Police Officer; Entry Level

Position: 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 Public Safety Testing .comto 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.

The base pay range for this position is $41.98 - $51.95 per hour. The starting salary for an entry level officer is $41.98 per hour.

The position is eligible for education, longevity and bilingual pay.

Education pay means 2% for an Associate Degree and 4% for a Bachelor’s degree or higher.

• Longevity pay provides an increase of 0.25% each year the employee is employed with the City, starting on year 3.
• Bilingual pay means 2% for fluency in Spanish, Tagalog, Korean and/or American Sign Language

More information about the requirements can be found in the union contract.

Below are some examples of the pay range for the position using these additional pays.

• Employee holding an Associate’s degree or receiving bi-lingual pay: $42.82- $52.99 per hour
• Employee holding a Bachelor’s degree: $43.66 - $54.03 per hour
• Employee completing a 47 year career with the City: $41.98 - $57.79 per hour (using 2025 numbers)
• Bilingual employee with a Bachelor’s degree, 47 years of longevity pay: $41.98- 60.91 per hour (using 2025 numbers)

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 a holiday leave bank in lieu of holidays, vacation leave and sick leave in accordance with the union contract. More benefit details are available by clicking on the "Benefits" tab at the top of this job posting.


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…