Lateral / certified officer · Posted Aug 19, 2026
Lateral Police Officer
Pay
$101,064 to $123,192$101,064.00 - $123,192.00 Annually
Closes
ContinuousContinuous
Bonus
None stated
Laterals
Out-of-state OK
In the posting's words
The sentences our figures come from.Must be 21 years of age or older at the time of employmentHigh school diploma or equivalent and completion of a recognized police training academy or equivalent courses necessary to allow certification with the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC)completion of a recognized police training academy or equivalent courses necessary to allow certification with the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC)Our officers come from all walks of life and experiences including lateral officers from all over the country.Must have been employed as a commissioned law enforcement officer on a full-time basis with a municipal, county, State, or WSCJTC approved federal agency for a period of time exceeding 24 of the last 36 months (post academy experience) at time of application. AND Lateral Entry applicants must have successfully completed a field training program (FTO or PTO) and be non-probationary officers.set schedule with the same weekdays off and every other Saturday offour officers enjoy having a take-home patrol vehicleEmployer contributions to the State Retirement System pension planThe posting
From GovernmentJobs.com · read Oct 1, 2026 · original**Please read the educational and experience requirements on this posting. Ensure to include on your application: name(s) of basic law enforcement academy attended, credits completed, which State or Territory you have fulfilled your training, and attach your Police Academy Certification.**
LATERAL CANDIDATES – Lateral applicants please
click here to apply
.
Lateral applicants only have to take the written exam with Public Safety Testing and are not required to take the physical agility test (PAT).
About Our Community:
The City of Tukwila is a unique and exciting city to live, work and visit even though it is just under 10 square miles. With a population of only 22,000 residents, the city sees upwards of 150,000 visitors and workers daily. The residential population is also host to individuals from all over the world with over 80 languages spoken by students of the Tukwila School District making it a truly unique community.
Tukwila is also home to the largest mall in the Pacific Northwest, headquarters for major national and international corporations, The Museum of Flight, and a thriving hub of popular retail stores, restaurants, and other businesses.
About the Tukwila Police Department:
The Tukwila Police Department is a municipal police department with 77 commissioned officers and 24 non-commissioned support staff. We are fortunate to work in a supportive environment with supportive community members, supportive elected officials, and supportive police department command staff. Our officers come from all walks of life and experiences including lateral officers from all over the country. We genuinely support and care about our officers, their mental health and general wellbeing. As such, we provide our officers with a set schedule with the same weekdays off and every other Saturday off, 490 hours of leave per year, the ability to work out on-duty and a supportive environment to help them grow throughout their careers. Their families are also valued and supported as part of our greater law enforcement family.
When it comes to technology, we are one of the leading departments in the nation. Besides a brand-new police station that opened in 2020 complete with a massive gym, quiet rooms, patio with BBQ grills and a full-size kitchen, our officers enjoy having a take-home patrol vehicle. The officer and vehicles are equipped with barcode scanners, Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) equipped dash cameras, body worn cameras (BWC), headrest printers, mobile fingerprint scanners and much more to make their jobs easier and more efficient. Our officers are all issued iPhones and tablets to complete their day-to-day tasks.
MISSION STATEMENT
As an involved part of the Tukwila community, our mission is to provide public safety services that are professional, compassionate and transparent. As individuals and teams, we are committed to earning the public's trust with skills, professionalism and collaboration.
CORE VALUES:
• SERVING THE COMMUNITY.
• BUILDING POSITIVE, STRONG TEAMS.
• BEING ACCOUNTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY.
• GROWING IN COMPETENCY AND EMPATHY.
To learn more about our Police Department, we encourage you to visit our website at
https://tukwilapolice.com/
WHY CHOOSE THE CITY OF TUKWILA?
Competitive
salary with scheduled step increases on an annual basis
Excellent
medical, dental, and vision plans
Employer contributions to the State Retirement System
pension plan
Deferred Compensation
plan options.
Paid holidays
as outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement
VEBA (
tax-free health savings account)
Employee
Wellness Program in addition to Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
**TAKE HOME CAR PROGRAM**
Officers have opportunities to receive the following additional compensation and pay incentives
Education
(2% police-related Associate’s degree; 4% Bachelor's or higher degree)
Tuition Reimbursement
Longevity
Pay starting after 5 years of service
Overtime
opportunities
Specialty Assignment
pay ranging from 5% to 7%
Night shift differential –
2%
Option to have
Kelly Days and Holiday Bank paid out.
Selection and Civil Service Testing Guidelines:
Civil Service Testing for certified and lateral entry consists of complete online application (including transcripts), a telephone interview, written exam, background investigation, polygraph examination, written/oral psychological exams, and a medical exam. The testing is scheduled at your convenience. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request t
o
humanresources@tukwilawa.gov
How To Apply:
Fill out the application online completely. Please include a resume and memo to the Chief of Police on why you want to work for the Tukwila Police Department. Please note that we do not accept incomplete applications, attached resumes are not accepted as an online application.
Veteran's Preference Points:
City of Tukwila follows the guidance given by the State of Washington regarding applying veteran's points. Please attach a copy of your DD214 or NGB Form 22 to your online application if you are eligible to claim these points.
The City of Tukwila is an equal opportunity employer and strives to employ a diverse workforce reflective of the community it serves. Qualified applicants with multicultural experience and/or backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
If you are currently a law enforcement officer but do not meet the time in-service requirements of a Certified Entry Level Police Officer, you may qualify to test as an Exceptional Entry candidate. Exceptional Entry candidates should apply as an Entry Level Police Officer.
Performs investigative tasks, evaluates cases for leads and investigation direction; collects and preserves evidence; interrogates suspects and questions witnesses.
Enforces traffic and parking regulations; directs traffic; makes detailed investigations and reports of traffic accidents.
Determines when lawful search, seizure and arrest shou
About Tukwila PD
Full department page- Starting pay$101,064
- Top of scale$123,192
- Sworn officers (2025)76
- Open jobs2
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