Department:

Division: 

IMPORTANT PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION:

The City of Richland currently has vacancies to fill and will be holding oral board processes on the following months to build certification lists for hiring:

June 2026

September 2026

November 2026

Entry-Level Police Officers Start at Step A: $46.53 (Hourly)

Position Salary Range: $46.53 - $52.77 (Hourly)

APPLICATION STEPS:

1. Public Safety Testing: In order to be considered for the City's oral board process, candidates must have successfully completed the initial Written and Physical Agility exams with Public Safety Testing (PST), and must share their testing scores with Richland.  

Visit PublicSafetyTesting.com for more information and to schedule a test.

2. Personal History Statement: Complete a personal history statement (updated in past three months) on your Public Safety Testing profile.

3. Hiring Standards: Ensure you have read and meet the hiring standards prior to applying. If you have questions about the hiring standards, please contact [email protected]

4. Submit Application and Resume. Attaching a resume is required in order for your application to be considered.

GENERAL SUMMARY

Under the direction of a Police Sergeant or designee, performs police protection and other services to safeguard the lives, property and constitutional rights of the citizens of Richland; responds to crime and accident scenes, emergency situations and other requests for assistance; detects, apprehends and arrest criminals; enforces the laws and ordinances of the City and performs a variety of specialized duties as assigned. Subject to 12-hour shifts, callback, standby and overtime as required.

Please view the Hiring Brochure and Recruitment Flyer for more information and job details.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Completion of initial written and physical agility exams as outlined by the City of Richland's protocols (currently Public Safety Testing).

• Submit an online application and attach a current resume.

• Complete/Update your Personal History Statement (PHS) on your PST Profile

• High school diploma or equivalent.

• Valid Washington State driver's license upon hire date.

• Twenty-one (21) years of age at time of application.

• U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or a deferred action for childhood arrivals recipient.

• Obtain a Basic Law Enforcement School Certificate issued by the State of Washington Criminal Justice Training Commission (Out of state candidates, who have previously certified in another state, must pass the CJTC equivalency examination) within six (6) months of hire date.

• Satisfactorily complete field training provided the Richland Police Department, in which methods, procedures and techniques of law enforcement work are presented by field training officers, before completion of probationary period.

*Please review the Hiring Standards brochure for further details on hiring standards, to include temporary or permeant disqualifiers.*

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Two (2) years of college-level course work in police science, law, criminal justice, or closely related field.

• Prior military police, correctional officer, reserve, and/or like training and experience.

Incumbents in this class are allocated to one or more specialized full-time assignments on a rotational basis. Each optional assignment within this classification is compensated in accordance with collective bargaining agreements recognizing difficulty and responsibility of each assignment.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Environment:

• Typically performed in the field, which requires travel daily of Richland City streets.

• The position involves work outdoors on a year round basis and is subject to extreme weather conditions

• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate, depending on whether in the office and/or in the field.

• May be exposed to moving mechanical parts and vehicles within an accident site.

• May be exposed to verbal abuse and violence in the line of duty.

• Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies/procedures and state laws.

Physical Demands:

• Operate a motorized vehicle which includes driving in inclement weather conditions, including high speed chases.

• Operate standard equipment for assigned tasks.

• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, lift, reach with arms and hands, kneel, crouch, crawl and stretch, the ability to climb or balance.

• Ability to lift, push, carry and pull materials, objects or persons weighing up to 100 lbs. on occasion using the assistance of others and proper lifting techniques.

• Ability to run, jump, climb fences, fight and shoot in stressful situations.

• Physical strength to restrain and control persons and physically defend self.

• Manual dexterity of hands and fingers to handle or operated objects, controls, tools or guns in the performance of assigned tasks, to include repetitive keyboarding, grasping, and reaching to operate a computer keyboard, mouse and/or standard office equipment.

• Corrected vision for closeness, distance, color, peripheral and depth perception, with the ability to adjust focus, and to read print and a computer screen.

• Hear and speak to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone.

SELECTION GUIDELINES

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

The job classification description does not constitute an employment agreement between the City of Richland and employee and is subject to change by the City as the needs of the City and requirements of the job change.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Final selection will be based on overall qualifications and oral board interview process. The final candidate(s) will be required to successfully complete and pass a Chief's interview, an integrity interview, and a comprehensive background check to include, reference check, polygraph, credit check, fingerprinting and a pre-employment physical and psychological exam.

Summary of City of Richland benefit for Police affiliated staff (guild-represented employees):

• Excellent preferred provider medical plan with a substantial City-paid contribution

• City-paid dental and vision plans

• City-paid Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance (equals two times the employees annual salary)

• Participation in the State of Washington's LEOFF II Retirement Plan

• Vacation Leave*

• Sick Leave (8 hours per month*)

• 10 Paid Holidays

• 4.5% City-match (gross pay) deferred compensation plan 457

• Education Incentive Program

• Specialty Pays

• Section 125 - Flexible Benefits Plan

• City-paid and Employee-paid Retirement Health Savings Plan

• Employee Assistance Program

Vacation Accrual Rates
*Rates subject to change based upon collective bargaining agreement (CBA). See CBA for eligibility requirements. For 2022-2025 Police Guild CBA, rates are as follows: YEARS OF SERVICE*(HOURS/MONTH)*
1st- 9 years: 12
10th - 15 years: 14
16th - 20 years: 16
Over 20 years: 18

The City is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to recruiting and retaining a highly qualified and diversified work force.  Applicants are considered for positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age (over 40), martial or veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, and local laws.
 
In accordance with the American with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities will be provided for participation in the application and selection process, if requested.  Persons with a disability who need assistance must notify the Human Resources Department about the accommodation needed at the time of application and prior to the closing date by calling (509) 942-7392. 
 
The provisions of job announcements listed on this website do not constitute an expressed, or implied, contract of employment with the City.  Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.