POLICE OFFICER RECRUIT
: Job Details :

The City of Bellingham is actively seeking qualified applicants for the position of Police Officer Recruit.

Why work for the Bellingham Police Department?

* Recruit salary is $6,477/month. Upon entry to the Basic Law Enforcement Academy salary is $7,125/month. Upon graduation from the Basic Law Enforcement Academy the salary is $7,339. The salary range for a Full Performance Police Officer is $7,339-$9,441/month.

* Patrol Officers work a 1040 work schedule of five, 10.7 hour days on, four days off, five days on, four days off, five days on, five days off, repeating monthly.

* Training opportunities, the 1040 work schedule allows for one full training day a month.

* Additional monthly premiums may be applied per assignment and level of education. For more information regarding salary, benefits, specialty units and premiums, view our recruitmentpage.

NOTE: Employees will remain in the Recruit classification in probationary status prior to and while attending the Police Academy. With successful completion of the Police Academy, the employee shall move to the Full Performance Police Officer (Download PDF reader) classification in a non-competitive promotion effective the first day of the pay period immediately following such academy completion. A standard 12-month Civil Service probationary period applies for all officers following placement into the Full Performance Police Officer classification.

City of Bellingham employees receive medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as life insurance and long-term disability. Additional benefits include flexible spending accounts, a medical insurance opt-out program, and access to our employee assistance program. All eligible City employees are enrolled in a Washington State Department of Retirement Systems pension plan. Additionally, employees may elect to participate in the City's 457 deferred compensation retirement savings plan.

Employees will receive 12 paid designated holidays in addition to one paid floating holiday each year. Upon hire, new employees are provided a sick leave bank of 216 hours for use during their first two years in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement and Washington State Law. At the time of hire, employees will accrue 7.34 hours of vacation per month. Vacation accruals increase based on years of service. 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.

For additional information regarding benefits and compensation Information please visit the following:

* Labor Agreements, Pay Schedules and E-Team Employee Handbook - City of Bellingham (cob.org)

* Employment Benefits - City of Bellingham (cob.org)

Applicants interested in this position must complete testing through Public Safety Testing. Please visit the Public Safety Testing website ( Applicants must complete the written exam and pass the physical ability test through Public Safety Testing prior to being invited to apply.

JOB SUMMARY:

Participates in formal and on-the-job training in law enforcement principles, techniques and procedures, departmental organization, rules, policies, and related laws. Also receives training in the use, care and maintenance of assigned equipment.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

* Attends a 720 hour Basic Law Enforcement Academy, which will provide classroom and field instruction in basic police procedures, techniques and laws.

* Participates in on-the-job training under the direct supervision of an experienced training officer. Observes and assists experienced officers responding to calls and requests for police assistance.

* May assist in conducting investigations and participate in legal search and surveillance activities.

Participates in range training as assigned.

* Attends meetings and prepares reports as assigned.

ADDITIONAL WORK PERFORMED:

* Performs related duties as directed.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed both indoors and outdoors in any and all property existing in the City of Bellingham and its environs. This involves working in a variety of environmental conditions and may require: walking, sitting or standing for long periods; running, climbing, jumping, or physical exertion in inclement weather; physical agility in slippery conditions, mountainous or uneven terrain, or in water. Officers work in unaccompanied automobile, motorcycle, bicycle or on foot patrol, maintaining contact with the dispatch center. There is exposure to high-risk situations which require emergency response procedures such as the use of masks, gloves, etc. to prevent contact with infectious diseases; and the use of protective clothing, equipment, firearms and other gear. While in uniform and/or driving a police vehicle, the Police Officer will not be allowed to use or display any tobacco product. Officers work rotating shifts including evenings, weekends and holidays.

Physical abilities to perform the essential functions of the job including:

* Physical strength to restrain and control persons and physically defend self;

* Manual dexterity to operate a motor vehicle or handle tools and guns in the performance of assigned tasks, including keyboarding, grasping and reaching.

* Occasionally lift, push, carry and pull materials, objects or persons weighing up to 100 lbs using proper lifting techniques;

* Frequently sit, stand, walk or ride a bicycle;

* Occasionally run, jump, climb, balance, kneel, crawl or crouch;

* Frequently communicate verbally;

* Uncorrected vision in either eye of 20/100 or better, vision able to be corrected to 20/20 in better eye and 20/30 in lesser eye. Visual acuity including closeness, distance, color, peripheral and depth perception, with the ability to adjust focus and to read a computer screen and typewritten page.

* Associate's Degree or two years (90 quarter hours/60 semester hours) of general education course work toward a degree at an accredited college or university

OR

* High School Diploma or equivalent, AND

* Four years of active military service with honorable discharge (four years of military service may be substituted for two years of general education course work toward a degree at an accredited college or university)

* Bilingual proficiency highly desirable.

* Employment contingent upon passing a criminal convictions check, background investigation, polygraph examination and fingerprinting. Subject to re-check every five years.

* Employment contingent upon passing a psychological and general medical evaluation.

* Employment contingent upon passing a pre-employment drug test. (This position is considered a safety sensitive position; therefore, the pre-employment drug test includes testing for marijuana. Positive test results will exclude an applicant from being hired).

* Must pass physical fitness trainability standards of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, Basic Law Enforcement Academy.

* Possession of, or ability to obtain, Red Cross certification for Infant/Child and Adult CPR and Standard First Aid.

* Valid Washington State driver's license by time of hire and good driving record. A three-year driving abstract must be submitted prior to hire, with periodic submission of driving abstract per City policy.

* Attainment of the age of 21 years.

* Must be a U. S. citizen, deferred action for childhood arrivals recipient, or a registered permanent resident able to work in the United States. Washington State residency by time of hire.

* No record of felony convictions.

* Misdemeanor convictions will also be reviewed. A misdemeanor conviction will not necessarily disqualify an applicant but offenses, by their nature and recentness, may reveal a lack of specific qualifications for this position.

* Police Officer Recruits must successfully complete the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission Basic Law Enforcement Academy.

Step 1: Applicants interested in this position must complete testing through Public Safety Testing. Please visit the Public Safety Testing website ( for information regarding the testing process.

Step 2: This is an open and continuous examination. Candidate scores will be pulled from Public Safety Testing weekly. Applications will be reviewed as they are received on an ongoing basis.

This recruitment process will create a Civil Service register that will be used to fill anticipated vacancies. This position is represented by a union.

Applicants must complete the written exam and pass the physical ability test through Public Safety Testing prior to being invited to apply. The City of Bellingham will use the scoring criteria recommended by Public Safety Testing.

Step 3: Candidates will be invited via email on a weekly basis to complete a City of Bellingham Employment Application. (Please note: if you do not hear from us within one (1) week of testing with Public Safety Testing, please contact Human Resources at (360)###-####; the PHS is due by the date/time you apply.)

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.

Step 4: Qualified candidates will be placed on a ranked eligibility register based on the Public Safety Testing written exam score. Candidates will be notified of their rank and score regularly as incoming applications are reviewed. The top scoring 15 candidates or the top 25%, whichever is greater, will be referred to the Department for additional examinations, assessments, or tests. Additional examinations, assessments, or tests may include review of the Application Materials, Personal History Statement (PHS), and Interviews. Candidates may be removed from the eligibility register for failure to pass the additional examinations, assessments, or tests.

Please note: Candidates may be removed for the reasons specified in Civil Service Rule Section 9 at any time throughout this process.

Please Note: Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently.

Equal Opportunity:

Our environment is characterized by respect for cultural backgrounds, belief systems, and ethnic diversity. The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its work force. We do not discriminate or 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.