Police Sergeant - Lateral or Entry Level

City of Lake Oswego•Oregon, OR

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Lake Oswego is seeking qualified individuals to serve as Police Sergeants in its law enforcement team. The Police Department is located in downtown Lake Oswego at City Hall and operates with a community-oriented policing philosophy that empowers officers to address problems proactively. Sergeants are primarily assigned to Patrol, with possible opportunities in Detectives, Patrol Support, Administration, and specialized or ancillary roles, including skills instruction and participation on the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Team. This uniformed position supervises and assists with general police duties and enforcement of laws and ordinances. Working under the direct supervision of a lieutenant, the Sergeant provides front-line supervision, oversees officers and their work, and performs patrol duties. Responsibilities include reviewing reports, advising field officers, managing schedules, coaching and mentoring, evaluating performance, enforcing policies and procedures, issuing certain types of discipline, investigating complaints, and making decisions based on laws and policies. Incumbents report through the Department’s chain of command to Police Lieutenants, the Captain, and the Chief of Police. The position is represented by the Lake Oswego Police Officers Association (LOPOA). Candidates must meet specified citizenship, age, education, vision, driver’s license, and background-screening qualifications. The position requires successful completion of a thorough background investigation and post-offer psychological and medical examinations, including a pre-employment drug screen. Employees must participate in electronic funds transfer for payment of net wages. The City offers medical and dental plan options, sick leave, an education reimbursement program, incentive pay for specified education, certifications, language skills, shifts, and collateral assignments, and retirement benefits through Oregon PERS and a 457 deferred compensation plan. Lateral candidates may be eligible for salary placement above step one, banked vacation, and consideration for accelerated vacation accrual.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
No felony conviction.
At least 21 years of age.
At least a high school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent.
Vision correctable to 20/20.
Valid driver’s license.
Ability to successfully complete a thorough background investigation and post-offer psychological and medical examination, including a pre-employment drug screen.
Mandatory participation in electronic funds transfer for payment of net wages.
For lateral candidates: currently employed in the equivalent position or hold current certification for the position applied for; possess certifications required by the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST); have completed a field training and evaluation program where required; have three or more years of experience in the position applied for; and be in good standing with a State of Oregon law enforcement agency.

Nice To Haves

DPSST Advanced Certificate, which qualifies for 4% incentive pay.
Four-year college degree, which qualifies for 1% incentive pay.
Fluency in one of the top five foreign languages spoken within the Lake Oswego School District, which qualifies for 3% additional base pay.
Collateral skills certifications or assignments such as Certified Instructor, Drone Operator, Mobile Field Force, SWAT, HNT, DRE, Field Training Officer, or Public Information Officer, which qualify for 5% of base pay while working in those capacities.
Lateral experience may qualify for salary placement above step one, up to 60 hours of banked vacation, and consideration for accelerated vacation accrual rates.

Responsibilities

Supervise officers patrolling assigned areas on foot or in vehicles.
Perform patrol duties and assist with general police duties and enforcement of laws and ordinances.
Read and evaluate written reports.
Advise field officers of work status and determine actions to improve work quality.
Manage officers’ schedules.
Lead, coach, and mentor officers.
Supervise officers and evaluate their work performance.
Enforce policies and procedures and issue certain types of discipline.
Receive and investigate complaints.
Make sound decisions based on laws and policies.
Conduct routine and detailed investigations into criminal and civil matters.
Enforce state and local traffic laws.
Build familiarity with members of the business community and neighborhood residents and demonstrate a service orientation consistent with community-oriented policing.

Benefits

Choice of traditional indemnity or HMO medical insurance.
Blue Cross Blue Shield full-family medical and dental coverage, with 90% of the premium paid by the City.
Kaiser Permanente full-family medical and dental coverage, with 90% of the premium paid by the City.
For new and lateral hires scheduled to work a 40-hour workweek, 48 hours of sick leave upon hire; monthly accrual begins after six months.
Education reimbursement program.
Incentive pay for specified education, certifications, language fluency, graveyard shift assignments, and collateral skills assignments.
Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), with member contributions paid on the employee’s behalf by the City.
City-maintained 457 deferred compensation plan, with a City contribution of 1% of base salary into the employee’s account.
Qualified lateral police sergeants may receive up to 60 hours of banked vacation and may be considered for accelerated vacation accrual rates.
The City reserves the right to place lateral new hires into a salary grade above step one.