Police Officer

Why Work for Kirkland?
Ranked as one of the most livable cities in America, Kirkland is an attractive and inviting place to live, work, and visit. We have big city vision while maintaining a small-town, community feel. If you are a candidate with the desire to join an organization looking to innovate into the future, the City of Kirkland is the place for you!

If you ask our employees why they love where they work, they’ll tell you about the great people, work environment, supportive management and City Council, and fearless innovation.

We also invest in you!
Competitive Wages
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We strive to maintain competitive compensation packages and work to provide wages that meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities of our employees.

Awesome Benefits
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The City offers benefits that are unmatched by most other employers. Please click on the benefits tab above to view more details.

Childcare Programs
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To help address the challenge of finding reliable childcare, the City of Kirkland has reserved spots for City employees at local and regional service providers, available at a discount. New employees gain access to Kirkland’s reserved spots as soon as they start employment. Learn more!

Training and Career Development
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The City of Kirkland believes in developing its employees. You will have access to training opportunities designed for career development and advancement based on your position, skills, and interests.

Job Summary

Performs the functions of law enforcement necessary to maintain public peace, protect life and property, prevent crime, apprehend violators of the law and otherwise assure proper enforcement of the laws and ordinances of the City of Kirkland and the State of Washington.

Principal Accountabilities
The Police Department works shift work of varied hours depending on assignment. Officer’s work with current technology such as in car computer systems and computer aided dispatch. Officers are generally assigned to one person patrol cars, but may be assigned to collateral duties or assignments depending on department needs.

• Contributes to the preservation of peace and protection of life and property by patrolling an assigned area primarily by car, and occasionally on foot, bicycle or motorcycle. Responds to a wide variety of calls and complaints to include misdemeanors and felonies and civil issues.
• Contributes to the apprehension of criminal suspects by conducting preliminary and follow-up investigations. This would involve contacting and interviewing witnesses and victims of a crime; sketching & photographing a crime scene; dusting for latent fingerprints; and collecting other evidence and preserving the chain of evidence. The position prepares criminal investigation reports and testifies in court.
• Contributes to the smooth and safe movement of traffic on City streets by performing traffic and parking enforcement functions. This would include observing traffic movement, operating radar speed detection units, directing traffic, and issuing traffic citations.
• Contributes to understanding the cause of traffic accidents by conducting accident investigations. Attempts to determine the cause (driver error or mechanical failure) of the accident.
• Contributes to the enforcement of City laws and ordinances by apprehending violators. The subduing and arresting of violators could range from simply advising the suspect that he/she is under arrest to a physical confrontation involving the use of force up to and including the use of a firearm. Once suspect is in custody, a complete booking procedure will be followed.
• Contributes to the prevention of crime by giving talks; maintaining a high degree of visibility. This involves knowing the layout of City streets; extensive knowledge of Federal, State, and municipal law; patrolling key problem areas; and knowing the routines of the City and its citizens in order to identify unusual or abnormal activities.
• Contributes to a favorable image of the Department.
• The position performs various other duties as assigned, including the transportation of prisoners to court or medical facilities; serving misdemeanor and felony warrants for arrest; and maintaining security…