City of Seattle
Police Officer LATERAL (Experienced Officers)
City of Seattle, Seattle, Washington, us, 98127
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.
IMPORTANT ITEMS TO NOTE
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 an 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 1. 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.
2. 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)
You should receive your NTN exam results within approximately three weeks after applying and completing all components of your test (Frontline National and PSSA).
Exam Notes:
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.
3. Lateral Oral Board Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria for lateral police officer and successfully pass all components of the NTN test listed above will be scheduled for an oral board interview, which will take place virtually via Microsoft Teams. Candidates who pass the oral board interview will be ranked on an eligible list according to their exam scores. After being placed on an eligible list, candidates must pass the below pre‑employment steps to become a Seattle police officer.
4. Backgrounding Candidates who pass the civil service exams above will receive a link via email from the Seattle Police Background Unit to fill out their personal history information. SPD will then conduct a thorough investigation into the candidate’s history. Ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications for this position listed below.
5. Medical Evaluation, Psychological Exam, and Polygraph Exam Candidates must complete a medical evaluation that includes drug screening, medical history, vision and hearing test, and a stress EKG test. A psychological exam will be completed via Zoom. The medical tests can only be completed in person at specific Seattle locations currently.
6. Final Offer of Employment If the candidate completes and passes all the above steps, they will be given an official offer of employment with the Seattle Police Department.
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.
ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS
Be at least twenty and a 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.
Attain 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 Drug Use
Have not used Marijuana within twelve (12) months prior to taking civil service exam.
Have not used cocaine or crack within the previous five (5) years.
Have not used club drugs (e.g., Ketamine, GHB, Rohypnol, MDMA) within the previous three (3) years.
Have not used Hallucinogens (LSD, Mushrooms, Psilocybin) within the previous five (5) years.
Have not used PCP, Angel Dust, Wet, or Phencyclidine within the previous five (5) years.
Have not used Opium, Morphine, or Heroin within the previous five (5) years.
Have not used Methamphetamine, Crank, Crystal, Ice, Speed, Glass, or Amphetamine within the previous five (5) years.
Have not inhaled aerosols (Huffing paint) or Whippits (Nitrous Oxide) or used Khat within the previous three (3) years.
Have not used any illegal drug(s) while employed in a criminal justice and/or law enforcement capacity.
Have not manufactured or cultivated illegal drug(s) for the purpose of sales/marketing.
Have not sold or facilitated the sale of illegal drugs.
Please note that use of illegal drugs and the illegal use of prescription drugs, referred to in this standard, means the use of one or more drugs, the possession or distribution of which is unlawful under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
Offers of employment are conditioned upon a pre‑employment drug screening to confirm abstinence from illegal drug use.
Traffic Record
Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), Reckless Driving, or Hit & Run Driving.
Suspension of your driver’s license within five (5) years of the exam date.
Three (3) or more moving violations within five (5) years of the exam date.
Two (2) or more accidents within five (5) years of the exam date, wherein the candidate was judged to be at fault and/or charged with a moving violation.
Criminal History
Any adult felony conviction.
Any misdemeanor or felony conviction while employed in a criminal justice and/or law enforcement capacity.
Any domestic violence conviction.
Employment Record A candidate’s employment history, including any terminations, or leaving an employer in lieu of termination, will be thoroughly assessed and may be grounds for disqualification.
Financial Record A candidate’s credit history, including excessive credit card debt or unresolved accounts in collection, will be thoroughly assessed and may be grounds for disqualification. Disqualifying items include:
Failure to pay income tax or child support.
Professional Appearance All applicants are expected to maintain a professional appearance at all times. SPD has sole discretion in determining what is considered professional, as it relates to the position of Police Officer. Tattoos, branding, voluntary disfigurement, or scarification will be reviewed on a case‑by‑case basis.
Other Items
A valid Washington State Driver’s License is required prior to being hired.
Ability to accurately type at least 35 wpm is highly desirable.
Seattle residence is not required for application or appointment.
Job offers are contingent on review of credit, criminal and driving history as well as verification of information provided by the applicant as part of the application process.
Please see the links below for additional details on the civil service exam:
NTN Frontline National (Law Enforcement) Exam
NTN Public Safety Self Assessment
PLEASE NOTE: Applicants are highly encouraged to review the SPD website for further information about the hiring process.
The Public Safety Civil Service Exams Unit oversees the initial exam process, establishes an eligible list, and certifies candidates from the eligible list upon request by the Seattle Police Department.
The Police Department will directly contact and schedule eligible candidates for all the remaining steps in the pre‑employment screening process. The Seattle Police Department makes all hiring decisions after a pre‑employment selection process, which includes a background investigation, additional interviews, a physical ability exam, a polygraph, and psychological and medical exams.
Testing Accommodation: Disability accommodations are available to those who qualify. For more information on requesting an accommodation, please visit the NTN Testing FAQ Page (Question 16).
BENEFITS The City of Seattle has a comprehensive benefits package for police officers. For more information about benefits, please click here.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
IMPORTANT ITEMS TO NOTE
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 an 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 1. 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.
2. 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)
You should receive your NTN exam results within approximately three weeks after applying and completing all components of your test (Frontline National and PSSA).
Exam Notes:
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.
3. Lateral Oral Board Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria for lateral police officer and successfully pass all components of the NTN test listed above will be scheduled for an oral board interview, which will take place virtually via Microsoft Teams. Candidates who pass the oral board interview will be ranked on an eligible list according to their exam scores. After being placed on an eligible list, candidates must pass the below pre‑employment steps to become a Seattle police officer.
4. Backgrounding Candidates who pass the civil service exams above will receive a link via email from the Seattle Police Background Unit to fill out their personal history information. SPD will then conduct a thorough investigation into the candidate’s history. Ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications for this position listed below.
5. Medical Evaluation, Psychological Exam, and Polygraph Exam Candidates must complete a medical evaluation that includes drug screening, medical history, vision and hearing test, and a stress EKG test. A psychological exam will be completed via Zoom. The medical tests can only be completed in person at specific Seattle locations currently.
6. Final Offer of Employment If the candidate completes and passes all the above steps, they will be given an official offer of employment with the Seattle Police Department.
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.
ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS
Be at least twenty and a 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.
Attain 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 Drug Use
Have not used Marijuana within twelve (12) months prior to taking civil service exam.
Have not used cocaine or crack within the previous five (5) years.
Have not used club drugs (e.g., Ketamine, GHB, Rohypnol, MDMA) within the previous three (3) years.
Have not used Hallucinogens (LSD, Mushrooms, Psilocybin) within the previous five (5) years.
Have not used PCP, Angel Dust, Wet, or Phencyclidine within the previous five (5) years.
Have not used Opium, Morphine, or Heroin within the previous five (5) years.
Have not used Methamphetamine, Crank, Crystal, Ice, Speed, Glass, or Amphetamine within the previous five (5) years.
Have not inhaled aerosols (Huffing paint) or Whippits (Nitrous Oxide) or used Khat within the previous three (3) years.
Have not used any illegal drug(s) while employed in a criminal justice and/or law enforcement capacity.
Have not manufactured or cultivated illegal drug(s) for the purpose of sales/marketing.
Have not sold or facilitated the sale of illegal drugs.
Please note that use of illegal drugs and the illegal use of prescription drugs, referred to in this standard, means the use of one or more drugs, the possession or distribution of which is unlawful under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
Offers of employment are conditioned upon a pre‑employment drug screening to confirm abstinence from illegal drug use.
Traffic Record
Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), Reckless Driving, or Hit & Run Driving.
Suspension of your driver’s license within five (5) years of the exam date.
Three (3) or more moving violations within five (5) years of the exam date.
Two (2) or more accidents within five (5) years of the exam date, wherein the candidate was judged to be at fault and/or charged with a moving violation.
Criminal History
Any adult felony conviction.
Any misdemeanor or felony conviction while employed in a criminal justice and/or law enforcement capacity.
Any domestic violence conviction.
Employment Record A candidate’s employment history, including any terminations, or leaving an employer in lieu of termination, will be thoroughly assessed and may be grounds for disqualification.
Financial Record A candidate’s credit history, including excessive credit card debt or unresolved accounts in collection, will be thoroughly assessed and may be grounds for disqualification. Disqualifying items include:
Failure to pay income tax or child support.
Professional Appearance All applicants are expected to maintain a professional appearance at all times. SPD has sole discretion in determining what is considered professional, as it relates to the position of Police Officer. Tattoos, branding, voluntary disfigurement, or scarification will be reviewed on a case‑by‑case basis.
Other Items
A valid Washington State Driver’s License is required prior to being hired.
Ability to accurately type at least 35 wpm is highly desirable.
Seattle residence is not required for application or appointment.
Job offers are contingent on review of credit, criminal and driving history as well as verification of information provided by the applicant as part of the application process.
Please see the links below for additional details on the civil service exam:
NTN Frontline National (Law Enforcement) Exam
NTN Public Safety Self Assessment
PLEASE NOTE: Applicants are highly encouraged to review the SPD website for further information about the hiring process.
The Public Safety Civil Service Exams Unit oversees the initial exam process, establishes an eligible list, and certifies candidates from the eligible list upon request by the Seattle Police Department.
The Police Department will directly contact and schedule eligible candidates for all the remaining steps in the pre‑employment screening process. The Seattle Police Department makes all hiring decisions after a pre‑employment selection process, which includes a background investigation, additional interviews, a physical ability exam, a polygraph, and psychological and medical exams.
Testing Accommodation: Disability accommodations are available to those who qualify. For more information on requesting an accommodation, please visit the NTN Testing FAQ Page (Question 16).
BENEFITS The City of Seattle has a comprehensive benefits package for police officers. For more information about benefits, please click here.
#J-18808-Ljbffr