Police Officer ENTRY-LEVEL

Position Description

The Seattle Police Department is looking for individuals committed to public service and aligning with the City's values of Race and Social Justice. The City of Seattle is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Hiring Bonus: The City of Seattle is offering a $7,500 hiring bonus for entry-level police officers. Applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, gender identity, political ideology, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, and local laws.

Speak with a Recruiter: Complete this form and a recruiter will text you! Attend a Virtual Applicant Workshop: Sign up here to participate in an upcoming Seattle Police Applicant Workshop to learn more about policing careers, the Seattle Police Department, and tips to navigate our hiring process!

HIRING PROCESS

Apply: All candidates must submit an application to the City of Seattle as soon as possible. To submit an application, click “Apply” at the top of this job bulletin. A resume and cover letter are not required. Register and Complete Two (2) Exam Components: The law enforcement exam components must be self-scheduled through the National Testing Network (NTN).

• Frontline National (Law Enforcement) Exam
• Public Safety Self-Assessment (Parts 1 & 2)

You should receive your final exam results within approximately three weeks after applying and completing all components of your test (Frontline National and PSSA). Candidates who meet eligibility criteria and pass all portions of the exam will be ranked on an eligible list according to their exam scores. Candidates who pass the civil service exam must then complete and pass all the below pre-employment steps to become a Seattle police officer. If you have any questions, please contact us at PoliceExams@seattle.gov.

Exam Notes: Candidates are NOT required to complete the NTN Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ) for the Seattle Police Department. If you have taken the NTN exam for a department other than SPD within the last year, you can elect to send your scores to SPD at no cost via the “Department Add” feature in your NTN account. Please contact NTN candidate support if you need assistance transferring your scores to SPD.

Physical Ability Test: While scheduling your written exam, the NTN system will prompt you to schedule your Washington Physical Ability Test (WAPAT). We encourage you to complete your WAPAT with NTN as soon as possible. Passing the WAPAT is required to move forward in the hiring process. If you are an out-of-state candidate, you will not be expected to travel to Washington to complete your WAPAT.

Backgrounding: Candidates who pass the WAPAT will receive a link via email from the Seattle Police Background Unit to fill out their personal history information. SPD will then conduct a thorough investigation into the candidate’s history. Ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications for this position listed below.

• Medical Evaluation, Psychological Exam, and Polygraph Exam: Candidates must complete a medical evaluation that includes drug screening, medical history, vision and hearing test, and a stress EKG test. A psychological exam will be completed via Zoom. The medical tests can only be completed in person at specific Seattle locations currently.

Final Offer of Employment: If the candidate completes and passes all the above steps, they will be given an official offer of employment with the Seattle Police Department.

PREFERENCE POINTS

• Human/Social Services Preference: for candidates who have two or more years of verifiable full-time professional or volunteer experience or equivalent (4,160 cumulative hours) delivering direct human/social services
• Veteran’s Preference: for candidates with qualifying military experience
• Language (Multilingual) Preference: for candidates with proficiency in a language other than English

Job Responsibilities

Provides for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations.

Explains laws and police procedures to residents.

Operates a patrol car.

Patrols city streets, areas and businesses to deter criminal activity and promote public safety.

Investigates conditions hazardous to life or property; conducts initial investigations of crime and crime scenes; may assist detectives in criminal investigation work.

Conducts search and seizure activities as appropriate.

Collections and preserves crime scene and evidence.

Arrests and/or detains suspected violators of the law.

Reviews facts of incidents to determine if criminal act or statute violations were involved.

Records facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.

Renders aid to accident victims and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries.

Transports individuals in custody.

Presents evidence and testimony in judicial settings.

The City of Seattle provides police service 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Shift work, including nights, weekends, and holidays, is required.

Qualifications

• ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS: Be at least twenty and a half (20.5) years of age. Hold United States citizenship, OR have legal permanent residency in the U.S., OR be a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient. Attained a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency (GED).
• MINIMUM EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS: The following standards apply to all candidates for Police Officer. Drug Use Prior To The Exam: Have not used Marijuana within twelve (12) months prior to taking civil service exam, and Have not used cocaine or crack within the previous five (5) years, and Have not used club drugs, such as, but not limited to: Ketamine, GHB, Rohypnol, or MDMA (ecstasy) within the previous three (3) years, and Have not used any Hallucinogens, LSD, Mushrooms, or Psilocybin within the previous five (5) years, and Have not used PCP, Angel Dust, Wet or Phencyclidine within the previous five (5) years, and Have not used Opium, Morphine, or Heroin within the previous five (5) years, and Have not used Methamphetamine, Crank, Crystal, Ice, Speed, Glass, or Amphetamine within the previous five (5) years, and Have not inhaled aerosols, sometimes referred to as Huffing (paint) or Whippits (Nitrous Oxide) or used Khat within the previousthree (3) years, and Have not used any illegal drug(s) while employed in a criminal justice and/or law enforcement capacity, and Have not manufactured or cultivated illegal drug(s) for the purpose of the sales/marketing of the drug(s). Have not sold or facilitated the sale of illegal drugs.
• Offers of employment are conditioned upon a pre-employment drug screening to confirm abstinence from illegal drug use.
• TRAFFIC RECORD: A Candidate's Driving Record Will Be Thoroughly Assessed And May Be a Factor For Disqualification. Examples Of Infractions/traffic Crimes That May Be Disqualifying: Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), Reckless Driving, or Hit & Run Driving. Suspension of your driver's license within five (5) years of the exam date Three (3) or more moving violations (speeding, negligent driving, etc.) within five (5) years of the exam date will be carefully reviewed. Two (2) or more accidents within five (5) years of the exam date, wherein candidate was judged to be at fault and/or charged with a moving violation.
• Criminal History: A Candidate's Criminal History, Including All Arrests, Prosecutions, Deferred Prosecutions, "Alford" Pleas, And Non-conviction Information Will Be Thoroughly Assessed And May Be Grounds For Disqualification. The Following Will Be Disqualifying: Any adult felony conviction. Any misdemeanor or felony conviction while employed in a criminal justice and/or law enforcement capacity. Any domestic violence conviction.
• EMPLOYMENT RECORD: A candidate's employment history, including any terminations, or leaving an employer in lieu of termination, will be thoroughly assessed and may be grounds for disqualification.
• FINANCIAL RECORD: A Candidate's Credit History, Including Excessive Credit Card Debt Or Unresolved Accounts In Collection Will Be Thoroughly Assessed And May Be Grounds For Disqualification. The Following Will Be Disqualifying: Failure to pay income tax or child support.
• PROFESSIONAL APPEARANCE: All applicants are expected to maintain a professional appearance at all times. SPD has the sole discretion in determining what is considered professional, as it relates to the position of Police Officer. Any and all tattoos, branding (intentional burning of the skin to create a design), voluntary disfigurement (marring or spoiling of the appearance or shape of a body part), or scarification (intentional cutting of the skin to create a design) shall be carefully reviewed by SPD on a case-by-case basis.