-
Summary
Seattle Police Department Police Officer
The Seattle Police Department is looking to create a diverse team of hardworking, committed individuals with a passion for public service and who are deeply aligned with our City's values of Race and Social Justice. The City of Seattle is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants are considered for positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, gender identity, political ideology, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, and local laws.
This exam is for experienced law enforcement officers only, who meet all of the criteria for lateral entry. If you are not currently certified as a law enforcement officer or do not have required law enforcement experience, please apply for entry level police officer.
Hiring Bonus: The City of Seattle is offering a $50,000 hiring bonus for lateral police officers. Please see the Seattle Police Department website to learn more.
Speak with a Recruiter: Complete this form and a recruiter will text you!
Attend a Virtual Applicant Workshop: Sign up here to participate in an upcoming Seattle Police Applicant Workshop to learn more about policing careers, the Seattle Police Department, and tips to navigate our hiring process!
Hiring Process:
- Apply: All candidates must submit an application to the City of Seattle as soon as possible. To submit an application, click "Apply" at the top of this job bulletin. A resume and cover letter are not required.
- Register and Complete Two (2) Exam Components: The law enforcement exam components must be self-scheduled through the National Testing Network (NTN). Examinations are offered virtually or at physical locations across the United States, and the City of Seattle will pay for the exam. The required exam components include:
- Frontline National (Law Enforcement) Exam
- Public Safety Self-Assessment (Parts 1 & 2)
- Candidates are NOT required to complete the NTN Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ) for the Seattle Police Department.
- If you have taken the NTN exam for a department other than SPD within the last year, you can elect to send your scores to SPD at no cost via the "Department Add" feature in your NTN account. Please contact NTN candidate support if you need assistance transferring your scores to SPD.
Preference Points:
The City of Seattle offers multiple forms of preference points. Preference points can only be applied to passing exam scores. Once you pass the exam, instructions for requesting preference points will be emailed along with your final exam results. All requests for preference points will be evaluated in accordance with Rules 9.17 - 9.21 of the City of Seattle's Public Safety Civil Service Commission.
- Veteran's Preference: for candidates with qualifying military experience
- Language (Multilingual) Preference: for candidates with proficiency in a language other than English
- Human/Social Services Preference: for candidates who have two or more years of verifiable full-time professional or volunteer experience or equivalent (4,160 cumulative hours) delivering direct human/social services
- City of Seattle Work Preference: for candidates who have prior service as a Police Reserve in the Seattle Police Department as well as those who have served as 911 dispatchers and Parking Enforcement Officers
**Please note that candidates must pass the WAPAT in addition to their civil service exams (Frontline National and PSSA) in order to be eligible for language or community service preference points.
Position Description:
The Seattle Police Department is seeking individuals committed to understanding and protecting the ethical, cultural, and ethnic values of the City of Seattle and its residents as Police Officers. As first responders, Police Officers are vital to public safety and under regular supervision, perform basic police services in accordance with the mission, goals, and objectives of the City of Seattle Police Department and in compliance with governing federal, state, and local laws.
Lateral Entry Police Officer candidates are experienced police officers who have worked for other municipal, county, or state agencies for at least 24 of the past 36 months (post academy experience) at the time of testing, with full police powers and duties. An applicant MUST have experience as a patrol officer who has responded to 911 calls. Experience gained solely as a Corrections Officer does not qualify an applicant for lateral entry status, even if the applicant has completed an equivalent basic law enforcement academy.
If you are currently a police officer but do not meet the experience requirements of a Lateral Police Officer, you may qualify to test as an Exceptional Entry candidate. Exceptional Entry candidates should apply as an Entry Level Police Officer and take the entry-level exam.
Job Responsibilities:
- Provide services for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations. Explains laws and police procedures to residents.
- Operates a patrol car. Patrols city streets, areas and businesses to deter criminal activity and promote public safety.
- Investigates conditions hazardous to life or property; conducts initial investigations of crime and crime scenes; may assist detectives in criminal investigation work. Conducts search and seizure activities as appropriate. Collects and preserves crime scene and evidence.
- Arrests and/or detains suspected violators of the law. Reviews facts of incidents to determine if criminal act or statute violations were involved.
- Records facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.
- Renders aid to accident victims and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries.
- Transports individuals in custody.
- Presents evidence and testimony in judicial settings.
The City of Seattle provides police service 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Shift work, including nights, weekends, and holidays, is required.
Qualifications:
Eligibility Standards
- Be at least twenty and half (20.5) years of age.
- Hold United States citizenship, OR have legal permanent residency in the U.S., OR be a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient
- Attained a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency (GED).
- Two (2) years of post-academy experience as a certified law enforcement officer (municipal, county, state) with FULL law enforcement power and duties during the last 36 months.
- Your training and experience must have occurred in one of the 50 U.S. States.
Applicants must meet all eligibility standards by the date of participation in the exam process.
Minimum Employment Standards: The following standards apply to all candidates for Police Officer.
Drug Use
Prior to the exam:
- Have not used Marijuana within twelve (12) months prior to taking civil service exam, and
- Have not used cocaine or crack within the previous five (5) years, and
- Have not used club drugs, such as, but not limited to: Ketamine, GHB, Rohypnol, or MDMA (ecstasy) within the previous three (3) years, and
- Have
-
Job Description
Seattle Police Department Police Officer
The Seattle Police Department is looking to create a diverse team of hardworking, committed individuals with a passion for public service and who are deeply aligned with our City's values of Race and Social Justice. The City of Seattle is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants are considered for positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, gender identity, political ideology, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, and local laws.
This exam is for experienced law enforcement officers only, who meet all of the criteria for lateral entry. If you are not currently certified as a law enforcement officer or do not have required law enforcement experience, please apply for entry level police officer.
Hiring Bonus: The City of Seattle is offering a $50,000 hiring bonus for lateral police officers. Please see the Seattle Police Department website to learn more.
Speak with a Recruiter: Complete this form and a recruiter will text you!
Attend a Virtual Applicant Workshop: Sign up here to participate in an upcoming Seattle Police Applicant Workshop to learn more about policing careers, the Seattle Police Department, and tips to navigate our hiring process!
Hiring Process:
- Apply: All candidates must submit an application to the City of Seattle as soon as possible. To submit an application, click "Apply" at the top of this job bulletin. A resume and cover letter are not required.
- Register and Complete Two (2) Exam Components: The law enforcement exam components must be self-scheduled through the National Testing Network (NTN). Examinations are offered virtually or at physical locations across the United States, and the City of Seattle will pay for the exam. The required exam components include:
- Frontline National (Law Enforcement) Exam
- Public Safety Self-Assessment (Parts 1 & 2)
- Candidates are NOT required to complete the NTN Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ) for the Seattle Police Department.
- If you have taken the NTN exam for a department other than SPD within the last year, you can elect to send your scores to SPD at no cost via the "Department Add" feature in your NTN account. Please contact NTN candidate support if you need assistance transferring your scores to SPD.
Preference Points:
The City of Seattle offers multiple forms of preference points. Preference points can only be applied to passing exam scores. Once you pass the exam, instructions for requesting preference points will be emailed along with your final exam results. All requests for preference points will be evaluated in accordance with Rules 9.17 - 9.21 of the City of Seattle's Public Safety Civil Service Commission.
- Veteran's Preference: for candidates with qualifying military experience
- Language (Multilingual) Preference: for candidates with proficiency in a language other than English
- Human/Social Services Preference: for candidates who have two or more years of verifiable full-time professional or volunteer experience or equivalent (4,160 cumulative hours) delivering direct human/social services
- City of Seattle Work Preference: for candidates who have prior service as a Police Reserve in the Seattle Police Department as well as those who have served as 911 dispatchers and Parking Enforcement Officers
**Please note that candidates must pass the WAPAT in addition to their civil service exams (Frontline National and PSSA) in order to be eligible for language or community service preference points.
Position Description:
The Seattle Police Department is seeking individuals committed to understanding and protecting the ethical, cultural, and ethnic values of the City of Seattle and its residents as Police Officers. As first responders, Police Officers are vital to public safety and under regular supervision, perform basic police services in accordance with the mission, goals, and objectives of the City of Seattle Police Department and in compliance with governing federal, state, and local laws.
Lateral Entry Police Officer candidates are experienced police officers who have worked for other municipal, county, or state agencies for at least 24 of the past 36 months (post academy experience) at the time of testing, with full police powers and duties. An applicant MUST have experience as a patrol officer who has responded to 911 calls. Experience gained solely as a Corrections Officer does not qualify an applicant for lateral entry status, even if the applicant has completed an equivalent basic law enforcement academy.
If you are currently a police officer but do not meet the experience requirements of a Lateral Police Officer, you may qualify to test as an Exceptional Entry candidate. Exceptional Entry candidates should apply as an Entry Level Police Officer and take the entry-level exam.
Job Responsibilities:
- Provide services for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations. Explains laws and police procedures to residents.
- Operates a patrol car. Patrols city streets, areas and businesses to deter criminal activity and promote public safety.
- Investigates conditions hazardous to life or property; conducts initial investigations of crime and crime scenes; may assist detectives in criminal investigation work. Conducts search and seizure activities as appropriate. Collects and preserves crime scene and evidence.
- Arrests and/or detains suspected violators of the law. Reviews facts of incidents to determine if criminal act or statute violations were involved.
- Records facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities.
- Renders aid to accident victims and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries.
- Transports individuals in custody.
- Presents evidence and testimony in judicial settings.
The City of Seattle provides police service 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Shift work, including nights, weekends, and holidays, is required.
Qualifications:
Eligibility Standards
- Be at least twenty and half (20.5) years of age.
- Hold United States citizenship, OR have legal permanent residency in the U.S., OR be a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient
- Attained a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency (GED).
- Two (2) years of post-academy experience as a certified law enforcement officer (municipal, county, state) with FULL law enforcement power and duties during the last 36 months.
- Your training and experience must have occurred in one of the 50 U.S. States.
Applicants must meet all eligibility standards by the date of participation in the exam process.
Minimum Employment Standards: The following standards apply to all candidates for Police Officer.
Drug Use
Prior to the exam:
- Have not used Marijuana within twelve (12) months prior to taking civil service exam, and
- Have not used cocaine or crack within the previous five (5) years, and
- Have not used club drugs, such as, but not limited to: Ketamine, GHB, Rohypnol, or MDMA (ecstasy) within the previous three (3) years, and
- Have
-
ABOUT THE COMPANY
-
-
Government Careers
Show moreGovernment jobs offer stability, competitive benefits, and the chance to make a meaningful impact on your community and country.
Whether you’re starting your career or seeking new opportunities, these roles provide pathways for growth, security, and service.
Explore positions across a wide range of fields and take the first step toward a rewarding future in public service.
-