Lateral Police Officer

Do you want to make a lasting impact, inspire others, and positively influence the people you encounter every day? Are you seeking a fast‑paced, dynamic environment that supports professional growth, continuous learning, and active community involvement?

The City of Gresham Police Department is accepting applications for Lateral Police Officer positions. We are a full‑service police department with 136 sworn positions. All employees are expected to strive for excellence while providing exceptional service to community members and customers in a positive and respectful manner. Officers are also expected to demonstrate creativity, vision, sound judgment, and effective problem‑solving skills.

Police officers are assigned to one of three shifts (day, swing, or night) according to a semi‑annual seniority‑based bidding process. This is an open and continuous recruitment process. Qualified candidates who successfully complete the selection process will be placed on an eligibility list, which will be used to fill current and future vacancies within the department.

We offer competitive, living‑wage salaries, comprehensive benefits and retirement packages, and ongoing training opportunities designed to support employee growth and the evolving needs of a public‑safety organization. In addition to base salary, officers may earn added compensation through overtime, specialty and instructor assignments, and advanced certification pay.

• Paid vacation: 21.33 hours per month*
• Education reimbursement up to $5,000
• Oregon Public Employee Retirement System (PERS)
• Sick leave for longer‑term illnesses
• Medical, vision, dental and life insurance
• Accidental death and dismemberment insurance
• Long‑term disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health reimbursement account
• Flexible spending account
• Deferred compensation
• Uniforms, uniform cleaning, service weapon and other equipment provided

* Initial vacation accrual will be determined using a matrix in the police union contract, based on total years of previous experience as a full‑time public‑safety employee at another agency, including time served with Gresham.

Starting Salary Information
Oregon or out‑of‑state experience: A new employee (certified or certifiable) with police experience in Oregon or another state, hired under the City’s lateral entry program, will be credited one pay step for each completed year of previous full‑time paid experience as a sworn officer, up to a maximum starting pay of one step below the top step of the police officer salary range (currently Step
6). A lateral entry employee will be eligible to advance one step, and additional subsequent steps, on the salary schedule after successful completion of twelve (12) months of service in each step.

Grow your Career
At Gresham, police officers can pursue a variety of full‑time and ancillary specialty assignments, develop diverse skill sets, and build a long‑term career through competitive promotional opportunities. Opportunities include:

• SWAT
• Crisis Negotiation
• K‑9
• sUAS Pilots and DFR (drone as first responder)
• Explosive Detection Unit (EDU)
• Rapid Response Team (RRT – crowd management)
• Traffic Unit (including motorcycles)
• Vehicular Crimes Team (VCT)
• Detectives
• FBI Safe Streets Task Force
• Ceasefire (gun violence reduction)
• School Resources Officers (SRO)
• Public Information Officer (PIO)
• Field Training Officers (FTO)
• Training Instructors (firearms, PVO, survival skills, etc.)
• Behavior Health Unit (BHU)
• Honor Guard
• Internal promotional opportunities (sergeant, lieutenant, captain, assistant chief)

Work‑life balance
Off‑duty, officers enjoy recreational and lifestyle opportunities in the region.

• Ski or snowboard on Mt. Hood, < 1 hr away
• Boat, windsurf, or hike in scenic Columbia River Gorge, < 1 hr away
• Explore downtown Portland (15 mi away) – theater, dining, sports
• Access to camping, hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation
• Drive to the Oregon Coast and Pacific Ocean
• Discover historic downtown Gresham – 150+ shops, restaurants, service businesses; explore 1,100+ acres of parks and trails

The City of Gresham Police Department does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or…