Police Officer - Lateral

Performs general duty police work in the enforcement of laws and ordinances. Lateral Police Officers start at $55,269.36 - $75,418.56 annually, depending on experience.

Exercises powers of arrest and control; defends self and uses force and deadly force; enforces motor vehicle laws; operates vehicle under emergency conditions and provides emergency assistance; responds to crime scenes and performs criminal investigations; participates in special operations.

Patrols a designated area on foot or in a radio and computer equipped vehicle to preserve law and order, to prevent and discover the commission of crime, to direct traffic and to enforce traffic and parking regulations.

Answers calls and investigates complaints involving accidents, fires, misdemeanors and felonies; investigates suspicious activities.

Administers first aid, interviews witnesses, gathers information and evidence, makes arrests, prepares reports, testifies as witness in court.

May be assigned, on a permanent or shift basis, to such specialized technical or administrative duties as: working police desk, maintenance of criminal records, license inspection, photographic and identification work, traffic safety training, field training, radio operation, etc.

Advises public on laws and ordinances, provides general information and otherwise assists the public.

Performs related work as required.

NOTE: Before applying, please read the Spokane City Police Department's Hiring Standards.


Open Entry (Must be met at time of application.)

• Education: Completion of 45 quarter or 30 semester credit hours of course work from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of C or 2.0, which includes at least 5 quarter or 3 semester credit hours of college English.
• Experience: Two years of sworn, non-military, patrol officer experience. Must be currently employed as a Law Enforcement Officer or have been laid off or retired, in good standing, within the past 24 months.
• Substitution: Two additional years of experience as a police officer may be substituted for the college education requirement.

• Possession of a valid driver's license.
• Possession of a state-issued Basic Law Enforcement Certificate. Applicants from states other than Washington must have the ability to obtain Basic or Equivalency Law Enforcement certification by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission within the probationary period.

• Must be certified by the Police Physician as physically fit to perform the prescribed duties.
• Must be U.S. Citizen.

Applicants must pass the examination for this classification to be eligible for hire by the City of Spokane. This exam will consist of a training and experience evaluation, weighted at 100%.

We are recruiting for this job classification until further notice. You must complete both the online application and the T&E Evaluation form in order to be eligible for hiring by the City of Spokane:

• Download the T&E form at the following link: Police Officer - Lateral

• Complete instructions to return the T&E form are included within the form.

Upon request, at time of application, the City will provide alternative accessible tests to individuals with disabilities that impair manual, sensory or speaking skills needed to take the test, unless the test is intended to measure those skills.