Police Employment 

Police Officer

Interested in a career as an officer with the Bainbridge Island Police?  It can take a while, but it's easy to get started. Click here for a link to an overview of how the process works.

Lateral Officers

Qualifications

A lateral, or experienced police officer, must have successfully completed the Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) or be a graduate of a Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy or equivalent, as accepted by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission; have 12 months or more active law enforcement experience, which  is calculated from the date you graduate BLEA; and not have been separated from law enforcement for more than 24 months. 

Applicants must be at least 20 years of age at date of application.  Applicants must have or be able to obtain a valid Washington state driver's license by date of hire. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident or DACA-recipient by date of test. Applicants must have a high school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED).

A lateral officer whose state certification is recognized by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission does not have to attend the basic academy. Out-of-state laterals must pass the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission's 80-hour Equivalency Academy.

Lateral officers are on probation for 12 months from the date of hire.

Hiring Process

  1. Apply at GovernmentJobs.com and complete the Personal History Statement at publicsafetytesting.com.
  2. Oral board
  3. Eligibility list
  4. Background investigation
  5. Conditional job offer
  6. Psychological, polygraph and medical screenings (including a drug screening)

 

Entry Level

Qualifications

Applicants with no prior experience must be at least 20 years of age at time of application, with no adult felony convictions and must have or be able to obtain a valid Washington state driver's license by date of hire. An applicant must be a citizen of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, or a deferred action for childhood arrivals recipient. Applicants must have a high school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED).

Entry-level officers will attend the 720-hour Basic Law Enforcement Academy while being paid by the department. Upon graduation from the Basic Law Enforcement Academy, entry-level officers will be placed in a 15-week field training program.

Entry-level officers are on probation for 12 months following academy graduation.

Hiring Process

  1. Apply at publicsafetytesting.com
  2. Written test
  3. Physical test
  4. Oral board
  5. Eligibility list
  6. Background investigation
  7. Conditional job offer
  8. Psychological, polygraph and medical screenings (including a drug screening)

 

We also recommend applying for a ride along with one of our officers if you live in or will be visiting the area. Click here for a link to the ride-along application.  If you have questions about the hiring process, click here to email Brenda Landolt, the Civil Service Commission Secretary.