Police Officer Recruit (Entry Level) - City of Tacoma

Are you ready for a career that is exciting, rewarding, and allows you to make a positive impact in your community? Look no further than the Tacoma Police Department! Police Officer Recruits perform general duty police work involving the protection of life and property, enforcement of laws and ordinances, maintenance of order, and prevention and investigation of crimes. Work is performed according to departmental regulations and procedures prescribed by superior officers and normally consists of routine patrol, traffic regulations, and crime prevention and investigation on motorcycles, or on foot.

Responsibilities involve a substantial element of personal danger and employees must be able to act without direct supervision and exercise independent discretion in emergencies. All assignments in this class involve responsibility for recognizing the social importance of police functions, for tactful and courteous treatment of the public, and for conscientious and efficient performance of duties under little direct supervision.

Employees may be assigned to work on special assignments that call upon specialized ability and knowledge usually attained through experience as a uniformed Police Officer. Assignments and general and special instructions are received from superior officers who review work by personal inspection, check of reports, and general appraisal of the effectiveness of the employee and the entire police service.

Primary Duties

• Successfully complete the Basic Law Enforcement Academy provided by the Washington Criminal Justice Training Commission;
• Learn and apply knowledge of basic first aid procedures;
• Resolve a variety of potentially volatile and dangerous situations in a calm, confident, and effective manner;
• Drive a patrol car under normal and adverse conditions;
• Train and use firearms safely in accordance with departmental rules;
• Clean and maintain assigned firearms and vehicles;
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions;
• Learn, interpret and apply modern principles, practices, and procedures of police work;
• Write clear and comprehensive reports;
• Work with the public and coworkers in a professional and courteous manner;
• Show initiative in performing job functions, and ability to enforce federal, state and local laws.

The Tacoma Police Department has partnered with Public Safety Testing to administer both the Written Exam and the Physical Abilities Test (PAT).

1. Once you submit your application, please visit publicsafetytesting.com to schedule a Written Exam and PAT that works best with your schedule. 
2. Make sure you select Tacoma Police Department as your agency of choice in your profile. Tacoma will cover the cost of testing when you attend an in-person event or test online. Once you pass both the written and PAT, Public Safety Testing will send your results to City of Tacoma Human Resources who will match your test results and application materials and advance you to the eligible list for interview and hiring consideration.  

To learn more about the Tacoma Police Department's hiring process, hiring standards, and the physical abilities test click here.


City of Tacoma Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Tacoma's diversity is its greatest asset. Tacoma embraces its multi-cultural and multi-ethnic character. Communities of color and immigrant communities are fundamental to Tacoma's entrepreneurial spirit, workforce, and long-term success. In Tacoma, equity and empowerment are top priorities, meaning that all Tacoma residents must have equitable opportunities to reach their full potential and share in the benefits of community progress. We actively work to eliminate racial and other disparities and welcome candidates with diverse backgrounds and/or multicultural skill sets and experiences. Our goal is for Tacoma to be an inclusive and equitable place to live, work, and play.

Transforming Tacoma
The Tacoma Police Department is a proud participant in Transforming Tacoma; actively working to develop pragmatic, specific recommendations and reforms that the Tacoma Police Department and the City of Tacoma can implement to strengthen the Tacoma Police Department’s relationship with Tacoma’s community; ensure that the Tacoma Police Department’s activities and operations are safe, just, effective, lawful, and consistent with national, best, emerging, and transformational practices. For more information about this effort, please visit the Transforming Tacoma website.