Lateral Police Officer

Lateral Police Officer

Join Team APD as a Lateral Police Officer! Up to $30,000 lateral hiring bonus and take home car program available. The Auburn Police Department (APD) is seeking experienced, motivated, and service-driven law enforcement professionals to join our team. This is an opportunity to serve a continuously growing community within a modern, well-resourced police department that values professionalism, trust, integrity, and officer wellness. As a Police Officer at APD, you will perform meaningful, challenging work that directly impacts community safety and quality of life. Team APD supports its officers with competitive compensation and benefits, wellness resources, specialty assignments, and clear pathways for career advancement.

The department is comprised of 150 staff to include: Chief of Police, Assistant Chief, five (5) Commanders, 13 Sergeants, 108 Officers/Detectives, 16 Non-Commissioned staff, a Crime Analyst, Public Information Officer, Wellness Program Designer, and three (3) Administrative Assistants. This is a full-time position represented by the Police Officers Guild with a current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) effective 1/1/25 - 12/31/27. The salary listed on the announcement is the base salary, and the salary upon hire will be based on your months of service as a commissioned officer. Officers also have opportunities to receive additional compensation and pay incentives based on multiple factors, as outlined in the CBA. These include longevity pay starting after five (5) years of service, bilingual pay after completing field training and proving proficiency through a bilingual exam, and education pay for police-related Associate or Bachelor (or higher) degrees. Many specialty assignments also come with premium pay, starting at 2% of the straight-time hourly base rate. Officers may have multiple specialty assignments, but at no time will an officer receive more than 10% premium pay from these assignments.

As a member of APD, you will perform general police work involving the protection of life and property, enforcement of laws and ordinances, maintenance of order, and prevention and investigation of crimes. This work involves a substantial element of personal danger and employees must be able to act without direct supervision and exercise independent discretion in emergencies. All officers are responsible for recognizing the social importance of police functions, for tactful and courteous treatment of the public, and for conscientious and efficient performance of duties under little direct supervision. In this role, you will:

• Respond to emergency and non-emergency calls for service
• Patrolling assigned areas to deter crime and provide a visible public safety presence
• Investigate crimes, collect evidence, interview witnesses, and make arrests when warranted
• Prepare thorough, accurate reports, logs, and documentation
• Handle domestic disputes, juvenile matters, and incidents involving individuals in crisis
• Pursue suspects on foot and in vehicles, safely performing physically demanding tasks
• Use appropriate levels of force to protect life and property
• Provide first aid and life-saving assistance
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing in all settings
• Maintain professionalism while managing stressful, hostile, or emotionally charged situations

This is not meant to be an all-inclusive list. Please view the class specification for a full list of job responsibilities.

To move forward in our process, you must:

• Possess a High School Diploma, or equivalent (GED)
• Be a United States citizen, a lawful permanent resident, or be a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient
• Be at least 20-1/2 years of age at the time of application
• Be able to fluently read and write the English language using proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation
• Be able to meet all Civil Service Rules and Regulations, including the physical requirements listed in Rule 21.01
• Possess a valid driver's license, without impending loss at the time of appointment
• If coming from out of state, you will be required to obtain a WA State driver's license within 30 days
• Be a Basic Law Enforcement Training graduate, or equivalent, as accepted by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission
• See Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 139-05-210 for more information

If selected to move forward, you must:

• Be 21 years of age by your appointment date/date of hire
• Be able to provide documentation necessary to confirm equivalency as required by WAC (linked above)
• Successfully complete and pass a thorough background investigation which will include, but is not limited to, a suitability assessment, reference checks and employment verifications, polygraph examination, credit check, driving abstract review, drug screening, psychological interview, fingerprinting, Chief's interview, and pre-employment physical examination.

If hired, you must:

• Qualify quarterly for firearms
• Obtain a First Aid/CPR certification annually
• Obtain and maintain a BAC verifier certification
• Qualify for Access Certification

Automatic disqualifiers are available on the APD website.

Lateral categories and hiring bonuses:

• Lateral Police Officer: Successfully completed a state-certified Basic Law Enforcement Academy (WA State or equivalent) and has at least one year of experience as a commissioned police officer.
• Hiring Bonus = $30,000
• Certified Entry-Level Lateral Police Officer: Successfully completed a state-certified Basic Law Enforcement Academy (WA State or equivalent) and has less than one year of experience as a commissioned police officer.
• Hiring Bonus = $10,000

Why choose the City of Auburn?

• Competitive salary with annual step increases
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with employee premiums paid by the City
• Employer contributions to Washington State Department of Retirement Systems pension plans
• Annual paid vacation as outlined in the CBA with 60 hours of vacation front-loaded upon hire
• Front-loaded WA Paid Sick Leave with additional sick leave accruals each pay period with an additional 60 hours of sick leave front-loaded upon hire
• Paid holidays per the Collective Bargaining Agreement (12 each year)
• Tax-free health savings account (VEBA)
• Optional flexible spending accounts
• Deferred compensation plans (pre-tax and Roth options)
• Employee wellness programs within the department and Citywide
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Team Auburn values a wide range of perspectives and life experiences and believes our strength comes from the diversity of people and ideas. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals who will help us foster a workplace built on respect, collaboration, and service to the community. The City of Auburn is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer. No person is lawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay, or other forms of compensation.