What are the responsibilities and job description for the Warrant Officer position at City of Bellingham?
Are you a confident, responsible, team-oriented individual who wants to make a difference and support your community? The Bellingham Police Department is seeking a highly competent individual to serve as a Warrant Officer. Qualified candidates are safety oriented, skilled at decision making, problem solving, and conflict resolution. Warrant Officers will be required to have the ability to safely work independently and communicate effectively with a diverse group of individuals to support and assist the Police Department, Municipal Court, and the public.
JOB SUMMARY:
Incumbents are responsible for receiving and serving court documents and for the transportation and extradition of prisoners. Serve and process court orders from Bellingham Municipal, Whatcom District and Whatcom Superior Courts, and other jurisdictions. These orders include all classes of arrest warrants, subpoenas, summons, and domestic violence papers (no contact, restraining, and protection orders) and anti-harassment orders. The Warrant Officer is also responsible for the service of other types of legal process, both civil and criminal, from the Municipal Court, City Attorney's office, and the Bellingham Police Department. Provides security services for Municipal Court.
For more information, please review the job classification.WHY JOIN OUR TEAM?
Joining the City of Bellingham means becoming a part of a team that believes our greatest impact comes from working together with purpose, humility and a shared commitment to our community. Every employee contributes to delivering meaningful results for the people who live, work and visit here. We value people who approach challenges with curiosity, respect and collaboration. If you are motivated by building a career in public service, we encourage you to apply.
SALARY AND BENEFITS:
This position will start at Step 1 ($37.75/hour). Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 Collective Bargaining Agreement and City policy. The full hourly range for this position is $37.75-$49.24. For internal candidates, placement within the range is based on City Pay Placement Procedures.
At the City of Bellingham, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive in both your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy the peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are well cared for. Here’s a closer look at the outstanding benefits that come with being part of our team. You can find more details on our employment benefits page and labor agreements page.
- 10 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time
- 12 paid holidays 1 floating holiday per year
- 8 hours sick leave accrued monthly
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
- Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
- Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program
- Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security
- Optional 457 deferred compensation (Retirement Savings Plan) with employer match
Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.
Closing Date/Time: Fri. 7/31/26 at 4:30 PM PST
- At least 21 years of age.
- Ability to keyboard 30 wpm net.
- Experience and/or training in law enforcement and related areas preferred. Current Law Enforcement Certificate of training (basic academy or reserve officer academy) preferred.
- Applicant finalists must be able to satisfactorily complete a thorough Bellingham Police Department background investigation, polygraph examination, criminal convictions records check and psychological examination prior to hire.
- Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire.
- Must possess a valid Washington State Driver’s License prior to hire. A three-year driving record abstract must be submitted prior to hire.
**You are encouraged to print a copy of this job announcement for your reference as the process moves along**
Please ensure your application is complete and all required information has been provided. Standard completeness means all application fields (contact information, personal information, education, work experience, references, and supplemental questions). Application materials should comprehensively document your experience and skills related to the position responsibilities and experience/training requirements. As part of the City’s commitment to reducing bias in the hiring process, Human Resources redacts personally identifiable information for reviewers. Only the documents listed as required will be reviewed.
Application Review Process:
- Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must provide specific, detailed information so an initial determination can be made regarding your level of qualifications for this position. Applicant status will be updated on or around August 4, 2026.
- Experience and Training Rating: Applicants that meet minimum qualifications will go through an Experience and Training Rating. Applicant status will be updated on or around August 11, 2026.
- The top eight (8) scoring applicants from the Experience and Training Rating will be invited to participate in an Oral Board Interview, tentatively scheduled for the week of August 17, 2026. Applicants must have a passing score of 60% or higher to be placed on the eligibility register.
- Applicants will be notified via email of Final Scores & Ranks. The final ranking of the register will be based on total scores for the following Experience and Training Rating (40%) and Oral Board Interview (60%).
Final candidates will be referred to the department for additional examination, assessment, or test.
This recruitment process will create a Civil Service eligibility register that will be used to fill current and future vacancies as they become available. There is currently 1 full-time vacancy in the Bellingham Police Department. This position is represented by a union.
If you wish to claim Veterans’ Preference Points, please complete the Veterans Scoring Criteria Declaration Form and upload it to your application with your DD214.
Please Note: Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently, including your spam folders for messages filtered by your email providers.Equal Opportunity:
The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not make decisions on the basis of an individual's race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age (40 ), disability, retaliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. All are encouraged to apply for employment.