Police Officer-Entry Level

Salary: $37.59

Closing Date: 4/27/2026

Position Summary:

The Eugene Police Department (EPD) is a progressive, professional law-enforcement agency that serves the city of Eugene, Oregon. In fulfillment of the public trust, the Eugene Police Department works in partnership with our community to promote safety and security, enforce laws, prevent crimes, and safeguard the constitutional rights of all people.

Essential Functions:

• Patrols assigned district, by vehicle or foot, to detect and deter crime, and enforces state and municipal laws and ordinances, such as traffic and criminal codes and statutes; decides on whether to issue citations or make arrests.
• Rapidly responds to a variety of calls of diverse incidents in progress or responds to past incidents, including traffic violations, property crimes such as burglaries and robberies, various violent crimes, neighborhood and domestic disputes.
• Assesses situations, decides whether laws have been violated, and impartially decides upon appropriate actions and/or enforcement of appropriate laws (including situations such as traffic or person stops, custody situations, surveillance, building, property, and people searches); analyzes impact of decision on situation.
• Communicates with dispatcher and keeps informed of incidents during shift; assesses whether incident can be handled by officer or requires back-up assistance of fellow officers or involvement of a Shift Sergeant.
• Decides on use of appropriate physical force required, and, when possible, implements creative solutions to problems.
• Directs traffic at incident scene.
• Conducts complete and accurate preliminary and follow-up investigations; safeguards incident scene and preserves and/or collects evidence to meet court requirements, including physically protecting crime scene, preserving or collecting fingerprints, taking photographs or video tape of crime scene, and identifying and collecting other appropriate incident evidence.
• Conducts investigation of vehicle crashes.
• Interviews suspects and victims to gather accurate details of incidence.
• Effectively handles violent, mentally ill, or intoxicated individuals.
• Effectively deals with distraught and upset victims.
• Effectively relates to people of diverse cultural backgrounds both in enforcement and preventative situations.
• Under guidance of a Sergeant, performs follow-up investigations as required.
• Transports prisoners to police station and court as assigned.
• Participates in special team units as assigned.
• May be involved in community policing, using traditional and non-traditional approaches to law-enforcement; practicing pro-active law-enforcement and seeking and implementing innovative approaches to solving chronic crime problems in the community.
• May be engaged in identifying, analyzing, developing, and assessing responses to community problems.
• May remove parking/immobilization boots from vehicles.
• Fills out required reports on incidents and suspicious situations/individuals.
• Testifies in courts, grand jury hearings, and Department of Motor Vehicle hearings as to incidents and collected evidence.
• Performs vehicle and equipment inspections before each shift; operates a variety of law enforcement equipment and maintains it in good working order.
• Trains reserve officers and cadets; assists with training of new officers; oversees and monitors progress and prepares written evaluations.
• Assists in the training of other officers, serving as instructor such as driver instructor, firearms instructor or defensive tactics instructor.
• Attends briefings and training sessions as required.
• May function as desk officer, handling public complaints and reports of crimes, assisting the public, and writing reports.
• May administer first aid if necessary.
• May give presentations in schools and meetings, especially if involved in community pro-active policing.
• May serve warrants and subpoenas.
• Actively supports and respects diversity in the workplace.
• Performs other duties as required.

Requirements:

• At least 21 years of age by September 1, 2026
• No felony convictions. No Class A Misdemeanor convictions within 24 months of application
• Must be able to work various shifts; nights, weekends, and holidays. Officers assigned to a patrol team are currently working a 4/10 work schedule
• Must meet State requirements including vision, hearing, and standards for basic certification as a law enforcement officer by the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST).
• High school diploma or GED
• Two years of work experience, college coursework, or military experience.
• A valid Oregon driver’s license, or ability to obtain by date of hire; must pass driving records check and, if hired, maintain a driving record that meets the City’s standard.