Police Officer - Entry Level

Overview

The Eugene Police Department (EPD) is a progressive, professional law-enforcement agency serving the city of Eugene, Oregon. In fulfillment of the public trust, EPD partners with the community to promote safety and security, enforce laws, prevent crimes, and safeguard constitutional rights.

Beginning on January 6, 2026, EPD is seeking new candidates to join the department. Invitations to testing are sent on a rolling basis to applicants with complete, qualifying applications. Early applicants may receive access to a paid practice test and a testing study guide, as well as an ORPAT practice session. For more information about the officer hiring process, visit the City’s hiring site ().

Testing is conducted on a first-come, first-served basis. The recruitment process typically takes about 90 days from testing to the first day of employment. For non-local applicants, only one trip to Eugene is required for testing and the interview. A conditional job offer may be issued after testing and interview, with options for the psychological evaluation and medical exam if returning to the area.

This position performs a variety of law enforcement duties, including:

• First responder to incidents
• Direct link between the department and the public
• Respond to and investigate incident scenes
• Assess appropriate actions to incidents, patrol assigned areas, enforce laws and ordinances
• Make arrests, preserve crime scene evidence
• Summarize events in report format and conduct preventative community policing for diverse neighborhoods

• Minimum age: 21 years by July 15, 2026
• No felony convictions; no Class A Misdemeanor convictions within 24 months of application
• Ability to work varied shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays; patrol team schedule may be 4/10
• Meet DPSST certification standards (vision, hearing, etc.). See Oregon Administrative Rule  for certification standards
• Education:
  
  High school diploma or GED
• Experience:
  
  Two years of work experience, college coursework, or military experience
• License:
  Valid Oregon driver’s license (or ability to obtain by date of hire); must pass driving records check and maintain satisfactory driving record
• CPR certification within twelve months of appointment
• Background:
  Must pass a police background investigation; review requested documents as part of the process
• Language:
  Fluency in English preferred; additional language skills (e.g., Spanish, Sign Language) are desirable
• Physical:
  Must pass a physical assessment and drug test
• Additional DPSST-required tests: drug screen, hearing test, and visual acuity test

• ORPAT practice sessions:
  Saturday, February 7, 2026 (optional). Apply by February 5, 2026
• Written test and ORPAT:
  Saturday, March 7, 2026
• Interviews:
  March 8–10, 2026 (out-of-state applicants may be prioritized for March
  8)
• Full background by May 5, 2026
• Chief Interview:
  May 14, 2026
• Psychological evaluation and medical exam:
  May 21–29, 2026
• Projected hire date:
  June 29, 2026

• Starting annual salary for Police Officers: $78,187.20; top step with experience can reach $99,673.60
• Premium pay for education/certification after three years; language fluency bonus up to 5%; up to 5% shift differential
• Bilingual Pay Benefit: 5% of base wages for required fluency; exams administered by the City’s Employee Resource Center
• Benefits:
  City of Eugene offers robust and competitive benefits; see the Benefits tab and the benefits package pages for details

Work at Eugene Police Department, 300 Country Club Rd., Eugene, OR. Must reside within 45 minutes of Eugene. Schedule may include various shifts, nights, weekends, and holidays; patrol duties may require a 4/10 schedule. Emergency response time requires reporting to duty within 45 minutes of notification.

• Union Representation:
  Eugene Police Employees’ Association (EPEA)
• Living in Eugene: information available on city pages
• Classification:
  Police Officer; see job classification for duties, knowledge, and abilities
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
  The City is committed to a respectful, diverse, and inclusive workplace; women, people of color, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Legal and compliance:
  The City complies with ADA and Immigration Reform; accommodation requests can be made, and eligibility for employment will be verified

Information on how to apply is available on the City’s hiring site. Applications are accepted online only.