Job Information
City of Bellingham Lateral Police Officer in Bellingham, Washington
Lateral Police Officer
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Lateral Police Officer
Salary
$88,068.00 - $113,292.00 Annually
Location
City of Bellingham, WA
Job Type
Full Time
Job Number
24-Lateral Police Officer
Department
Police Department
Opening Date
01/01/2024
Closing Date
12/31/2024 4:30 PM Pacific
FLSA
Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit
Guild
Description
Benefits
Questions
Nature of Work
The Bellingham Police Department is seeking experienced law enforcement officers to join our team.
Why should you apply as a lateral officer with the Bellingham Police Department?
Lateral officers receive advanced salary placement and vacation accrual based on completed years of service – capped at 10 years of service.
2024 Salary Range: $7,339/mo - $9,441/mo
Patrol Officers work a 1040 work schedule of five, 10.7 hour days on, four days off, five days on, four days off, five days on, five days off, repeating monthly.
Training opportunities, the 1040 work schedule allows for one full training day a month.
Additional monthly premiums may be applied per assignment and level of education. For more information regarding salaries, benefits and specialty units, view our lateral recruitment page (https://cob.org/gov/dept/police/join/lateral-officer) .
City of Bellingham employees receive medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as life insurance and long-term disability. Additional benefits include flexible spending accounts, a medical insurance opt-out program, and access to our employee assistance program. All eligible City employees are enrolled in a Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (https://www.drs.wa.gov/) pension plan. Additionally, employees may elect to participate in the City’s 457 deferred compensation retirement savings plan.
Employees will receive 12 paid designated holidays in addition to one paid floating holiday each year. Upon hire, new employees are provided a sick leave bank of 216 hours for use during their first two years in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement and Washington State Law. At the time of hire, employees will accrue a minimum of 7.34 vacation hours per month. Lateral Police Officers will be given vacation credit for each completed year of service, up to a maximum of ten years, and placed in the current vacation accrual schedule accordingly. Vacation accruals increase based on years of service. Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.
For additional information regarding benefits and compensation Information please visit the following:
Labor Agreements, Pay Schedules and E-Team Employee Handbook - City of Bellingham (cob.org) (https://cob.org/about/employment/labor-agreements-pay-schedule)
Employment Benefits - City of Bellingham (cob.org)
JOB SUMMARY:
This position performs fully responsible, professional, general duty police work in the protection of life and property through the enforcement of laws and ordinances. After a period of formal and on-the-job training, employees in this class are responsible for independent law enforcement duties ranging from average to considerable difficulty and performed under general supervision of a sergeant or other ranking officer.
Work normally involves patrolling in an unaccompanied automobile, motorcycle, bicycle or foot patrol, and/or conducting detailed criminal investigations, traffic regulation, or community policing activities in a designated area on an assigned shift. Work involves a substantial element of danger and requires the responsible exercise of appropriate judgment in meeting critical emergency situations. Employees are sworn to act in behalf of the Police Department and the City of Bellingham and carry firearms in the performance of their duties.
Employees may be directed to work on, lead, or plan special projects or assignments which call upon specialized abilities and knowledge attained through experience as a uniformed officer. Work of this class may be reviewed by superior officers via personal inspection, reviews of reports and/or oral discussion.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Patrols a designated area of City on foot, bicycle, or in an automobile, motorcycle or small watercraft to investigate, deter and/or discover possible violations of criminal and vehicle (and/or boating) traffic laws, codes and/or ordinances. Maintains radio contact with the dispatch center.
Responds to calls, complaints or reports of the actual, possible or potential occurrence of specific criminal activity and takes appropriate action. This may include, but is not limited to, mediating civil disputes or interceding in domestic disturbances; maintaining peace; protecting persons; enforcing traffic laws; apprehending, controlling and arresting persons, including those who are violent and/or emotional; assisting disabled persons, motorists, and others; and providing information and direction.
Participates in community policing activities: gains familiarity with individuals, groups, businesses and special issues of assigned community; meets with and makes presentations to community groups; assists in neighborhood problem-solving projects; and sponsors public education programs and activities.
Administers immediate assistance to citizens in critical and/or emergency situations where the security of lives and/or property may be endangered. In the course of duty, officers are exposed to a range of physical injuries, accidents, child abuse, mental health concerns, or death where they may be required to administer first aid, CPR or other assistance prior to the arrival of emergency services, and to provide support to victims and families.
Secures and controls crime scenes and administers aid, may gather and/or supervise the collection of evidence and witness statements, and arrests or supervises the arrest(s) of suspects.
Appears in court to present evidence and testify against persons accused of crime; maintains or supervises surveillance over suspected criminals; arranges and/or participates in the return of fugitives from other cities or from outside the state.
Develops and maintains required skills through participation in intermediate or advanced training classes in law enforcement methodology, first aid, regular or special weapons/tactics and procedures and related subjects.
ADDITIONAL WORK PERFORMED:
Engages in specialized investigative assignments (e.g., Forensics, Drug/Gang Task Force etc.).
Performs specialized assignments (e.g., Neighborhood Resource Officer, Behavioral Health Officer, Canine Unit, SWAT etc.).
Works with other law enforcement agencies on special policing assignments and events and/or multi-jurisdiction emergencies as directed.
Performs special operations work such as raids and searches as directed.
Performs related duties as directed.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
Work is performed both indoors and outdoors in any and all property existing in the City of Bellingham and its environs. This involves working in a variety of environmental conditions and may require: walking, sitting or standing for long periods; running, climbing, jumping, or physical exertion in inclement weather; physical agility in slippery conditions, mountainous or uneven terrain, or in water. Officers work in unaccompanied automobile, motorcycle, bicycle or on foot patrol, maintaining contact with the dispatch center. There is exposure to high-risk situations which require emergency response procedures such as the use of masks, gloves, etc. to prevent contact with infectious diseases; and the use of protective clothing, equipment, firearms and other gear. While in uniform and/or driving a police vehicle, the Police Officer will not be allowed to use or display any tobacco product. Officers work rotating shifts including evenings, weekends and holidays.
Physical abilities to perform the essential functions of the job including:
Physical strength to restrain and control persons and physically defend self;
Manual dexterity to operate a motor vehicle or handle tools and guns in the performance of assigned tasks, including keyboarding, grasping and reaching.
Occasionally lift, push, carry and pull materials, objects or persons weighing up to 100 lbs using proper lifting techniques;
Frequently sit, stand, walk, drive a vehicle or ride a bicycle;
Occasionally run, jump, climb, balance, kneel, crawl or crouch;
Frequently communicate verbally;
Uncorrected vision in either eye of 20/100 or better, vision able to be corrected to 20/20 in better eye and 20/30 in lesser eye.
Visual acuity including closeness, distance, color, peripheral and depth perception, with the ability to adjust focus and to read a computer screen and typewritten page.
Experience and Training
Successful completion of WSCJTC Basic Law Enforcement Academy; OR
Successful completion of an approved law enforcement training academy and ability to meet standards prescribed by WSCJTC for eligibility and successful completion of Basic Law Enforcement Equivalency Academy;
ANDAssociate degree or two years (90 quarter hours/60 semester hours) of general education course work toward a degree at an accredited college or university; OR
High School Diploma or equivalent, AND
Four years of active military service with honorable discharge (four years of military service may be substituted for two years of general education course work toward a degree at an accredited college or university)
ANDTwo years (Twenty-four months) of full-time paid duty as a sworn police officer in a civilian governmental jurisdiction providing general law enforcement services, and be in said position at the time of application, or retain active commission.
ORFour years of full-time paid duty as a sworn police officer in a civilian governmental jurisdiction providing general law enforcement services and be in said position at the time of application, or retain active commission (two additional years of experience may substitute for two years of general education course work toward a degree at an accredited college or university).
Bilingual proficiency highly desirable.
Necessary Special Requirements
Employment contingent upon passing a criminal convictions check, background investigation, polygraph examination and fingerprinting. Subject to re-check every five years.
Employment contingent upon passing a psychological and general medical evaluation.
Employment contingent upon passing a pre-employment drug test.
Lateral applicants currently employed and meeting physical standards as police officers in another jurisdiction are accepted as able to meet the physical requirements of the job.
Possession of, or ability to obtain, Red Cross certification for Infant/Child and Adult CPR and Standard First Aid.
Valid Washington State driver's license or ability to obtain within 30 days of Washington State residency and good driving record. A three-year driving abstract must be submitted prior to hire, with periodic submission of driving abstract per City policy.
Attainment of the age of 21 years.
U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident. Washington State residency by time of hire.
No record of felony convictions.
Misdemeanor convictions will also be reviewed. A misdemeanor conviction will not necessarily disqualify an applicant but offenses, by their nature and recentness, may reveal a lack of specific qualifications for this position.
NOTE: A standard 12-month Civil Service probationary period applies for all officers following placement into the Full Performance Police Officer classification.
PLEASE NOTE: Failure to meet the following qualifications on the medical exam is reason for rejection:
Uncorrected vision in either eye of 20/100 or better.
Vision able to be corrected to 20/20 in the better eye and 20/30 in the lesser eye.
Defective color vision or depth perception.
Hearing from 0-25 decibels
NOTE: The urinalysis drug screen, background investigation and polygraph examination includes a review of illegal drug use. A history of using illegal drugs, considering the nature and recentness of these offenses, may be grounds for disqualification for this position.
Selection Process
You are encouraged to print a copy of this job announcement for your reference as the process moves along
This process is an open and continuous examination. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Candidates will be notified of their final rank and score regularly as incoming applications are reviewed.
To comply with the legislative statute of E2SSB 5051 (RCW 43.101), the WSCJTC decided to evaluate each academy curriculum/syllabus hours on a case-by-case basis. If you are an out of state candidate a copy of your academy curriculum/syllabus hours will be required to attend equivalency academy.
This recruitment process will create a register that will be used to fill anticipated vacancies. This position is represented by a union.
If you wish to claim Veterans’ Preference Points, please complete the Veterans Scoring Criteria Declaration Form and upload it to your application with your DD214.
As part of the application, the following items are required to be submitted:
A Cover Letter addressing the following questions:
Why do you want to join the Bellingham Police Department?
Why is this position the right step for you in your career?
Why do you want to serve the community of Bellingham?
Resume
Please ensure your application is complete and all required information has been provided. Standard completeness means all application fields (contact information, personal information, education, work experience, references, and required supplemental questions). Provide as much detail as you believe will fully describe your experience and training.
Application Review Process: Candidates will be notified of their final rank and score regularly as incoming applications are reviewed.
Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must provide specific, detailed information so an initial determination can be made regarding your level of qualifications for this position.
Experience and Training Review: Applicants that meet minimum qualifications will go through a Supplemental Question Review. Relevancy of your experience and training, together with composition, grammar, spelling and punctuation will be considered when evaluating responses. Applicants must receive a passing score of 70% or greater.
Applicants will be notified via email of Final Scores & Ranks. The final ranking of the register will be based on total scores from the Supplemental Question Review (100%).
The final candidates will be referred to the department for additional examinations, assessments, or tests. Eligible candidates will also be required to complete a Personal History Questionnaire.
Additional examinations, assessments, or tests may include review of the Application Materials, Personal History Statement (PHS), and Interviews.
Candidates may be removed from the eligibility register for failure to pass the additional examinations, assessments, or tests.
Applicants who failed probation, were terminated, resigned in lieu of termination, are about to be terminated, or would not be considered for rehire by their current or former department or agency, may not be eligible for a lateral position.
Please note: Candidates may be removed for the reasons specified in Civil Service Rule Section 9 at any time throughout this process.
Please Note: Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently.
Equal Opportunity:
Our environment is characterized by respect for cultural backgrounds, belief systems, and ethnic diversity. The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its work force. We do not make decisions on the basis of an individual's race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age (40+), disability, retaliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. All are encouraged to apply for employment.
There are many good reasons for working at the City of Bellingham. The work is rewarding and you have an opportunity to serve your community. Another good reason is the great benefits that the City offers its employees. See our benefits section (https://www.cob.org/employment/pages/benefits.aspx) for additional information.
This position is represented by the Police Guild bargaining unit. Specific benefit information including Holidays, Vacation Accruals, Health, Dental and Vision Plans with cost sharing and Deferred Compensation Match can be found in the Police Guild labor agreement (https://www.cob.org/employment/Pages/labor-agreements-pay-schedule.aspx) .
This position is covered by the State of Washington Department of Retirement Systems LEOFF plan. LEOFF requires mandatory employee and City contributions. Please visit the DRS website (http://www.drs.wa.gov/) for more information on LEOFF.
Civil Service Information
This position is subject to the Bellingham Civil Service Commission. When a vacancy occurs, the top fifteen candidates or the top 25% of the register will be forwarded to the department for further consideration. All new Civil Service employees are subject to a one-year probationary period. A candidate may challenge the scope, content, or method of an examination or test, and a protest may be filed in writing with the Examiner within five (5) days following the date of the challenged examination. A candidate may also challenge the scoring of an examination or test, failure of the candidate on any part of an examination, or clerical error in examination results of any examination or test, and a protest may be filed in writing with the Examiner within five (5) days of notification of the challenged result. The Examiner shall consider all timely filed protests and make appropriate corrections if an error is demonstrated.
Veteran's Scoring Criteria
Applicants who have been honorably discharged from active military duty may be eligible to receive veteran's scoring criteria points as provided by Washington State Law (RCW 41.04.010). If you wish to claim Veterans’ Preference Points, please complete the Veterans Scoring Criteria Declaration Form (https://cob.org/wp-content/uploads/COB-Veterans-Scoring-Criteria-Declaration-PDF.pdf) and upload it to your application with your DD214.
01
As part of your application, please submit a cover letter addressing these questions.
Why do you want to join the Bellingham Police Department?
Why is this the right step for you in your career?
What do you know about Bellingham and why do you want to serve this community?
Have you attached your cover letter?
Yes, it is attached for further review
No, I understand my application will not be considered
02
As part of the application, please attach your resume. Have you attached your resume?
Yes, it is attached for further review
No, I understand my application will not be considered
03
Do you have an Associate's Degree or two years (90 quarter hours/60 semester hours) of general education course work toward a degree at an accredited college or university? Or do you have a substitution as described below?
(Copies of your unofficial transcript(s) for all schools attended must be attached to your application.)
Yes, I meet the education requirement and have attached my transcript(s).
I have four years of active military service with honorable discharge and have attached my DD214. (Four years of military service may substitute for the education requirement)
I have four years of full-time paid duty as a sworn police officer in a civilian governmental jurisdiction providing general law enforcement services and am in said position at the time of submitting this application or I have had a break in service for 24 months or less and have retained an active commission. (Two additional years of experience as a sworn police officer may substitute for the education requirement.)
I have not attached my transcript(s) and/or DD214 and understand my application will be marked incomplete.
I do not meet the stated requirements at this time.
04
If you were recruited by a City of Bellingham employee, can you please list their first and last name?
05
Please indicate your level of experience as it relates to the experience and training requirements.
I have two years (twenty-four months) of full-time paid duty as a sworn police officer in a civilian governmental jurisdiction providing general law enforcement services, and be in said position at the time of application, or retain active commission.
I do not meet this requirement and understand my application will be marked incomplete.
06
Please indicate if you have completed Washington State's CJTC Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) or an accepted Law Enforcement Academy and have the ability to meet BLEA equivalency. Please include your law enforcement training academy name and graduation date.
07
Are you currently in a sworn police officer position, or do you have an active commission within 2 years (24 months) of your most recently held sworn police officer position?
Yes
No
08
Are you at least 21 years old?
Yes
No
09
Do you have any record of felony convictions?
Yes
No
10
Do you have any record of misdemeanor convictions?
Yes
No
11
If you answered "YES" to question 9 or 10, please explain the disposition of the case:
Pled guilty
Found guilty
Probationary period required
Probationary period NOT required
Currently on probation
NOTE: Misdemeanor convictions will not necessarily bar you from employment, but offenses may, by their nature and recentness, reveal a lack of specific qualifications necessary for this position.
12
Do you have a valid Washington State driver's license or the ability to obtain one by time of hire and a good driving record?
Yes
No
13
If you are not currently a Washington State resident, are you willing to become a Washington State resident by the time of hire?
Yes
No
14
Describe any formal training, other than your basic law enforcement academy, that has helped you to become a better police officer. Include any certifications that you have received.
15
Describe your experience in work assignments or divisions outside of patrol. What have been your biggest successes and biggest challenges?
16
If you are requesting Veteran's Preference points, a completed Veterans Scoring Criteria Status Declaration is required along with a copy of your DD214. The required form is in the Selections Process section of the Job Posting. Check "YES" here if you are attaching a Veteran's Preference form and DD214.
Yes
No
Required Question
Agency
City of Bellingham
Address
104 West Magnolia Street Bellingham, Washington, 98225
Phone
360-778-8228
Website
http://www.cob.org/employment
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