Lateral Police Officer

Salary
$81,309.00 – $103,814.00 Annually

Overview

Are you looking for a lateral growth opportunity working in a fast-paced, learning environment? Do you have the desire to impact, inspire and influence those you encounter each day?

The City of Gresham is accepting applications for Lateral Police Officers! The Police Department is seeking Lateral Police Officers of sound moral character. The Police Officers are expected to be self-disciplined and highly motivated, while demonstrating honesty and integrity in representing the core values of the community. Successful candidates will reinforce the department’s efforts to achieve goals and objectives in providing public safety to the community and its citizens.

Our agency is proud to offer our Police Officers a competitive salary, a comprehensive benefits and retirement package, and extensive ongoing training opportunities to support the current and future needs of a thriving community service and safety department. You can find more information about Police salary and benefits: Employee benefits and salary (greshamoregon.gov)

This is an open and continuous recruitment process where eligible list of candidates will be created and used to fill current and future vacancies with the Police Department.

Why Gresham?
Work-life balance
Our police officers are dedicated and hard-working. But when they’re off duty, you’ll find them hitting the slopes, windsurfing in the Columbia River Gorge, and more.

• Skiing or snowboarding at Mt. Hood, less than an hour away.
• Boating or windsurfing at the Columbia River Gorge, less than an hour away.
• 20-minute drive (and an easy commute) to downtown Portland, Oregon’s largest city—catch a Trail Blazers game, visit the theater, or explore the food scene.
• Camping and recreational activities with easy access, whether in the mountains or by rivers.
• Scenic two-hour ride to Pacific Ocean coast.
• In town, enjoy Gresham’s historic downtown with more than 150 shops, restaurants and service businesses, or explore the 1,100+ acres of parks, natural areas and trails within the city.

Grow your Career
Whatever your interest, we’ve got an opportunity for you. Challenge yourself with new specialty assignments and build your future here with promotional opportunities.

• SWAT
• Crisis Negotiation
• Vehicle Collision Team (VCT)
• Explosive Detection Unit
• K-9
• Detectives
• FBI Safe Streets Task Force
• School Resources Officers
• Field Training Officers
• Training Instructors
• Service Coordination Team
• UAV Pilots
• Honor Guard

Financial Stability
We offer competitive living-wage salaries with generous benefit packages. In addition to base salary, officers are eligible for overtime pay, premium pay for participation in specialty or instructor assignments, certification pay, shift differential, and other incentives. Benefits include:

• Paid Time Off (vacation): From 21.33 hours per month*
• Sick leave for longer-term illnesses.
• Medical, vision, dental and life insurance.
• Accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
• City participates in the Oregon Public Employee Retirement System.
• Long-term disability insurance.
• Employee assistance program.
• Health reimbursement account.
• Flexible spending account.
• Deferred compensation.
• Uniforms, uniform cleaning, weapon and other equipment provided.

*Starting PTO accrual will be determined using the accrual matrix in GPOA contract and based on total years of previous experience as a full-time public safety employee at another law enforcement agency (or agencies) plus time served at the Police Department.

Starting Salary Information: OREGON OR OUT-OF-STATE EXPERIENCE. A new employee (certified or certifiable) with police experience in Oregon or another state and hired under the criteria of the City’s lateral entry program shall be credited one pay step for each completed year of previous full-time paid experience as a sworn officer, up to a maximum starting pay of one step below the top step of the police officer salary range, which is currently Step 6. A lateral entry employee will be eligible to advance one step and additional subsequent steps on the salary schedule after successful completion of twelve (12) months of service in each step.

We are pleased to offer:

• A referral bonus of $1,000 once the referral has been sworn in
• Educational reimbursements up to $5,000 per year

The City of Gresham Police Department does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or based on an individual’s status in any group or class protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We encourages applications from Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities; women, protected veterans; and all other qualified Police Officer applicants looking for lateral opportunities.

As Oregon’s fourth-largest city, Gresham is a welcoming community of hard-working people where tradition and heritage meet innovation and opportunity. Gresham is a dynamic and rapidly growing city where families and businesses have a mutual desire and drive to thrive and prosper. City of Gresham employees care deeply about the community members they serve. Employees strive to deliver services in collaborative, innovative, practical, and nimble ways that go “one step beyond!”. The work is challenging, fast-paced and rewarding.

We believe that to deliver the highest level of service to all Gresham community members, it is crucial we employ a diverse workforce, foster an inclusive working environment, and ensure our policies and systems result in equitable outcomes. The City seeks candidates who will support these values by continuously incorporating equity in their daily work, and actively contributing to a workplace culture that respects unique viewpoints, life experiences, and cultural perspectives. Come build the future with us.

Position Description

Gresham Police Officers provide emergency aid, security, and protection of life and property for the citizens of Gresham by patrolling business, rural, and residential areas. They respond to requests for information and assistance, investigate criminal activity, subdue combative suspects, make arrests, work with people to solve problems associated with crime and neighborhood problems, and ensure proper enforcement of laws and regulations.

The ideal candidate will have current knowledge and understanding of the following:

• Federal, State of Oregon, Multnomah County, and City of Gresham laws, regulations, and ordinances.
• Criminal behavior and causes underlying criminality and social, psychological and physical needs of criminals.
• Standard police practices, methods, and procedures.
• Safety standards, procedures, and precautions utilized in police activities.
• Methods of investigation, apprehension, and rules of evidence.
• Basic first aid and CPR procedures.
• The safe and appropriate use of firearms and other police related equipment.

An ideal candidate will also have the ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. They will apply principles and techniques of community policing, modern crime prevention, investigation, apprehension, rules of evidence, and all other aspects of law enforcement. Be able to skillfully and safely use firearms and other police related equipment while maintaining composure under adverse conditions such as public harassment, critical injuries, and death.

A competitive candidate will show how they can establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, officials, and citizens from a variety of racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated history of positive community engagement. They will also demonstrate how to effectively analyze situations quickly and objectively and are able to recognize actual and potentially dangerous situations, and to determine the proper course of action. Ability to present evidence in court effectively. Be able to display a skill in observation and remembering details such as names, faces, and incidents.

Police officers need to maintain the physical ability to perform the essential functions of the job, which also includes the physical ability to handle persons resisting arrest.

Qualifications

To be considered a lateral applicant you must meet all of the following minimum qualifications:

• Have completed a state certified police academy,
• Have completed a law enforcement field training program or passed a probationary period of not less than one (1) year with a law enforcement agency as a full-time sworn officer.
• Have been employed as a full-time sworn officer within the five (5) year period prior to appointment to this position.
• Have at least a High School Diploma or G.E.D
• Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age at the date of hire
• Have no felony criminal record
• Be a US Citizen within 18 months from the hire date
• Have a driving record that meets the department standards

Candidates must have the ability to:

• Pass a pre-suitability assessment screening
• Pass a comprehensive background investigation
• Pass a post job offer psychological evaluation, medical examination, and drug screen

Employment Automatic Disqualifiers list (CLICK HERE) (Download PDF reader)

Contact Cathi.Forsythe@GreshamOregon.gov or 503-618-2549 with questions related to this recruitment.