spaces, kneel in confined areas and sit for a long period of time during surveillance. Physical effort is required to lift materials, equipment, and persons exceeding 75 lbs, and subdue combative persons. Veterans' Preference Applicants must provide certification that they are a veteran or disabled veteran to receive veteran's preference. Equity Statement The City of Bend remains committed to building a workforce that advances diversity and inclusion within our community and all we do. We recognize that not everyone starts from the same place, and that gender, race and ability, sexual orientation, and other identities face different barriers. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are dedicated to creating an inclusive, safe and respectful workplace where employees can thrive without these barriers. A more extended version of the City of Bend's Organizational Equity Statement is available upon request. Benefits The City of Bend offers an excellent competitive benefits package for employees and dependents for health and dental coverage, retirement benefits, and a robust paid leave program. Details are available on the benefits tab of the job posting. Starting Compensation Starting compensation is determined based on a pay equity analysis considering the candidate's education, applicable work experience, and internal equity. Please include all relevant information. #J-18808-Ljbffr