Entry Police Officer

City of Lynnwood•Lynnwood, WA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Entry Police Officer performs general-duty police work for the Lynnwood Police Department, including preventing, detecting, and investigating crimes and maintaining and enforcing law and order. The position is directly supervised by the shift duty sergeant. Officers serve the City’s residents and visitors by safeguarding lives, property, and constitutional rights, enforcing applicable laws impartially, responding to calls and emergencies, and supporting the department’s values of professionalism, vigilance, and community. The work involves responding to crime and traffic-accident scenes, preserving evidence and witnesses, conducting preliminary investigations, addressing crime and disorder, providing first aid and rescue services, and carrying out traffic direction and crowd control. Officers maintain radio communication, records, equipment, firearm proficiency, and required training; prepare reports and evidence; and may give testimony, attend community events, make presentations, or evaluate trainees when assigned. The role requires sound judgment, communication and de-escalation skills, physical fitness, and the ability to work under pressure. Work is normally performed indoors and outdoors, with exposure to seasonal and extreme weather, fumes, dust, odors, vehicle and equipment operation, confrontations, explosives, and blood and body fluids. Evening and variable hours, shift work, emergency call-outs, and driving—including in adverse weather—are part of the work environment. Applicants must complete PublicSafetyTesting.com testing and be referred before applying. Entry candidates must pass the physical ability test and score at least 70% on the PST written assessment. The hiring process includes a background check, psychological assessment, polygraph, medical assessment, and Chief’s and/or Command interview. Successful candidates attend the Basic Law Enforcement Academy through the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission. The position requires a high school diploma or GED, U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency with the ability to read and write English, a valid Washington State driver’s license, and compliance with prescribed physical and medical standards. A $5,000 hiring incentive is paid in stages: $3,000 after successful completion of the department’s pre-academy physical ability test, $1,000 upon achieving solo status, and $1,000 upon completing probation.

Requirements

High school diploma or certified GED equivalent.
U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident able to read and write English.
Valid Washington State driver’s license.
Pass the PublicSafetyTesting.com physical ability test and score at least 70% on the PST written assessment; candidates must be referred by PST before applying.
Meet physical and medical standards prescribed by the Lynnwood Civil Service Commission and satisfactorily complete required police academy training.
Ability to analyze situations quickly and objectively, recognize actual and potential dangers, and determine appropriate action.
Ability to deal firmly, courteously, and tactfully while respecting others’ rights; ability to develop and maintain interpersonal relationships.
Ability to understand and carry out complex oral and written instructions and understand the perspectives of people from diverse ethnic and economic groups.
Ability to write clear, concise incident reports with logical organization, correct spelling, and grammar.
Ability to read, understand, and interpret applicable laws, ordinances, and police practices, policies, and procedures.
Effective oral and written communication with coworkers, superiors, and the public; ability to de-escalate hostile and unpredictable situations.
Ability to maintain a high level of physical fitness, work under pressure, and demonstrate emotional stability, initiative, judgment, observation, and memory.
Ability to perform the listed physical demands, including running, climbing, crawling, heavy lifting, and operating computers and standard police equipment.
Successful completion of required background, polygraph, psychological, medical, and other pre-appointment assessments.

Responsibilities

Protect the lives, property, and constitutional rights of the City’s citizens and visitors.
Learn and impartially enforce applicable state, county, and city laws, and remain aware of new laws and relevant court decisions.
Maintain familiarity with department policies, service programs, the city, and assigned areas.
Prepare for duty, inspect and maintain equipment, maintain firearm proficiency, and comply with safety standards.
Respond promptly to assigned calls and other calls requiring immediate response, maintaining radio communication and suitable response times.
Protect crime and traffic-accident scenes, physical evidence, and witnesses; conduct preliminary investigations until relieved or further investigation is no longer needed to protect the case.
Identify crime, public disorder, nuisances, and other crime-generating conditions; develop corrective strategies and resolve neighborhood problems.
Provide first aid and rescue services at crime scenes, accidents, disasters, and other emergencies.
Direct traffic and control crowds, including at accidents, demonstrations, riots, and disasters.
Promote order, protect people from imminent harm, provide protective services, resolve conflicts, and uphold constitutional guarantees.
Maintain records, prepare reports, preserve evidence, and testify at judicial proceedings and formal hearings.
Use discretion to determine whether to take no action, advise, warn, or arrest, and encourage voluntary compliance with the law.
Enforce moving violations and parking regulations to support safe and orderly traffic flow.
Attend department-provided professional development training and community events as directed; give presentations to civic and other groups when assigned.
Make recommendations to improve operational effectiveness and work toward departmental and divisional objectives.
Evaluate officer performance and complete required forms when assigned to the Field Officer Training and Evaluation Program.
Maintain regular attendance and perform other duties as assigned.