Lateral Police Officer - $10,000 BONUS job in City of Toppenish

The City of Toppenish Police Department is recruiting for three (3) Lateral Police Officer positions and offering a $10,000 hiring bonus to qualified Lateral Police Officers.

Qualified Lateral Police Officers will be paid $5,000 on their first paycheck after being formally hired and $5,000 will be paid upon completion of their 12-month probationary period.

To qualify as a Lateral Police Officer for this incentive, the Lateral Police Candidate must be a Police Officer who is currently employed in full-time law enforcement service with a Washington State civilian law enforcement agency or equivalent and have received the Washington Criminal Justice Certification or equivalent or are in the process of successfully completing the Washington State Criminal Justice Academy; or a certified Police Officer in an State recognized by the Washington State Criminal Justice Commission, CJTC Equivalency Reciprocity Summary recognized academies and the conditions that must be met. Please visit our website for more information.

Benefits: The City offers excellent training opportunities, family and domestic partner health benefits that include medical, dental, and vision, paid vacation and sick leave, as well as 40 hours of sick leave and 40 hours of vacation leave awarded upon hiring. Annual 40-hour vacation cash-out option and longevity pay after two years of employment. Retirement benefits are provided through Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS), Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighters Retirement II (LEOFF II) plan.

About Toppenish: The City of Toppenish is located in the Yakima Valley and has a population of approximately 9,100. The Yakima Valley boosts 300 days of sun! Being within a 60-minute drive to the foot of two spectacular mountain passes, White Pass and Chinook Pass, hiking, fishing, and hunting are abundant, as well as winter sports. Known for the many wineries throughout the Yakima Valley, breweries are now making their way on the scene. If one runs out of things to do, Toppenish is only a two and half-hour drive to Seattle and a three-hour drive to Portland, Oregon. With the Columbia Gorge only a 60-minutes away, fishing and windsurfing are abundant, along with other various other outdoor activities.

The Toppenish Police Department is a full-service organization with challenging opportunities in police work for individuals who are interested in providing quality law enforcement services to the public. Its officers are charged with protecting life and property through the enforcement of laws and local ordinances including the prevention, detection and investigation of crimes and civil infractions.

The position is covered under the provisions of an agreement between the City and the Toppenish Police Officers Guild.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Minimum Qualifications: The ideal candidate must maintain self-discipline and credibility through honest and ethical behavior and must have strong skills and abilities in a wide variety of areas including communication, creative problem solving, community service, teamwork and leadership.

Job Requirements: Candidates must meet the following requirements prior to the examination date:
• 21 years of age
• High School Diploma or its equivalent
• Valid driver's license
• Completed a state certified law enforcement academy
• Maintained any mandated certification such as firearms qualification and first aid/CPR
• Received a final offer of employment, or must be working as a full-time, commissioned law enforcement officer within the last 24 months

The City of Toppenish requires successful completion of a thorough background investigation, and post offer psychological and medical examination, including pre-employment drug screen.

Candidates must successfully complete each step of the selection process to obtain an offer of employment. Candidates may be removed from the process at any time for failing to meet the established standards.

Application: All candidates must complete a City of Toppenish employment application and the additional Police Waiver. These items can be located at the City of Toppenish’s website employment opportunities at www.cityoftoppenish.us

Structured Oral Interview: The interview assesses law enforcement experience as well as the skills necessary to be successful as a police officer such as observation skills, problem solving ability, persuasiveness and flexibility.

Background Investigation: A background investigator conducts a comprehensive investigation based on information provided by the candidate in an interview and on a personal history questionnaire. The investigation also includes a behavioral traits assessment and polygraph examination.

Final Selection Interview: This interview panel screens for strengths that will lead to job success.

Post Offer Process: Candidates who receive a conditional offer of employment must successfully complete a medical examination, including a drug screen and a psychological evaluation prior to receiving a final offer of employment.

Completed applications and waivers can be taken or mailed to the address listed below:
City of Toppenish
Attn: Civil Service Secretary/Examiner
21 W 1st Ave.
Toppenish, WA 98948

 JOB DESCRIPTION 

General Summary: Provide law enforcement services to the City. May provide special security and law enforcement services to schools. Respond to calls for emergency assistance. Assist the public by providing police services, apprehending violators of the law, providing emergency medical aid, educating the public concerning crime/crime avoidance, travel/roadside assistance, jail administration, traffic enforcement, and neighborhood patrol. Participate in mandatory training. Create reports, assists in criminal investigations and provides special guidance to school administrators and students. May provide instruction to other officers. Reports to a sergeant.

Essential Functions/Major Responsibilities: Patrol assigned area ensuring a safe, secure, lawful and orderly environment; Respond to requests for law enforcement and safety services; Apprehend violators of the law; Provide emergency medical aid as appropriate; Prepare incident reports; Make presentations to the public regarding laws and law enforcement issues; Provide support to the jail and court system; Participate in mandatory training; Assist in incident investigations; Provide instruction to other officers as appropriate.

Secondary Functions: Serve as a back up for Dispatchers, as requested; Assist with animal control issues; Perform other related duties as assigned.

Job Scope: Position encounters a wide diversity of work situations. Job involves a high degree of complexity or difficulty due to life threatening, nebulous, and/or quick response situations. Operate from established and well known procedures. Receive moderate supervision. Work is normally checked or verified by a sergeant or other supervisor. Errors in work or judgment could cause injury or death to others, adversely affect property, cause monetary loss, or adversely affect the image of the city. Decisions are made within prescribed departmental operating guidelines.

Supervisory Responsibility: Job is supervisory to the extent that daily work direction is provided to personnel in subordinate
job classifications.

Interpersonal Contacts: Contacts are normally made with others outside the City organization. Close contacts are made
with the residents and visitors to the City. Contacts frequently contain confidential/sensitive information necessitating discretion at all times. Majority of contacts are made on a verbal face-to-face basis. Contacts are usually made on own initiative.

Specific Job Skills: Possess a thorough knowledge of police and law enforcement processes and techniques. Ability to use a variety of computer hardware and software applications. Possess a good knowledge of accepted rules, regulations and procedures regarding emergency situations and medical procedures and techniques. Possess the ability to analyze a variety of complex situations and make quick logical decisions. Possess strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to operate a variety of motor vehicles. Possess strong interpersonal skills, telephone etiquette, the use of discretion in all contacts and the capacity for mentoring and teamwork. Mental activities include decision making, applying interpersonal and customer service skills. Ability to read, speak, write and understand English. Physical activities require the ability to exert a high level of energy at times, the ability to walk, run, stand, bend, reach, sit, stoop kneel, feel, handle, grasp, and to keyboard. Also possess the physical abilities to talk, see and hear.

Education and/or Experience: Possess some higher education or vocational training beyond high school in the area of law enforcement, criminal justice, etc. or related discipline. Must be a graduate of a law enforcement academy or equivalent. Possess a valid driver’s license.

Job Conditions: Job conditions are potentially life threatening. Ability to lift and/or carry up to 120 pounds. Job requires the ability to work a variety of shifts. Job may require substantial overtime, evening meetings or to be in an “on-call” status. Performs extensive close work. At times, works alone.

The City of of Toppenish is an equal opportunity employer.