Washington police hiring, Q4 2026

1. Bothell Police DepartmentFor certified laterals · “LATERAL OFFICER HIRING BONUS OF $50,000” posting$50,000
2. Federal Way Police DepartmentFor certified laterals · “Hiring bonus of $40,000 for experienced police officers” posting$40,000
3. Mercer Island Police DepartmentFor certified laterals · “The City is now offering a $40,000 hiring bonus for lateral police officers!!!” posting$40,000
4. Auburn Police DepartmentFor certified laterals · “UP TO $30,000 LATERAL HIRING BONUS” postingup to $30,000
5. Bellevue Police DepartmentFor certified laterals · “up to a $30,000.00 hiring bonus” postingup to $30,000

No department in Washington changed its posted starting pay since Jul 22, 2026.

• Jobs. Open sworn police, deputy and trooper postings on Oct 20, 2026, read every week from departments' own hiring systems and state peace-officer boards. Civilian, dispatch and corrections-officer jobs are not counted; sheriff's jail deputy jobs are.
• Starting pay. The median of each department's starting figure for a new full-time officer, as its own posting states it. A state's median needs at least 5 departments.
• Hiring bonuses. Bonuses a current posting offers, in the posting's own words, until the end date it gives. Referral and retention pay are not counted.
• Lateral jobs. Postings only for officers already certified elsewhere.
• Pay changes. Starting-pay moves seen in the department's own postings over the last 90 days, with the posting linked.

Published by CopJobs. Every figure is as of Oct 20, 2026; the report is refreshed each week and published quarterly.