The Tacoma Police Department is currently seeking qualified individuals who are interested in a law enforcement career that would provide professional and personal challenges. Join us and grow with a police department that is a leader in community involvement, use of technology, and professional growth opportunities.

The City of Tacoma is an international, ethnically-diverse community. With a backdrop of Mt. Rainier, the Cascade and Olympic Mountains, and Puget Sound, residents enjoy the Northwest's pristine environment and natural recreation opportunities. Three times named and All-American City by the National Civic League, in 2004 Tacoma-Pierce County was rated as one of only five of "America's Most Livable Regional Communities."

The community supports professional theater and dance companies, classical and contemporary musical events; including resident symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra and opera company, numerous community theaters, art galleries, art and historical museums, and a AAA minor league baseball team.

The City is served by excellent public and private educational institutions, including the University of Washington - Tacoma, the University of Puget Sound, Pacific Lutheran University, the Evergreen State College, Tacoma Community College, Pierce College, and numerous trade and business schools. Only 28 miles from Seattle, Tacoma is close enough to enjoy all of the advantages of a major metropolitan area nearby.

Tacoma is Washington State's third-largest city, with approximately 201,700 residents. Find out why Tacoma is called The City of Destiny by clicking here. Want to learn more about Tacoma Public Schools? Click here to go to their website to learn about the District and its schools. Tacoma offers location, affordability, recreation, and the attractions of a larger city, but with a hometown feel.

ATTENTION MILITARY AND FORMER MILITARY

The Tacoma Police Department is an approved agency for G.I. Bill benefits. To learn more about the hiring process and the G.I. Bill, click here.

"It's Not Just Another Day At The Office"

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The Tacoma Police Department is excited to announce that we conduct our own written and physical ability testing. We feel this allows us to create a "one-on-one" relationship with all of our applicants. This testing will be of no cost to you!

We are currently accepting applications for the position of Recruit/Entry-Level Officer and Lateral-Entry Officer.

To view the requirements and pay steps for Recruit/Entry-Level Police Officer click here.

To view the requirements and pay steps for Lateral Police Officer click here.

THE HIRING PROCESS FOR RECRUIT AND ENTRY-LEVEL APPLICANTS

There are eight steps to the testing and hiring process that Recruit/Entry Level Officers go through once the application is received. The testing and hiring process can take four to six months. The testing and hiring process for Recruit/Entry-Level applicants from out-of-state or those who must travel long distances is scheduled in three sessions. You can submit your application online. To complete your application packet for Police Officer Recruit click here.

Step One: The written and physical ability tests (PAT) may be conducted on the same day, or on two consecutive days. You must be prepared to take each test. There will be no waivers or exceptions. The written examination assesses minimum cognitive competencies for those individuals wishing to pursue employment in law enforcement. For a list of study guides to the written test click here. The PAT is the same test required by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission to enter and successfully pass the Basic Academy. You can review the physical ability test standards by clicking here. Applicants are then ranked and placed on an eligibility list based upon their written test score and successfully passing the PAT. Applicant scores are valid for one year on this list.

2010 TESTING DATES AND TIMELINES ANNOUNCED!
Click here for projected testing date information for Recruit/Entry-Level Applicants

Step Two: Applicants will then be mailed a Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ) for completion. This questionnaire must be completed fully and honestly. An initial personal history interview will be conducted between the applicant and the Hiring Officer. During the personal history interview, the applicant will be required to produce several items. These include:

• Driver's license
• High school diploma or GED Certificate. (Original transcripts must be received in an officially sealed envelope from the school.)
• Transcripts from colleges and/or universities. (Original transcripts must be received in an officially sealed envelope from the school.)
• Military discharge papers. (Document must include discharge status - long form) Copies are acceptable.
• Citizenship or naturalization papers. Copies are acceptable.
• Certified copy of birth certificate from county of record. (NO PHOTOCOPIES)
• All marriage licenses and all divorce decrees. Copies are acceptable.
• Name change documents. Copies are acceptable.
• WSCJTC Basic Academy certificate or other State Basic Academy certificate (if applicable). Copies are acceptable.
• Driving record from the Washington State Department of Licensing. (Original from DOL) A driving record from each state in which a license was held is also required.

Step Three: The applicant's competitiveness will then be reviewed by the Suitability Board. Applicants who pass the Suitability Board will be invited to complete an Oral Board Interview. The Oral Board usually consists of a Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant, another commissioned officer, and a citizen. The Oral Board will judge the applicant's interview as being "competitive" or "non-competitive."

Step Four: Applicants who are judged to be "competitive" will then be scheduled for a background interview with Department Background Investigators. This interview can take 2 - 3 hours. A complete and thorough background investigation will then be conducted. The background investigation can take 2 - 4 weeks. Applicants must be available to the Background Investigators via e-mail and/or phone throughout this step.

Step Five: Once completed, the background investigation is forwarded through the Hiring Unit chain of command. The final decision to hire rests with the Chief of Police or his/her designee.

Step Six: A Conditional Offer of Employment will then be made to the applicant. This means the applicant will be hired based upon several conditions being met by the applicant. These conditions will include passing the polygraph examination, psychological examination, and medical examination. There may also be more conditions that must be met in order to be hired.

Step Seven: The applicant completes the polygraph examination, psychological examination and medical examination.

Step Eight: The examination results are forwarded through the Hiring Unit chain of command. If all conditions have been satisfactorily met, then the applicant is notified of their date of hire.

THE HIRING PROCESS FOR LATERAL-ENTRY APPLICANTS

The steps in the hiring process for Lateral-Entry applicants are virtually the same as for Recruit/Entry-Level applicants, except for Step One. Step One for Lateral-Entry applicants is listed below. You can submit your application online. To complete your application for Lateral Police Officer click here. The testing and hiring process for Lateral-Entry applicants from out-of-state or those who must travel long distances is scheduled in two sessions. Steps 1 -4 are completed during the first two-day session, and Step 7 is completed during the second 2 - 3 day session.

Step One For Lateral-Entry: There is no written test for Lateral-Entry police officers. Lateral applicants are given credits for post-academy experience in lieu of the written exam. Lateral applicants must pass a modified PAT test. This test includes the following: Five (5) push-ups (no time limit), fourteen (14) sit-ups (one minute), and a mile-and-a-half walk/run (17:55 minutes or less). Applicants are then ranked and placed on an eligibility list based upon scores issued to them (The City of Tacoma Human Resources Department issues scores based upon experience listed on the application), and successfully passing the PAT. The eligibility list is continuous; applicant scores are valid for one year on this list. Testing for Lateral-Entry applicants is ongoing, and occurs on a monthly or bi-monthly schedule.

Lateral Officer Qualifications:

• Must be a US Citizen
• Must be a High School graduate or have a G.E.D.
• Must be currently employed by a law enforcement agency in the United States (or recently released or facing release due to layoff or reduction in force; with the the ability to be rehired.)
• Must be certified by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, or an equivalent recognized state police academy.
• Must have 24 or more months of post-academy experience as a full-time sworn street patrol officer. Non-patrol sworn officer experience, such as jail/corrections, or dispatch, does not count as "street patrol experience" in calculating the total months of post-academy experience.

WILL MY PAST HISTORY PREVENT ME FROM BECOMING A POLICE OFFICER?

The Tacoma Police Department does not release the automatic disqualifiers for applicants. The Chief of Police reviews these policies on a yearly basis, and this information is held in the strictest confidence within the Hiring Unit. We do not even release this information to our current officers.

What we can let you know is we will review each applicant's drug possession history, driving record history, and criminal history among other items.

Drug History - An applicant may be disqualified for possession of drugs depending on the number of times the drug is possessed, the type of drugs possessed, and how long ago the possession occurred. Possession is defined as control, touching, holding, selling, trafficking, or transporting any illegal non-prescribed drug.

Driving History - An applicant's driving record will be thoroughly assessed, and may be a factor for disqualification. We look at the number of infractions an applicant has received, the frequency of infractions, the type of infractions, and how long ago the infractions occurred. Some criminal driving offenses are automatic disqualifiers.

Criminal History - An applicant may be disqualified based upon their criminal history including all arrests, prosecutions, deferred prosecutions, "Alford" pleas, and non-conviction information. The type of crime, frequency of crime, and how long ago the crime occurred are reviewed and may be considered a disqualifier.

Credit History - An applicant may be disqualified based upon their current credit history. Accounts that are currently in collections may be considered a disqualifier. To review your credit history for accounts that are currently in collections, you may obtain a free copy of your credit report at https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.isp.

HAVE QUESTIONS?

You can use the link below to send us any questions you might have, or you can call 866-812-0107, or (253) 591-2015. You can also call the City of Tacoma's Job Line at (253) 591-5795 for a recorded listing of all open City jobs. 

Please e-mail any employment questions by clicking here