Lateral Experienced Police Officer

JOB SUMMARY

Open Continuous Recruitment | Experienced Officers Only

This recruitment is exclusively for lateral (experienced) Police Officer applicants. Individuals who do not meet the lateral eligibility requirements should consider applying through the City's Entry-Level Police Officer recruitment process.

Qualified lateral officers hired by the City of Lakewood will receive:

• 80 hours of leave upon hire.

• An additional 80 hours of leave upon successful completion of the required probationary period.

This represents a total of 160 hours of additional leave, subject to applicable City policies and employment agreements.

Complete and submit the City of Lakewood's online employment application and supplemental questions.

Applicants must provide complete and accurate information regarding their employment history, training, law enforcement experience, and qualifications.

The City of Lakewood administers Police Officer recruitment and selection in accordance with the City of Lakewood Civil Service Rules and applicable to Washington state law.

1. Continuous Applications

Online applications are accepted on a continuous basis. Examinations and interviews will be scheduled as needed to establish and maintain eligibility lists and fill Police Department vacancies.

2. Application Review and Oral Board Interviews

Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications will be considered for an oral board examination.

Qualified applicants will be invited to schedule interviews on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to available examination appointments.

Applicants not scheduled for an examination session may remain in consideration for future sessions, subject to continued eligibility and applicable recruitment procedures.

3. Minimum Passing Score

Candidates must obtain a minimum score of 70% on the oral board examination to pass.

4. Civil Service Eligibility List

Candidates who successfully complete the examination process will be ranked on a Civil Service eligibility list based on their final examination scores and any applicable preference points.

Candidates certified to a continuous eligibility list will generally remain eligible for one year from their individual certification dates, unless their eligibility is otherwise extended or terminated under the Civil Service Rules.

Rankings may change when additional qualified candidates are certified through subsequent examinations or when authorized preference adjustments are applied.

5. Candidate Referral and Selection

As vacancies occur, candidates will be referred for consideration in accordance with the Rule of Five and other applicable provisions of the City of Lakewood Civil Service Rules.

Candidates selected for further consideration may participate in an interview with the Chief of Police or designee and undergo a comprehensive background investigation.

6. Conditional Employment Requirements

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of applicable pre-employment requirements, which include:

• A comprehensive background investigation.
• Medical examination.
• Psychological evaluation.
• Polygraph examination.
• Verification of applicable law enforcement certification and other employment requirements.

The hiring process may vary based on scheduling, background investigation requirements, and departmental staffing needs. The estimated time from the commencement of a background investigation to appointment is approximately three months, although individual timelines may vary.

The City reserves the right to administer recruitment, examinations, candidate certification, and appointments in accordance with the applicable Civil Service Rules and governing law.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Maintain regular, reliable, and punctual attendance.
• May be subject to extended work hours and call back outside of normal shift hours or days.

• Act as primary investigator of all crimes occurring within assigned areas during duty hours; make on scene arrests when warranted; protect crime scenes in situations warranting additional investigation; use varying and justifiable degrees of physical force to overcome resisting suspects and to protect self and others from injury.
• Investigate and/or handle complaints involving family disputes, juvenile disputes, mentally disabled persons.
• Investigate traffic accidents in various weather and traffic conditions; physically direct traffic; place temporary traffic control devices such as portable stop signs, barricades and other forms of directional signing as needed.

• Provide the public with general information on laws and ordinances; explain process of filing a formal complaint; direct citizens to appropriate authorities as necessary, reassure the public regarding concerns with safety.
• Attend meetings, seminars and other training classes to maintain current knowledge of criminal and civil laws, as well as technical skills to remain proficient in the performance of duty; may train other employees.

• Patrol designated area of city in police vehicle, on foot patrol, bicycle patrol and/or other conveyances on an assigned shift; patrol business and residential districts to provide an element of safety by obvious visibility; look for crimes or potential crimes or hazardous situations in progress.
• Respond to emergency and routine calls for service.
• Perform computer inquiries from the patrol vehicle and stationary terminals.
• Serve and enforce civil process issued by the courts to include restraining orders, orders for protection, no contact orders, anti-harassment orders and subpoenas; serve arrest and search warrants.
• Pursue fleeing suspects on foot and in vehicles; perform rescue and pursuit operations.
• Provide first aid cardiopulmonary resuscitation to injured persons.
• Take immediate action to remedy hazards and protect life and property.
• Stop traffic violators and take appropriate remedial action; identify suspicious individuals and question their activities.
• Apprehend violators or offenders of the law; in situations where lawful arrests are resisted, the officer must be prepared and able at times through training, judgment and high levels of physical exertion to use justifiable levels of force to overcome the resistance and protect citizens, themselves, and fellow officers.
• Tactfully diffuse any verbal abuse which may occur in the course of performing work assignments. Endure verbal and mental abuse when confronted with hostile views and opinions of suspects and others encountered in an antagonistic environment.
• Testify in court hearings.
• Search for lost or wanted persons over varying terrain and conditions for extended periods of time.
• Perform searches of people, vehicles, buildings and large outdoor areas which may involve feeling and detecting objects, walking for long periods of time, detaining people and stopping suspicious vehicles and persons.
• Determine when a lawful search or arrest can or should be attempted; determine when and to what extent physical forces should be used, as governed by law and department regulations.
• Read, review, interpret, serve and enforce various court orders.
• Develop knowledge about known offenders and businesses possibly involved in or promoting criminal activity; correlate records of such criminal activity.
• Recover lost or stolen property; lift and move commonly recovered items such as bicycles, televisions, stereo components, tools, automotive wheels and parts, and small safes without destroying or damaging items.
• Assist in administrative duties such as coordinating multi-department response to persistent criminal activity, planning police/community relations events, and training, leading or coordinating non-sworn work units such as Parking Enforcement.
• Prepare affidavits for search warrants; interview witnesses and suspects. Develop and use informants and other investigative aids; appear in court to present evidence and to testify against persons accused of crimes.
• Provide assistance and referrals for domestic violence cases, indigent persons and stranded individuals.
• Prepare material to present at training sessions for police officers or others, including schools, businesses, private citizen groups, etc.

• Attend neighborhood meetings and interact with community members to solve neighborhood problems, improve community and police relations and build public trust.

• Document incidents and actions by writing case reports and field interview cards; maintain daily logs and prepare other related reports.

• Actively champion a culture of and commitment to workplace safety through everyday actions and leadership.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• High school graduation or equivalent is required.
• College level coursework in law enforcement or a related field, bilingual capability and specialized law enforcement training is highly desirable.
• Graduation from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission Basic Law Enforcement Academy or state approved equivalent AND work experience as a police officer within the last (5) five years is required.
• If out-of-state police officer experience OR it has been a break in Washington service for more than (2) two years but less than (5) five years, completion of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission Equivalency Academy within (90) ninety days of employment is required.
• If it has been more than (5) five years since your employment as a police officer, you are ineligible to apply as a Lateral Police Officer (see Entry Police Officer Testing Information).
• A valid Washington driver's license by hire date, and satisfactory results of a stringent personal background investigation are required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Successful candidates must demonstrate knowledge of applicable criminal and civil laws, laws governing arrest, search, and seizure, investigative practices, evidence handling, traffic enforcement, and community-oriented policing methods.

• City ordinances and applicable state and federal laws and Washington Administrative Code (WAC) rules.
• Department policy and procedure.
• Modern law enforcement methods and procedures.
• Criminal behavior and causes of underlying criminality and social, psychological and physical needs of criminals/inmates.
• Geography and street locations.
• Laws of arrest, search and seizure including legal ramifications of action taken.
• Principles of crime and accident investigation.
• Basic techniques of crime prevention and criminal investigation.
• Identification and preservation of evidence.
• First aid principles and application.
• Organization and planning.

• Use and care for firearms.
• Operate police vehicle and other police equipment.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
• Analyze dangerous situations rapidly and accurately.
• Maintain control in stressful, hostile and hazardous conditions.
• Enforce all applicable laws.
• Prepare clear and concise reports.
• Act without direct supervision and exercise independent judgment.
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Communicate effectively in English with co-workers, superiors and the general public, both orally and in writing.
• Interact effectively with individuals, groups and organizations representing a wide diversity of ethnicities, cultures, opinions and beliefs.
• Cope with situations firmly, courteously and tactfully, and with respect to the rights of others.
• Demonstrate the knowledge of and adherence to a high standard of personal and professional ethics.
• Effectively deal with violations of rules, policies, and procedures on an impartial basis.
• Maintain standards of physical fitness.
• Recognize when the application of deadly force is appropriate under state law and department policy.
• Employ deadly force in order to protect human life.
• Operate a motor vehicle, computers/keyboards, B.A.C. verifier machines, telephones, police radios, mobile data terminals, tape recorders, firearms, batons, handcuffs and other police related equipment.

Completion of probation is subject to satisfactory performance and any applicable extensions or interruptions authorized by the Civil Service Rules.

Reasonable accommodations are available during the application and selection process in accordance with applicable law. Please contact humanresources@cityoflakewood.us.

• Regence High Deductible Health Plan with Health Savings Account. The City pays 100% of the premium for the employee and dependents, and makes contributions to the Health Savings Account.
• Regence HealthFirst Plan ($250 deductible). The City pays 100% of the premium for the employee and 86% of the premium for dependents.
• Kaiser Permanente Plan ($200 deductible). The City pays 100% of the premium for the employee and 86% of the premium for dependents.