OVERVIEW:
This position is responsible for general duty police work which includes the prevention, detection, and investigation of crimes, as well as maintaining and enforcing law and order. The position operates in and out of the Mountlake Terrace Police Department under the direct supervision of a Sergeant.
Lateral applicants must have worked in Law Enforcement as a paid full-time officer for 24 of the last 36 months and be certified by the CJTC or pass the State Equivalency Academy.
Certified applicants must have:
(1) successfully completed the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy; and
(2) have at least six (6) months of experience as a police officer in another jurisdiction.
Out of state candidates, who have previously certified in another state, must pass the CJTC equivalency examination.
Full details and application instructions can be found on our website.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- The following responsibilities are common to all police officers in the Mountlake Terrace Police
Department. Officers assigned to divisions other than Patrol will have special duties assigned
them by their respective supervisors. - Provide equal and impartial enforcement of all state and local laws.
- Provide service to the people of Mountlake Terrace to safeguard and protect their lives,
property and constitutional rights. - Secure all information pertaining to the proper conduct of business prior to the tour of duty.
- Ensure civil treatment and protection of all rights of all persons coming within the scope
of police authority. - Gather, submit, and maintain intelligence information, and pass on information to other
units that may be useful to their investigations. - Respond to crime and/or traffic accident scenes and ensure the protection of the scene and
all physical evidence and witnesses until relieved by higher authority. - Conduct the preliminary investigation at crime scenes until either relieved by a detective
or to a point where a lapse in the investigation would not hamper or jeopardize the outcome
of the case. - Maintain radio communication during tour of duty, including mealtimes, and maintain a
response time conducive to the needs of the citizens served, promptly responding to all
calls assigned and to those calls assigned other units where their closer proximity and the
nature of the call demands immediate response. - Provide first aid and rescue services at crime scenes, accidents, disasters and other
emergency situations. - Engage in a wide variety of traffic direction and crowd control activities, particularly in
connection with traffic accidents, demonstrations, riots and disasters. - Promote and preserve order, defend persons from imminent physical harm, respond to
requests for protective service, resolve conflicts between individuals and groups, and
protect individual constitutional guarantees. - Encourage voluntary compliance with the law and reduce the opportunity for criminal
activity. - Maintain records of daily activities and present testimony at judicial proceedings and other
formal hearings. - Exercise discretion in determining whether to take no action, to advise, warn or arrest.
- Enforce all moving violations and parking regulations according to City ordinances to
ensure the smooth flow of traffic throughout the City of Mountlake Terrace. - When assigned, give special speeches and presentations to civic and other groups to
promote the police image. - Evaluate officer performance and fill out necessary report forms while assigned to the Field
Officer Training and Evaluation Program. - Make recommendations to improve operational effectiveness.
- When assigned, represent department on City committees and/or programs.
- Perform related duties as assigned.
OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The essential functions and qualifications contained in this job description reflect general details
as necessary to describe the principal functions, the level of knowledge, and scope of the
responsibility typically required of the job. It should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of
work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned including work in other
functional areas to cover absences, to equalize peak work periods, or to otherwise balance the
workload.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education, Training and Experience Guidelines:
- High school diploma or GED.
- Graduation from a Basic Law Enforcement Academy sponsored by or equivalent to the
- Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission’s Basic Law Enforcement Academy.
- Lateral applicants must have worked in Law Enforcement as a paid full-time officer for 24 of the
last 36 months and be certified by the CJTC or pass the State Equivalency Academy.
Certified applicants must have:
(1) successfully completed the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC)
Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy; and
(2) have at least six (6) months of experience as a police officer in another jurisdiction.
Out of state candidates, who have previously certified in another state, must pass the CJTC
equivalency examination.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must have a valid Washington State driver's license (or be able to attain at time of
appointment) and a driving record acceptable to the City's insurance carrier. - Verification of identity and United States work authorization must be complete as required
by the Immigration Reform and Control Act. - Ability to pass rigorous background investigation, drug test and physical.
- Free of felony or domestic violence convictions.
- Maintain certification as a Washington State Peace Officer.
Successful completion of the following:
- A psychological examination as required in RCW 43.101.095.
- A polygraph test as required in RCW 43.101.095.
- A physical exam to include a drug test.
- A credit check.
- A background check.
- Incumbents must meet requirements set forth by Washington State and the City for law
enforcement officers. - Ongoing education in law enforcement procedures.
- Training in the use of assorted job-related equipment.
- Proficiency in the use of weapons and self-defense tools.
Knowledge of:
- All safety standards and regulations.
- All federal, state and local laws enforced by City police.
- Newly acted laws and court decisions and their effect on police duties and responsibilities.
Ability to:
- Communicate effectively verbally and in writing clearly with public and co-workers,
including over the telephone and to hear orders called out in a crime scene. - Work independently and reliably complete tasks on time.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, supervisors and
general public. - Quickly comprehend and carry out instructions.
- Use Microsoft “Windows” word processing, email, internet, spreadsheet and other
programs to produce letters and reports. - Type and perform data entry.
- File numerically and alphabetically.
- Read typed and handwritten notes.
- Maintain clear, concise and accurate records and report on items that need attention.
Accept responsibility to the health and welfare of the community by performing the
responsibilities of the job in a manner that will provide efficient service to the public. - Understand and follow oral and written instructions and learn operations and procedures.
- Move across uneven terrain, in traffic, and in tight quarters and maintain a safe
environment for yourself and co-workers. - Pass a background check and maintain a level of trust that enables access to confidential
criminal material. - Sit, stand, kneel, stoop, bend, climb reach, push/pull grip, sit, stand, walk, run crouch,
crawl, twist, lift/move objects weighing 50 pounds, hear. - Operate a motor vehicle (including at high rate of speed), two-way radio (including from
field situations) as well as other law enforcement equipment, including computers, radars
and weapons. - Conduct coherent voice communication in person as well as via portable radio and
telephone. - Carry out required assignments.
- Manipulate standard police-related equipment.
- Overall stamina and ability to perform moderate to strenuous physical activity as identified
by the Criminal Justice Training Commission. - Vision sufficient to perform all duties (corrective lenses may be utilized).
- Hear alarms and audibly identify the presence of a danger or hazard.
- Sufficient level of physical fitness to allow participation in confrontational and/or stressful
situations. - Work toward the achievement of department and divisional objectives.
- Be thoroughly familiar with the City of Mountlake Terrace and specific areas of
assignment. - Analyze situations quickly and objectively recognize actual and potential danger, and to
determine the proper course of action. - Cope with situations firmly, courteously, tactfully and with respect for the rights of others.
- Understand the problems and attitudes of people of all ethnic and economic groups in
relation to law enforcement agencies. - Read, understand and interpret applicable federal and state laws and City ordinances, and
established principles, practices, policies and procedures of police work. - Satisfactorily complete the prescribed courses of training at the Police Academy.
- Maintain a high standard of physical and mental fitness.
- Maintain all skills required to meet state law enforcement certification, including ongoing
firearms and defensive tactics training exercises. - The environment is sometimes stressful, working under tight deadlines, with distractions
and interruptions, and requires the ability to shift priorities rapidly.
Skill in:
- Interactions with a diverse range of customers and individuals including ages and abilities;
potential for dissatisfied or abusive behavior and confrontations from public. - The environment is sometimes stressful, working under tight deadlines, with distractions
and interruptions, and requires the ability to shift priorities rapidly. - Powers of observation and memory.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED:
Report directly to the Patrol Sergeant.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED:
None
WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Environment
- Indoor and outdoor environment subject to adverse weather conditions.
Physical abilities:
- Physical ability to perform the full range of duties. The employee may encounter
emergency situations that require rapid evacuation of an area in order to avoid personal
injury or to provide assistance to another individual and must therefore have the physical
ability to walk and run. He/she must have the dexterity to manipulate standard police
related equipment. The employee must have the ability to conduct coherent voice
communication in person as well as via portable radio and telephone. - Field duties involve walking, talking, hearing, using hands to handle, feel or operate
objects, tools, or controls, and reaching with hands and arms. Vision abilities required by
this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, color
differentiation, and the ability to adjust focus. - Regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle objects or controls and reach with
hands and arms. This includes typing, using weapons and defensive tactics to subdue
suspects, using two-way radios, and operating motor vehicles. - Routinely required to talk and hear, and to stoop or crouch to pick up, or move or lift items.
- Possess ability to pursue suspect on foot and upon capture, capable of exerting sufficient
reserved strength to physically subdue the individual. This includes climbing stairs and
moving over uneven ground, including obstacles such as brush and fences. - Sometimes requires above-average physical agility and conditioning.
Hazards:
May encounter hazards arising from contact with violent individuals and working in traffic.
In addition, in the course of performing his/her duties, may be exposed to biohazardous
materials (i.e., bloodborne pathogens) or hazardous materials released at an emergency
scene (i.e., chemical spills, gasoline spills, etc.). Continuous attention to safe working and
operating procedures is required. The individual serving in this capacity will be required
to use a firearm, specialized protective equipment (i.e., body armor) and generalized
protective equipment.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Apply through Form Center
Please include cover letter and resume with your application