Police Officer (Lateral Entry)

The Yakima Police Department is highly focused on the reduction of violent crime through exceptional customer service. If you’re a role model, a guardian, and a mentor who seeks challenge, excitement, and daily opportunities to make a positive difference in your community, you’ve come to the right place!

BENEFIT PACKAGE:

The City of Yakima is a premier employer in the Yakima Valley with extensive opportunities for training and growth. The City offers a competitive benefit package including:

 

• Take home patrol car
• Longevity pay starting at 1.5% after 4 years
• Education incentive: AA 1.5%; BA 3.0%; MA 4.0%
• Up to 5% bilingual/biliterate English/Spanish special pay
• Differential pay including SWAT, FTO, Motorcycle, K9, etc.
• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage
• FREE healthcare clinic!
• WA State LEOFF II pension membership
• 5.5% City contribution to 457 deferred compensation plan
• Leave accruals: 
  1. Vacation – Starting at 7.42 hours/month
  2. Sick – 10 hours/month
  3. Observed holidays – 96 hour bank annually on January 1st
• $150,000 Life Insurance
• Much more!

The pay range listed for this position is establish through the City of Yakima’s Master Pay Ordinance in accordance with the Municipal Code and/or the applicable collective bargaining agreement.   New employees generally start at step A with progression through the steps based on merit and successful performance evaluation.  Click here to view the Master Pay Ordinance.

CHECK OUT www.morethanabadge.com for more information!

POLICE OFFICER - LATERAL ENTRY APPLICANTS MUST HAVE AT LEAST 2 YEARS LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE.  (SEE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS) LATERAL STATUS TO BE VERIFED BY WSCJTC BASED ON CERTIFICATION AND TRAINING RECORDS. 

CANDIDATES WHO HAVE STATE CERTIFIED ACADEMY GRADUATE CERTIFICATION BUT LESS THAN 2 YEARS EXPERIENCE SHOULD APPLY AS A POLICE OFFICER - ACADEMY GRADUATE.  

ALL OTHER APPLICANTS PLEASE GO TO PUBLIC SAFETY TESTING TO APPLY FOR A POLICE OFFICER - ENTRY LEVEL EXAM.  www.publicsafetytesting.com

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: 

Washington State applicants for this position must have served two (2) years of continuous full-time law enforcement service, with a Washington State civilian law enforcement agency, within the last three years.  Out of state applicants must have a minimum two of the last three years continuous full-time law enforcement service with a civilian law enforcement agency AND must be able to successfully complete the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission Equivalency Examination within one (1) year after employment.   Out-of-state applicants must possess the necessary training and experience to become certified in accordance with Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission standards.   Applicants for this position must be a citizen of the United States or a lawful permanent resident, must be able to read and write the English language, must possess a high school diploma or equivalent, must be in good health and of good moral character.  Applicants must pass a, pre-selection interview, situational based assessment, pre-suitability testing, polygraph examination, psychological examination, medical examination, drug screening, and a comprehensive background investigation regarding applicant's aptitude, character, judgment, credit, driving record, criminal history and verification of immigrant or citizenship status as either a citizen of the United States of America or a lawful permanent resident.  Applicant must possess normal color vision, and visual acuity of not less than 20/100 in each eye, corrected to 20/20 in the better eye and 20/30 in the lesser eye.

Verification of Peace Officer certification must be attached to application and ALL TRAINING RECORDS including syllabus/curriculum(s) with training titles and corresponding training hours.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND/OR CERTIFICATES:  Must obtain/possess and maintain a valid Washington State Driver's License.  Washington State applicants must possess and maintain a Washington State Peace Officer's Certification.  Out-of-state applicants must be a currently certified police officer in their home state of employment.

Under the general supervision of a commanding officer, Police Officers are sworn, general authority law enforcement officers who perform a wide variety of public safety and community care-taking duties including preserving the peace, protecting life and property, enforcing laws and ordinances, deterring and preventing crime, investigating criminal activity and providing public safety education.

Enforces laws and ordinances and complies with guidelines established by applicable laws, regulations, directives and superiors.

 

Maintains current knowledge of circumstances, trends, practices, laws and legal decisions affecting the law enforcement profession and his or her area of responsibility; familiarizes self with current information relating to department operations and administration.

 

Patrols assigned areas in a police vehicle, by bicycle or on foot; responds to requests for police service; identifies conditions which present a hazard to public safety; observes and investigates suspicious persons, circumstances and activities; deters, detects and investigates crimes; identifies and apprehends criminals and traffic offenders; facilitates the flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic; investigates traffic collisions; provides other assistance to the public consistent with the goals and objectives of the department.

 

Protects crime and accident scenes; identifies, documents, collects and safeguards evidence and stolen property; aids the injured; locates and interviews witnesses; interrogates, arrests and confines offenders; recommends measures to prevent victimization.

 

Investigates assigned cases; locates and interviews victims, suspects and witnesses; collects and submits evidence for analysis; prepares detailed investigative reports and submits cases for prosecution.

 

Prepares comprehensive, factual investigative reports for use by other officers, agencies and court officers; provides factual, unbiased testimony in court; maintains accurate notes and logs of activities; maintains confidentiality of information learned in the course of his or her duties.

 

Operates a variety of equipment including two-way radios, cameras, computers breathalyzer and emergency vehicle equipment; carries and maintains proficiency with firearms.

 

Establishes and maintains effective communications and working relationships with superiors, co-workers, other law enforcement officials and the public; cooperates with representatives of related public, private, federal, state and local service agencies; cooperates with representatives of the news media to the extent allowed by applicable laws and department directives.

 

Maintains personal discipline and complies with all applicable laws, policies, regulations, procedures and sound police practice; promotes discipline among co-workers.

 

Adheres to and actively promotes the goals, values and objectives of the department with citizens and co-workers; promotes a positive, constructive work atmosphere; maintains harmonious working relations with superiors and co-workers; supports organizational change.

 

Understands and actively employs the core values of Community Policing: maximum citizen involvement, total service orientation, and a pro-active, problem-solving approach to police service; supports and encourages department programs and volunteer groups.

 

Attends training; participates in specialized units and assignments; provides training to other department employees, volunteers and citizens.

 

Demonstrates and fosters an attitude that encourages cooperation and coordination of efforts and efficient use of resources. Provides continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide exceptional customer service to internal and external customers.

 

Requires regular and reliable attendance.

 

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of federal, state and city laws and ordinances, and City of Yakima policies and procedures. Knowledge of municipal records retention procedures, and techniques. Demonstrates knowledge and sound judgement with regard to public disclosure, and confidentiality standards. 

 

Demonstrates the knowledge of and adherence to a high standard of personal and professional ethics.

Knowledge of statutory and case law and the ability to explain and apply complex laws, rules, policies, procedures and regulations; ability to obtain information through interview, interrogation and observation.

 

Ability to recognize, understand and apply the statutory and judicial limitations of police authority, and the rights of all persons under the constitution of the United States and the State of Washington.

 

Ability to learn and apply modern police methods and techniques. Ability to read, research, interpret, apply and explain codes, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, State, Federal and City laws and ordinances, and City and Department policies and procedures. Must possess ability to identify and define complex problems, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.

Ability to evaluate circumstances and make sound judgments and decisions in a timely manner, based on training and experience; analyze situations quickly and objectively, and to determine the proper course of action; ability to react quickly and calmly under emergency conditions; ability to cope with stressful situations and upset individuals, firmly, courteously, confidently, and tactfully.

 

Ability to work independently with self-direction and minimal direction or oversight; maintain sustained attention to detail, and work under timeline pressures; manage multiple tasks with competing deadlines. Excellent analytical and organizational skills are essential. Must possess ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities and demands.

 

Must be able to communicate clearly and effectively, with employees, members of the public representing diverse education and background, and with government officials utilizing well developed communication skills, both written and oral, with appropriate use of English, including but not limited to correct grammar, vocabulary, composition, spelling, and punctuation. 

 

Ability to establish, facilitate, and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, the public, community organizations and government agencies; to consistently and continually demonstrate tact, diplomacy, and respect to individuals, groups and organizations representing a wide diversity of ethnicities, cultures, opinions, and beliefs. Ability to positively receive feedback and take direction is essential.

 

Ability to negotiate and clearly and concisely present complex information in both written and verbal formats. Must possess the ability to make informative and persuasive presentations to individuals and groups, and act in public venues. Must routinely and regularly maintain confidentiality and discretion through all forms of communication.

 

Ability to confront and affect the apprehension of offenders by means of command presence, voice control and physical force, up to and including deadly force.

 

Ability to be innovative and flexible in approach to duties, and to readily adapt to changing community and department needs. Ability to work extended hours as needed

 

Ability to operate necessary equipment including but not limited to: computer, fax machine, copy machine, telephone, two-way radio, cameras, breathalyzer and emergency vehicle equipment. 

Ability to carry, maintain, and proficiently use firearms.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:  Work is performed in both indoor and outdoor environments, at times in adverse weather conditions.  Extended periods of time spent within, and frequent operation of, motor vehicle and/or motorcycle.  Occasionally needs to move inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, and department records. Constant use of senses for seeing, close vision, color perception, hearing/listening, speech, touching, dexterity, and smelling.  Continuous use of both hands reaching/handling/grasping/keyboarding and other fine motor skill manipulation while performing duties and operating computers. Frequent lifting/carrying objects up to 25 pounds; grasping/pushing/pulling various objects or persons. Occasionally ascends/descends stairs, and other inclines while maintaining balance and stability.  Occasional stooping, bending, twisting at knees, waist or neck, squatting, kneeling, climbing, crawling and/or reaching.  Occasional exposure to chemicals, weapons, drugs, needles and other drug paraphernalia, blood, saliva and/or body fluids at accidents or crime scenes.  Occasional lifting/carrying objects up to 50 pounds.  Occasional running to apprehend a suspect. Must be able to distinguish color and maintain long-term and short-term memory to learn and remember simple to complex procedures. May work in remote locations or in noisy work areas. Must wear appropriate safety equipment as necessary. 

UNUSUAL WORKING CONDITIONS:  Working conditions include: rotating shift assignments, night hours, exposure to inclement weather, call-back on short notice, and working on weekends and holidays; stress associated with the necessity to make decisions affecting personal safety and the safety of the public with little or no time for reflection or consultation; overtime work caused by incidents in progress or the necessity to meet critical deadlines; life threatening situations requiring the use of deadly force; exposure to all of the hazards and conditions associated with the duties and responsibilities of a general authority law enforcement officer.