Lateral Police Officer Job Bellingham area,Washington USA,Government

The Bellingham Police Department is seeking experienced law enforcement officers to join our team.

Why should you apply as a lateral officer with the Bellingham Police Department?

Lateral officers receive advanced salary placement and vacation accrual based on completed years of service – capped at 10 years of service:
- 2026 Salary Range: $7,956/mo - $10,236/mo
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.

Benefits

Vacation accrual credit based on completed service (up to a maximum of ten years), with increased accrual per month over time.
12 paid designated holidays + 1 floating holiday per year.
216 hours of sick leave upon hire + monthly accruals.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families.
Life insurance and long‑term disability coverage.
Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt‑out program.
Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Washington State Retirement plan (LEOFF) for retirement security.
Optional 457 deferred compensation (Retirement Savings Plan).

Job Summary

This position performs fully responsible, professional, general duty police work in the protection of life and property through the enforcement of laws and ordinances. After a period of formal and on‑the‑job training, employees in this class are responsible for independent law enforcement duties ranging from average to considerable difficulty and performed under general supervision of a sergeant or other ranking officer.

Essential

Functions

Patrols a designated area of City on foot, bicycle, automobile, motorcycle, or small watercraft to investigate, deter, and/or discover possible violations of criminal and vehicle (and/or boating) traffic laws, codes and/or ordinances. Maintains radio contact with the dispatch center.

Responds to calls, complaints or reports of the actual, possible or potential occurrence of specific criminal activity and takes appropriate action. This may include, but is not limited to, mediating civil disputes or interceding in domestic disturbances; maintaining peace; protecting persons; enforcing traffic laws; apprehending, controlling and arresting persons, including those who are violent and/or emotional; assisting disabled persons, motorists, and others;

and providing information and direction.

Participates in community policing activities: gains familiarity with individuals, groups, businesses and special issues of the assigned community; meets with and makes presentations to community groups; assists in neighborhood problem‑solving projects; and sponsors public education programs and activities.

Administers immediate assistance to citizens in critical and/or emergency situations where the security of lives and/or property may be endangered. In the course of duty, officers are exposed to a range of physical injuries, accidents, child abuse, mental health concerns, or death where they may be required to administer first aid, CPR or other assistance prior to the arrival of emergency services, and to provide support to victims and families.

Secures and controls crime scenes and administers aid, may gather and/or supervise the collection of evidence and witness statements, and arrests or supervises the arrest(s) of suspects.

Appears in court to present evidence and testify against persons accused of crime; maintains or supervises surveillance over suspected criminals; arranges and/or participates in the return of fugitives from other cities or from outside the state.

Develops and maintains required skills through participation in intermediate or advanced training classes in law enforcement methodology, first aid, weapons, tactics and procedures and related subjects.

Additional Work Performed

Engages in specialized investigative assignments (e.g., Forensics, Drug/Gang Task Force).

Performs specialized assignments (e.g., Neighborhood Resource Officer, Behavioral Health Officer, Canine Unit, SWAT).

Works…