If you are currently a sworn Police Officer who has two (2) years of continuous full-time civilian law enforcement experience in a City, County, State, or Federal law enforcement agency without a break in service for more than 24 months (if not currently employed as a police officer), you may be considered as a Lateral Police Officer candidate.

Lateral Police Officers start at Step C: $48.95 (Hourly)

Position Salary Range: $46.53 - $52.77 (Hourly)

GENERAL SUMMARY

Under the direction of a Police Sergeant or designee, performs police protection and other services to safeguard the lives, property and constitutional rights of the citizens of Richland; responds to crime and accident scenes, emergency situations and other requests for assistance; detects, apprehends and arrest criminals; enforces the laws and ordinances of the City and performs a variety of specialized duties as assigned. Subject to 12-hour shifts, callback, standby and overtime as required.

Incumbents in this class are allocated to one or more specialized full-time assignments on a rotational basis. Each optional assignment within this classification is compensated in accordance with collective bargaining agreements recognizing difficulty and responsibility of each assignment.

Please view the Hiring Brochure and Recruitment Flyer for more information and job details.

*Lateral Hiring Incentives:*

• Relocation expenses of up to $5,000 paid (proof of expenses required) after successful completion of probationary period. (Relocating from at least 100 miles away from RPD station, and must relocate to within 30 miles of RPD.)

• Receive 80 hours of banked vacation time upon start date.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or equivalent.

• Submit an online application, and attach a current resume, POST certification, and updated Personal History Statement (PHS) in PDF format.  Please click HERE to access the PHS. **Your PHS can be uploaded in the Resume/Cover Letter section of your application.**

• Two (2) years continuous full-time commissioned civilian law enforcement experience in a city, county, state or Federal law enforcement agency (no break in service for more than 24 months if not currently employed as a police officer).

• Washington state candidates must have graduated from the Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy Training or other Washington State approved basic academy.

• Out of state candidates must be able to successfully complete the Law Enforcement Equivalency Academy and obtain a Washington State Police Officer certification within the applicable probationary period*.

• Valid Washington State driver's license upon hire date (out of state applicants must obtain within two months).

• All candidates must have current police officer certification or equivalent (decertification in any State could be cause for disqualification).

• Twenty-one (21) years of age at time of application.

• U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or a deferred action for childhood arrivals recipient. 

• Satisfactorily complete field training provided by the Richland Police Department, in which methods, procedures and techniques of law enforcement work are presented by field training officers, before completion of probationary period.

*Equivalency standards for out of state academies are subject to review by CJTC on a case-by-case basis.  Candidates determined by CJTC to not be equivalent may be subject to attending BLEA in Washington State.

**Please review the Hiring Standards brochure for further details on hiring standards, to include temporary or permanent disqualifiers.**

Applicants must submit a copy of their Police/Peace Officer certification at the time of application.  If successful in the testing process, candidates will be required to submit all training records as a part of the background process. 

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• AA or BA Degree in police science, law, criminal justice or related field preferred.

• Five years or more of continuous full-time commissioned civilian law enforcement experience in a city, county, state or Federal agency which includes patrol service and experience in one or more specialties (such as, SWAT, Drug Recognition Expert, Certified Bomb Technician, Vehicle Accident Reconstruction, Field Training Officer, or full-time investigative assignment).

• Bi-Lingual a plus.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Environment:

• Typically performed in the field, which requires travel daily of Richland City streets.

• The position involves work outdoors on a year round basis and is subject to extreme weather conditions

• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate, depending on whether in the office and/or in the field.

• May be exposed to moving mechanical parts and vehicles within an accident site.

• May be exposed to verbal abuse and violence in the line of duty.

• Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies/procedures and state laws.

Physical Demands:

• Operate a motorized vehicle which includes driving in inclement weather conditions, including high speed chases.

• Operate standard equipment for assigned tasks.

• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, lift, reach with arms and hands, kneel, crouch, crawl and stretch, the ability to climb or balance.

• Ability to lift, push, carry and pull materials, objects or persons weighing up to 100 lbs. on occasion using the assistance of others and proper lifting techniques.

• Ability to run, jump, climb fences, fight and shoot in stressful situations.

• Physical strength to restrain and control persons and physically defend self.

• Manual dexterity of hands and fingers to handle or operated objects, controls, tools or guns in the performance of assigned tasks, to include repetitive keyboarding, grasping, and reaching to operate a computer keyboard, mouse and/or standard office equipment.

• Corrected vision for closeness, distance, color, peripheral and depth perception, with the ability to adjust focus, and to read print and a computer screen.

• Hear and speak to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone.

SELECTION GUIDELINES

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

The job classification description does not constitute an employment agreement between the City of Richland and employee and is subject to change by the City as the needs of the City and requirements of the job change.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

The City retains the right to limit the number of lateral applicants - women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

Final selection will be based on overall qualifications and an interview process.

If selected, the final candidate(s) will be required to complete and pass a comprehensive integrity interview, background/reference check (includes site visit), polygraph, fingerprinting, pre-employment physical, and psychological exam.

Summary of City of Richland benefit for Police affiliated staff (guild-represented employees):

• Excellent preferred provider medical plan with a substantial City-paid contribution

• City-paid dental and vision plans

• City-paid Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance (equals two times the employees annual salary)

• Participation in the State of Washington's LEOFF II Retirement Plan

• Vacation Leave*

• Sick Leave (8 hours per month*)

• 10 Paid Holidays

• 4.5% City-match (gross pay) deferred compensation plan 457

• Education Incentive Program

• Specialty Pays

• Section 125 - Flexible Benefits Plan

• City-paid and Employee-paid Retirement Health Savings Plan

• Employee Assistance Program

Vacation Accrual Rates
*Rates subject to change based upon collective bargaining agreement (CBA). See CBA for eligibility requirements. For 2022-2025 Police Guild CBA, rates are as follows:

YEARS OF SERVICE*(HOURS/MONTH)*
1st- 9 years: 12
10th - 15 years: 14
16th - 20 years: 16
Over 20 years: 18