Police Officer Recruit (Entry Level)

• Successfully complete the Basic Law Enforcement Academy provided by the Washington Criminal Justice Training Commission;
• Learn and apply knowledge of basic first aid procedures;
• Resolve a variety of potentially volatile and dangerous situations in a calm, confident, and effective manner;
• Drive a patrol car under normal and adverse conditions;
• Train and use firearms safely in accordance with departmental rules;
• Clean and maintain assigned firearms and vehicles;
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions;
• Learn, interpret and apply modern principles, practices, and procedures of police work;
• Write clear and comprehensive reports;
• Work with the public and coworkers in a professional and courteous manner;
• Show initiative in performing job functions, and ability to enforce federal, state and local laws.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECRUITING & TESTING PROCESS

1. Once you submit your application, please visit publicsafetytesting.com to schedule a Written Exam and PAT that works best with your schedule.
2. Make sure you select Tacoma Police Department as your agency of choice in your profile. Tacoma will cover the cost of testing when you attend an in-person event or test online. Once you pass both the written and PAT, Public Safety Testing will send your results to City of Tacoma Human Resources who will match your test results and application materials and advance you to the eligible list for interview and hiring consideration.

• You must be a citizen of the United States of America or a lawful permanent resident;
• You must possess a high school diploma or GED;
• You must be at least 20.5 years of age at the time of application - and be 21 years of age by date of appointment;
• Once you apply, you must complete and pass the testing process with Public Safety Testing noted above. You must be able to meet the physical requirements and medical standards prescribed by the City of Tacoma and the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission.

• You must possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license at time of application. A valid Washington State driver's license is required for employment (with maintenance thereafter) and driving history will be thoroughly assessed during the hiring process.
• First Aid and CPR card upon hire with maintenance thereafter, not required to apply.

• Above-average physical endurance in running, climbing and lifting as well as good balance, hearing and vision.
• Work includes indoor and outdoor environment.
• Officers may work varying shifts depending on assignment to include nights and weekends. The general Police Patrol Officer schedule is a 4/10 schedule with rotating days off.
• Incumbents in this classification may be exposed to gunfire, toxic chemicals, traffic hazards, and occasional driving at high speeds.

• Fluent English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary.
• Principles, practices and procedures used in police work.
• State, County and City laws and ordinances.
• Recent legislation and court decisions affecting police duties.
• Traffic and crowd control techniques.
• Rules of evidence and laws of arrest.
• Operation of a variety of specialized police vehicles and equipment.
• Crime scene preservation and investigation methods and techniques.
• Basic First Aid procedures.
• Operation of a personal computer.
• Prepare clear and concise reports.
• Maintain proficiency in driving and in the use of firearms in accordance with department guidelines.
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt effective courses of action.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Understand scope of authority.
• Relate effectively to people of a variety of cultures, languages, abilities and social-economic situations.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
• Observe legal and defensive driving practices.
• Comply with safety standards and regulations.

After successfully completing and passing the initial Personal History Statement (PHS), you will receive dates and times to sign up for the in-person Physical Ability Test (PAT). This is in addition to the PAT you took with PST.

The in-person PAT will consist of the following components:

• 35 squat thrusts in three minutes
• 20 push-ups in 90 seconds
• 25 sit-ups in 90 seconds