Police Lieutenant

Under the direction of the Chief of Police and Deputy Police Chief, Lieutenants are responsible for overall management and administration of a major functional area or division within the Police Department.

The ideal candidate profile includes:

• Responsible and accountable

• Ethical

• Loyal

• Demonstrate and promote the mission, vision and values of the police department

• Written and Oral

• Working relationship with the community and other departments

• Role model

• Professional development

• Coach and mentor

• Demonstrate and promote a culture of fair and impartial policing

• Laws, policies and practices

• Labor Agreements

• Creative and innovative

• Day-to-day operations

• Decisiveness

• Multi-tasking

Examination and Selection Process Timeline
Specific times and locations for each examination will be announced soon after the closing date for applications.

Candidates will be notified if the timeline described below changes.

• September 2, 2026 - continuous:
  Application Period (
  to be considered in the first round of applications, please apply by 11:59pm on 9/16/26 )

• October 26, 2026, 1400 hours:
  Candidate Briefing via Zoom

• November 12, 2026:
  Command
  
  Skills and Abilities
  
  Promotional Test

• November 17, 2026:
  Civil Service Commission Certification of Promotional List

• TBD - Late November 2026:
  Chief’s Interview

Important Information about the testing process
The examination process is designed to measure the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the duties of the lieutenant. Four job-related exercises or simulations are validated by subject-matter experts in which candidate scores are integrated by a statistical process.

Important Information about the Testing Exercises
The exercises will consist of an assessment center. The assessment center will use trained assessors/raters selected by the Olympia Police Department and Civil Service. Candidates who are offered an opportunity to participate in the assessment center will receive a briefing about the nature and purpose of the testing prior to its commencement.

Important Information about Examination Scoring
In accordance with City of Olympia Civil Service Rules, candidates must pass all portions and phases of the assessment center in order to be placed on the Promotional Police Lieutenant Register. Observers may be present during testing and may observe some or all of the test components.

Candidates will be ranked on the Promotional Police Lieutenant Register in final ranking score order.

A candidate briefing will be conducted October 26, 2026, at 1400 hours via Zoom . Additional information about the zoom meeting will be provided.

The purpose of this briefing will be to inform all candidates regarding the testing process.

If you have questions about the 2026 Police Lieutenant Examination, please contact Deputy Chief Ray Brady (rbradympia.wa.us) or Telli Norton (snortonmpia.wa.us).

The information contained in this classification specification is a representative sample of essential and other functions performed in this classification. Specific essential functions are identified for position recruitment or other administrative procedures.

Examples of Duties: