Police Officer; Entry Level

Please note. The City of Port Orchard uses Public Safety Testing to administer entry level written and physical agility examinations. Please go to  to apply. There is a fee to take the exam. Applicants who successfully pass the written and physical agility tests will receive further instructions from the City of Port Orchard. Hiring for the position of Police Officer is under the purview of the Civil Service Commission and commission rules.

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. HRA VEBA account is also provided. Retirement benefits are provided through LEOFF and optional Deferred Compensation. Employees receive 96 hours of holiday leave annually with an additional 24 hours on their anniversary date. Vacation leave is accrued at 0.0385 hours per straight time hour paid in the first year of employment, with increases thereafter.

Employees earn 96 hours of sick leave per calendar year. More information can be found by clicking on the "Benefits" tab on this job posting.

The base pay range for this position is $36.04 - $49.48. It is the City's practice to start employees at the lower end of the salary range. Starting salary is $36.04. This position is eligible for education pay. The pay range for an employee holding an Associate's is $36.76 - $50.47 and for an employee holding a Bachelor's is $37.48 - $51.46.

This position is also eligible for longevity pay, with an increase of 0.25% each year the employee is employed with the City, starting on year 3. An employee completing a 47 year career with the City would expect to make $55.05 in the last year of employment based on 2024 numbers, for a salary range of $36.04 - $55.05. Taking these numbers into account, the salary for this position could ultimately range between $36.04 - $57.25 based on the 2024 pay scale, with the upper pay appropriate for an employee holding a Bachelor's with 47 years of longevity pay.

Major Function and Purpose

A Patrol Officer's primary purpose is to protect the lives, property, and rights of all members of the community. Officers will work to reduce crime, and the fear of crime, while remaining proactive and innovative in their approach to the enforcement of the law. Officers are expected to be team members with the community through transparency, accountability, and engagement.

General Function

Under general supervision from the Sergeant, the Patrol Officer will help to create, nurture, and maintain a community-oriented public safety department in alignment with the department’s mission, vision, and values.

Supervision Responsibilities

This is a non-supervisory position. However, a Patrol Officer may be assigned to serve as a Field Training Officer for a new officer or Police Reserve Officer.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

This job description reflects general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. These listed duties and responsibilities in no way imply these are the only duties to be performed. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including, but not limited to: working in other function areas to cover absences or provide relief, to equalize peak work periods, or to otherwise balance the workload.

Accordingly, individuals occupying this position will be required to follow any job-related instructions, tasks, or other duties as assigned by the Director or designee and must be able to proficiently perform all assigned duties.

• Respond to emergency and routine calls for service
• Apprehend violators or offenders of the law; in situations where lawful arrests are resisted, the Officer must be prepared and able at times through training, judgment, and high levels of physical exertion, to use justifiable levels of force to overcome the resistance and protect the suspect, community members, themselves, and fellow officers
• Tactically de-escalate any verbal attacks that may occur while performing work assignments; endure verbal and mental assault when confronted with hostile views and opinions of suspects and others encountered in an antagonistic environment
• Operate a motor vehicle for extended periods of time in all environmental conditions, occasionally at high speeds and in congested traffic situations
• Conduct patrols in a City vehicle, on foot, bicycle, marine vessel, and/or other conveyance on an assigned shift; patrol business and residential areas to provide a visible element of safety
• Monitor and enforce traffic laws and safety ordinances; issue infractions as appropriate
• Look for criminal or potential criminal behavior; identify risks to public safety and order
• Investigate traffic collisions in various weather and traffic conditions; physically direct traffic, place temporary control devices such as portable stop signs, barricades, and other forms of directional signing as needed
• Appropriately provide first aid, CPR, or…