Community Police Officer (Open Continuous) - Updated

The Position

Effective March 1, 2026, there will be a change in the qualification process due to a new system and process being implemented. Please see Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the Recruitment Process section, below.

The Portland Police Bureau invites applications for Entry and Lateral Community Police Officers!

Why Join Portland Police?

To Learn More About Becoming a Police Officer

• Visit www.joinportlandpolice.com
• Speak with a Recruiter: Fill out this form to text with a PPB recruiter.
• Join us for a Hiring Workshop: https://www.joinportlandpolice.com/workshops The Portland Police Bureau Hiring Workshops are back! You will have the opportunity to talk with PPB recruiters and background investigators and learn more about the hiring process and the career paths we offer. Interested candidates can also participate in the Oregon Physical Agilities Test (ORPAT).
  
  

City Of Portland Core Values

Anti-racism | Communication | Collaboration | Equity | Transparency | Fiscal Responsibility

These values guide our actions as we serve the community and engage our workforce. To learn more about the City's core values, please click here .

Wellness Benefit

• Paid time (1 hour) to participate in wellness activities each shift
• On-site fitness center locations and classes
• Discounts to local fitness clubs
• Chronic care coaching programs
• Worksite wellness screenings
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
  
  

Paid Leave

• One hundred twelve (112) hours of vacation each year initially. This accrual will increase yearly.
• Sick leave typically accrues up to a maximum rate of one hundred four (104) hours per calendar year.
• Ten (10) paid holidays each year.
• Forty (40) personal hours accrue each year.
  
  

Union Representation: The Portland Police Association (PPA) represents this classification. To view this labor agreement, please go to https://www.portland.gov/bhr/employee-relations/labor-relations/labor-agreements and click on the appropriate link.

Salary Information: $84,000.00 - $120,000.00 annually plus overtime (time and a half) & pay incentive (up to 30% more). Entry Police Officers start at the entry rate. Lateral Police Officers will go through a Pay Equity Analysis upon job offer. To view the Police Officer Salary Calculator, please click here.

Language Pay: This position is eligible for Language Pay Differential for qualifying employees.

Hiring Incentives

Amount at Swear-In

Amount at End of Probation

Amount Upon Completion of 3 Years of Service

Total

New Officer $1,000 $1,000 $3,000 $5,000

• 65.1.4.1 The hiring incentives for new officers as set forth in the above table are payable separately upon the new officer’s completion of each of the following events: swear-in, end of probation, and three years of service with the City. This provision does not apply to lateral hires.
  
  

General Questions?

Please Contact: PPBRecruiter@police.portlandoregon.gov

Questions About the Application Process?

Contact Information

Anna Morgan, Senior Recruiter

Bureau of Human Resources

Anna.Morgan@portlandoregon.gov

To Qualify

ALL APPLICANTS Must Meet Each Of The Following Conditions

• Must be at least 20.5 years old at the time of application.
• Must possess a High School Diploma or GED.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen within eighteen (18) months of date of hire, or a nonimmigrant legally admitted to the United States under a Compact of Free Association https://www.doi.gov/oia/COFAinUS . Non-citizen applicants must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. Application for U.S. citizenship requires five (5) years of residency.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license (in the current state of residence) at the time of application.
  
  

Lateral Police Officer Qualifications

• Must have three (3) years of continuous service in another police agency as a sworn police officer from a recognized state, county, or city (municipal) agency, to include sworn Indian tribal police, AND must have been employed there within the last two (2) years.
  
  

NOTE : Military police, Federal Law Enforcement, Corrections, and Parole/Probation DO NOT QUALIFY for a Lateral Police Officer.

Disqualifiers And Eliminating Factors

• Cannot have any offensive forms of body art or tattoos. Tattoos above the collar or on the hand may be considered on a case-by-case basis. More information can be found at https://www.joinportlandpolice.com/faq/
• Must have vision correctable to 20/30. Additional information on medical requirements can be found on the DPSST F-2 form
• Marijuana Use: As a sworn position, the candidate must not have used Marijuana (not including CBD) within 12 months of application.
• Have no felony convictions.
• Have no convictions for crimes involving domestic violence.
• Have no dishonorable discharge from any branch of military service.
• Have no more than three (3) traffic (moving) convictions in the last three (3) years.
  
  

Please visit https://www.joinportlandpolice.com/entry-minimum-requirements for a more detailed list of disqualifiers and Eliminating Factors for becoming a Police Officer in Oregon.

The Recruitment Process

Please be aware, the recruitment and selection process can take approximately 5 months. Candidates may be eliminated from consideration at any phase of the recruitment process. Please visit https://www.joinportlandpolice.com/entry#hiring-process to learn more about each phase of the recruitment process.

Phase 1: Apply Online (2-3 weeks)

• Once your application is submitted, you will hear within 3 weeks regarding the next steps.
• Your answers to the supplemental questions will be scored. Applicants passing the supplemental question review will advance to next step.
• Complete the NTN Written Exam, if required. Additional information can be found at https://www.joinportlandpolice.com/entry#phase-1-the-test
  
  

Phase 2:Personal History Questionnaire (2 weeks)

• Personal History Questionnaires will be reviewed by a subject matter expert to determine if the application will advance to the next step.
  
  

Phase 3: Personal History Statement (2 weeks)

• Applicants that that pass the Personal History Questionnaire review and submit a Personal History Statement will be placed on an equally ranked eligible list and advance to the Background Investigation phase.
  
  

Phase 4: Background Investigation (1-3 months)

• Pass the Physical Ability Test Additional information can be fount at https://www.joinportlandpolice.com/entry#background-investigation
  
  

Phase 5: Command Interview

Phase 6: Psychological Evaluation

Phase 7: Medical Exam

• Additional information on medical requirements can be found on the DPSST F-2 form (Download PDF reader) .
  
  

Application Tips

To Request Veterans’ Preference

• Submit Required Documentation: Upload a copy of your DD214/DD215 with your application. If you have a service-connected disability, you must also include a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs stating your disability rating. All documentation must be submitted by the application deadline.
• Identify as a Veteran: In the “Agency Wide Questions” section of the application, check the box to identify yourself as a Veteran and request veterans' preference.
• Veterans’ Preference Will Now Carry Forward: Starting March 3, 2025, if you make the eligible list for a City of Portland recruitment and qualify for veterans’ preference, your documents will automatically apply to future recruitments. You will not need to resubmit your veteran documents.
• To Update or Remove Your Veterans’ Preference:
  
  

If You Wish To Update Or Remove Your Veteran Preference From a Specific Recruitment Or From Your Master Profile, Please Contact The Recruiter Listed In The Job Announcement. Supplemental Questions

• Your application and answers to the supplemental questions will be reviewed and scored.
• PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE QUESTIONS PRIOR TO ANSWERING.
• Review your answers before submitting the application.
• Reach out if you need additional clarification before submitting your application.
• Applicants who are disqualified based on their supplemental questionnaire responses will not be able to reapply for the position for six (6) months and may have their eligibility impacted.
  
  

Additional Information

Click here for additional information regarding the following:

• Veteran Preference
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations
• Work Status
• Equal Employment Opportunity
  
  

An Equal Opportunity Employer