Police Officer ENTRY-LEVEL

About the Seattle Police Department

The Seattle Police Department is committed to public service and aligning with the City of Seattle's values of Race and Social Justice. The City of Seattle is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

• Provide public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations.
• Operate a patrol car and patrol city streets, areas, and businesses to deter criminal activity and promote public safety.
• Investigate hazardous conditions and conduct initial investigations of crime and crime scenes; assist detectives and conduct search and seizure activities; collect and preserve evidence.
• Arrest and/or detain suspected violators of the law; review facts of incidents to determine if criminal acts or statute violations are involved.
• Record facts to prepare reports documenting incidents and activities.
• Render aid to accident victims and others requiring first aid.
• Transport individuals in custody.
• Present evidence and testimony in judicial settings.

• Be at least 20.5 years of age.
• Hold United States citizenship, or legal permanent residency, or be a DACA recipient.
• Attain a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency (GED).
• Meet all eligibility standards by the date of participation in the exam process.

Drug Use: Candidates must not have used marijuana, cocaine, crack, club drugs (e.g., ketamine, GHB, Rohypnol, MDMA), hallucinogens, LSD, mushrooms, psilocybin, PCP, Angel Dust, Wets, or other drug categories within the specified time frames (12 months for marijuana, 5 years for many others, 3 years for some). Candidates must also refrain from manufacturing, cultivating, selling or facilitating the sale of illegal drugs and from using prescription drugs illegally.

Traffic Record: A candidate's driving record will be assessed. Disqualifying infractions include intoxication, reckless driving, hit & run, suspension within 5 years, 3 or more moving violations in 5 years, 2 or more accidents in 5 years where the candidate was at fault or charged with a moving violation.

Criminal History: Any adult felony conviction, any misdemeanor or felony conviction while employed in a criminal justice or law enforcement capacity, and any domestic violence conviction will be disqualifying.

Employment Record: Terminations or leaving an employer without completion of job duties can be grounds for disqualification.

Financial Record: Credit history is reviewed; disqualifying factors include failure to pay income tax or child support, excessive credit card debt, and unresolved accounts in collections.

Professional Appearance: All applicants must maintain professional appearance; SPD has discretion regarding tattoos and other markings.

• Veteran’s Preference for candidates with qualifying military experience.
• Language (Multilingual) Preference for candidates proficient in a language other than English.
• Human/Social Service Preference for candidates with two or more years of verifiable professional or volunteer experience delivering direct human or social services.
• City of Seattle Work Preference for candidates who served as a Police Reserve, 911 dispatcher, or parking enforcement officer.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package for police officers. For more information, visit the City of Seattle website.