Police Officer - Experienced (Lateral)

Note: The salary range listed reflects 2024 rates of pay. These rates will be increased by 3.6% effective January 1, 2025.

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: We strive to maintain competitive compensation packages and work to provide wages that meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities of our employees.

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

Childcare Programs: 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: 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 community interaction, 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. Contribute 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.

**Applicants hired as a Lateral Police Officer for the Kirkland Police Department will receive a $25,000 incentive:

$5,000 to be paid on the first paycheck following the Lateral Officer's hire;

$10,000 to be paid after the Lateral Officer's successful completion of the field training program; and

$10,000 to be paid after the Lateral Officer's successful completion of the probationary period.

Special Note

This is a continuous recruitment. Applications will be screened as openings occur and hiring will be staggered throughout the year.

• Must have, or be able to attain, good working knowledge of City of Kirkland laws.
• Must have good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to deal with the public in a fair and equal manner.
• Must be able to operate a motor vehicle.
• Ability to participate in the use of physical force and training for such on a continuing basis.

Minimum Qualifications

At time of application you must be 21 years of age; a US citizen or a lawful permanent resident, must not have any felony convictions as an adult and have vision correctable to 20/20 in each eye. Must possess the ability to read, write and speak fluent English. Must have the physical capability to successfully meet the Criminal Justice Training Commission Fitness Ability Test Battery. Must have successfully completed an accredited Police Basic Training Academy curriculum and have a minimum of 12 months full-time service in the last 36 months (prefer current) as a sworn municipal, county or state officer. Out of state laterals must complete the State Equivalency Academy. At time of hiring applicant must have a valid Washington State Drivers' License.

All illegal drug use will be closely scrutinized on a case by case basis.

Automatic Disqualifiers: Applicants should not apply if they indicate any of the following disqualifiers:

Driving: 1 or more criminal traffic convictions in the last 5 years (DUI, Reckless Driving, Hit & Run, etc.) Suspension of driver's license within the past 5 years. Applicants driving record will be carefully reviewed.

Drug Use:

Any use or distribution of illegal drugs while employed by a law enforcement agency

Pattern of illegal use of prescription medication

Criminal Activity: Any adult felony conviction, any misdemeanor or felony conviction while employed in a criminal justice capacity, conviction of any crime under a domestic violence statute, any participation in the manufacture, selling, offering to sell, distribution or transporting for sale any illegal drugs/narcotics. Adult misdemeanor convictions and juvenile felony convictions will be carefully reviewed.

Employment: Dishonorable discharge from the United States Armed Forces, lied during any stage of the hiring process, falsified application materials, Personal History Questionnaire, or any other forms during the hiring process, previous revocation or denial of any certified status (i.e., CJTC/POST) or suspension of current CJTC/POST certified status.

Financial: Failure to pay income tax or child support, any conduct or pattern of behavior that would tend to disrupt, diminish, or otherwise jeopardize public trust in the law enforcement profession. Current credit accounts or unresolved accounts in collection will be thoroughly reviewed.

Other: Tattoos on arms and legs which would be visible while wearing short-sleeved uniform shirts and/or uniform shorts may be submitted for review and approval for display per current policy language.

Preferred Qualifications

Prefer current service (minimum of 12 months full-time) as a sworn municipal, county or state officer.

Working Conditions & Physical Activities

The working environment is characterized by the potential for physical, verbal and psychological assault by prisoners or individuals suspected of crime. Dependent on assignment and task, the work period may be eight to twelve hours a day. Other physical activities include, but are not limited to, operating a patrol vehicle, walking, running, or sitting at a workstation performing administrative tasks. The scope of work performed has the potential for other physical or cardiovascular exertion in the performance of duties. Work is performed in a variety of weather conditions and adverse conditions. Assignments may include but are not limited to Patrol, Investigations, Traffic, Training, Neighborhood Resource Officer, School Resource Officer, Pro-Act Unit, and K-9 after at least 12 months in patrol.

Collateral duty assignments available to commissioned officers are: Special Response Team, Crisis Negotiations Team, Firearms Training Unit, Less Lethal Training Unit, Defensive Tactics, Bicycle Patrol, and Foot Patrol.

Hours of Work

Must be available to work 8 or 10 hour rotating shifts.

Patrol Officers work four 10 hour shifts, followed by three days off. Officers work Monday - Thursday or Thursday - Sunday. Available shifts are days, swing, and nights, and are bid by seniority.

Selection Process

To apply, click on the Apply button for this Posting. There, you will complete a short application and attach a short cover letter explaining: 1) How you heard about this opportunity, 2) Why you would like to work for the City of Kirkland, and 3) Name of your law enforcement academy, with dates attended, and your current or former law enforcement experience.

The selection process will include an application review, interview process, physical fitness testing, and a full background. Once a conditional offer of employment is made, an applicant will have a medical examination to include a drug screening, a psychological evaluation, and a Polygraph.

AUTHORIZATION FOR CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECK: Pursuant to RCW 10.97, all finalists for positions are required to complete an authorization for the City of Kirkland to conduct a criminal history check. This may include additional fingerprint-based checks if deemed necessary to obtain the appropriate clearance for this position. Note: A conviction record will not necessarily disqualify you for employment unless such a record would reasonably affect your fitness for the job for which you have applied.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications for this position will be contacted to arrange a time for a Physical Fitness Ability Test (PFAT). Guidelines for this test can be found here: Applicants passing the PFAT will be scheduled for an oral board. To be placed on the Civil Service eligibility list, a Lateral Police Officer applicant must pass the PFAT and score a minimum of 70% on the oral board exam.

PFAT requirements:

http://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/PD/Join/recruitment/Frequently_Asked_Questions/Lateral_Frequently_Asked_Questions.htm#Fitness

Applicants claiming veteran's preference must submit a copy of their DD-214 and a completed "Veteran's Scoring Criteria Status in Examinations" at the time of their oral board in order to receive consideration for veteran's preference.

As openings occur, applicants from the eligibility list will undergo a pre-conditional background investigation which will include the applicants work and credit histories, driving and arrest/conviction records as well as other screening elements. Applicants passing the pre-conditional background investigation will be given a conditional offer of probationary employment. Once a conditional offer of probationary employment is given, applicants will undergo a medical examination, including a drug screening, a psychological evaluation, and a polygraph test which must be successfully passed in order to be employed as a Kirkland Police Officer.

Note:

Applicants who are unsuccessful at any stage of the application process must wait a minimum of six (6) months before they are eligible to re-apply for Lateral Police Officer with the Kirkland Police Department.