Lateral Police Officer

Bellingham, WA
Bellingham Police Department

Salary: $88,068.00 – $113,292.00 Annually

Closing Date: 12/31/2024

Position 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.

Essential Functions:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.

Requirements:

  • 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; OR
  • Associate 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) ; AND
  • 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.
  • Four 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.
  • 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.
  • Must be a U. S. citizen, deferred action for childhood arrivals recipient, or a registered permanent resident able to work in the United States. 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.