This is a uniformed, entry-level law
enforcement position with emphasis on Community Policing. The City of Portland
Community Police Officer works with all citizens to preserve life, maintain
human rights, protect property and promote individual responsibility and
community commitment. New officers will work various shifts and geographical
areas as assigned and complete an 18-month probationary period. Additional
information is contained on the following pages of this announcement and is
available at www.portlandpolice.com
TO QUALIFY
Applicants must:
At time of application, have either
an Associate Degree or 60-semester or 90-quarter hours from an accredited
college or university.
At date of employment, be at least
21 years of age.
Within one (1) year of employment,
must be a U.S. citizen. Application for U.S. citizenship requires 5 years of
residency.
Pass all phases of the examination
process, including requirements listed on
Supplemental
Application.
At date of employment, possess or
be able to obtain a valid driver's license and have no excessive traffic
violations.
Have no conviction of a crime, for
which punishment would have been a felony in any jurisdiction or a crime
involving domestic violence (applicants with lesser criminal records will be
evaluated on an individual basis).
Have no dishonorable discharge from
any branch of the military.
At time of employment, no visible
tattoo when in uniform, including when wearing a short sleeve uniform shirt.
Vision must be correctable to
20/30. If worse than 20/100, you must wear soft contact lenses to meet the
20/30 requirement.
An objective
multiple choice written test weighted 100%. In addition to the written
exam, candidates will also be asked to complete a personal history
questionnaire, a personality assessment and a measure of general reasoning
ability. Candidates will be notified by mail informing them of the date,
time and place of the written test which is tentatively scheduled for
late June 2005 .
Phase II:
An in-depth
background investigation by the Portland Police Bureau.
Phase III:
A pass/fail
hiring interview.
Phase IV:
A pass/fail
physical agility test (may take multiple times).
Phase V:
A qualifying
psychological evaluation to determine the candidate's personal suitability
to do police work.
Phase VI:
A qualifying
medical evaluation to determine the candidate's physical capability to do
police work.
Failure in one of the six phases will
eliminate you from further participation in the examination process. After
completion of Phase I, successful applicants will be scheduled for the remaining
phases based on the hiring needs of the Police Bureau. To ensure and protect
confidentiality, applicants will be required to sign a statement waiving any
right to review the information obtained in Phases II, III, IV, V and VI.
Applicants are eligible to take Phase I once every 6 months.
Applicants must submit the following:
(Click buttons to view forms or instructions)
City of Portland's Scannable
Application Form (Internet Applicants will complete this
form online. This form is not available to download or view.)
A completed and signed Supplemental Application form.
A completed and signed City of Portland Education
and Training form.
All completed applications must be in
the possession of the Portland Bureau of Human Resources no later than
4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 10, 2005. SORRY, we cannot accept
FAXED applications.
**NOTE:
Your completed
Veteran's
Preference Form with the required documentation must be submitted with your
completed application packet. If you are applying via the Internet, you may mail
(click here for
mailing address) or fax (503) 823-4156 only your completed
Veteran's Preference Form and required documentation, referencing the
recruitment you are applying for, or deliver it to our office in person.
SORRY, WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT FAXED APPLICATIONS
PACKAGES.
Minorities, women, and qualified
individuals with disabilities are urged to apply. If you wish to identify
yourself as an individual with a disability under the Americans With
Disabilities Act of 1990 and will be requesting accommodation, the requests must
be made to the Analyst named below or to the Human Resources Bureau Receptionist
NO LATER THAN THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
WAGES & BENEFITS
Approximate Annual
Salary: $37,794 at entry; $46,134 after six months; $61,922 after five years.
Overtime is paid at time and
one-half.
Officers do not have
to pay Social Security (Generally 7% of wages).
Officers do not have
to contribute to retirement benefits.
The City pays 95%
towards the cost of medical, dental and vision benefit s for full time
employees. If they elect Kaiser Permanente medical, dental and vision
coverage, no contribution is required during the plan year.
On the first of the
month following 30 days of employment, officers are eligible for medical,
dental and vision coverage.
On the first of the
month following 30 days of employment, officers are eligible for $50,000 life
insurance. Additional employee-paid life insurance is available at the City's
group rate.
A zero interest, 10
yr. loan for moving expenses, up to $5,000, for entry level officers moving
from over 100 miles.
Paid time off: 9
holidays, 3 personal days, and 13 sick days per year.
City provides
uniforms, weapon, handcuffs, flashlight, duty belt, body armor, helmets, etc.,
and $90 a yr. equipment allowance.
Under the Portland
retirement fund (FPD&R), retirement is possible after attaining age 50 if the
member has 25 or more years of service or after attaining age 55 with 5 years
vested. Pension ranges from 55% to 84% of final pay, depending on years of
service (20-30 years) and which surviving beneficiary option you select. Visit
www.ci.portland.or.us/fpdr/
for a retirement estimation calculator.
Additional Information Regarding This Recruitment
Please read the
information on the next two pages carefully before calling
the Police Bureau
or the Bureau of Human Resources
with any questions
regarding this recruitment.
ABOUT THE TESTING
PROCESS
Visit our web site:
www.portlandpolice.com. The
examination will assess you in terms of the knowledge, skills, abilities,
physical fitness and other personal attributes required for successful
performance for the job of police officer.
QUESTIONS?
Find frequently asked
questions (FAQ's) at:
www.portlandpolice.com. You may also contact one of our diverse recruiters
or background investigators via the employment link on our web page or toll free
at 1-888-735-4259.
TRAINING
All officers have an
18-month probation, where they work under the supervision of a coach who teaches
the fundamentals of police work. Entry level officers shall attend a basic and
advanced academy. Lateral officers, who meet Oregon certification criteria, will
attend the advanced academy and a two-week curriculum course. The Portland
Police Bureau teaches the advanced academies.
MILITARY LEAVE
After six months,
reservists and National Guard members receive two weeks with pay for active
duty, up to 15 calendar days per year.
PROMOTIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES
Higher level positions
in the Portland Police Bureau are filled by competitive promotional
examinations. Under current standards, after 4 ½ years of unbroken service,
officers are eligible to compete for a promotional exam to become a sergeant or
detective.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Officers work a 40-hour
week, seniority determines shift, days off and vacation. Shifts and weekends are
not rotated. However, during probation, new officers' days off, shifts, and
assignments are rotated. Officers are considered on duty 24 hours a day and in
an emergency are subject to call-out at any time. New officers serve most of
their time in uniform patrol, some will also spend time working in traffic
control, accident investigation, criminal investigation, etc. Specialty unit
assignments are available on a competitive basis after probation.
BACKGROUND
INVESTIGATION
Police officer
candidates must successfully complete an in-depth background history
investigation. This includes a review of personal and employment references,
including IRS records, credit report, driving and criminal records, and an
interview with a Background Investigator. All information received during the
background investigation may be used to complete the background investigation
file and make a recommendation to hire or not to hire. In order to ensure and
protect confidentiality, applicants are required to sign a waiver acknowledging
that they will not be able to review information obtained in their background
investigation.
YOU CANNOT BE A
POLICE OFFICER IF:
You cannot obtain a valid
driver's license in your state of residence.
You will not be 21 years old at
time of hire (as a general rule, within 180 days of test date).
You will not be a U.S. citizen
within one year of being hired. NOTE: Citizenship application requires 5
years of residency.
You have been convicted of
driving under the influence of intoxicants (D.U.I.I.) within the past 3
years or have 2 or more D.U.I.I. convictions. A diversion or similar action
is considered the same as a conviction.
You have been convicted of
Reckless Driving, Attempting to Elude, Hit and Run (Failure to perform the
duties of a driver ), or Felony Driving While Suspended or Revoked within
the last two years.
You have been convicted of a
Domestic Violence Assault.
You have been convicted of a
felony.
You have been convicted of any
crime involving controlled substances.
You have a dishonorable discharge
from the armed services.
You do not have an AA degree, or
90-quarter hours or 60-semester hour's college credit from an accredited
college or university.
The State of Oregon will not
provide police officer certification if you have been convicted of:
ORS 162.065
Perjury
ORS 162.335 Rape
III
ORS 162.075
False Swearing
ORS 162.365 Rape
II
ORS 162.085
Unsworn Falsification
ORS 163.375 Rape
I
ORS 163.408
Sexual Penetration with a Foreign Object II
ORS 163.385
Sodomy III
ORS 163.411
Sexual Penetration with a Foreign Object I
ORS 163.395
Sodomy II
ORS 163.435
Contributing to Sexual Delinquency of a Minor
ORS 163.405
Sodomy I
ORS 163.445
Sexual Misconduct
ORS 163.415 Sex
Abuse III
ORS 163.575
Endangering Welfare of Minor
ORS 163.425 Sex
Abuse II
ORS 163.670 Use
Child in Display Sexually Explicit Material
ORS 163.427 Sex
Abuse I
ORS 163.684
Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse I
ORS 163.515
Bigamy
ORS 163.686
Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse II
ORS 163.525
Incest
ORS 167.065
Furnishing Obscene Materials to Minors
ORS 167.007
Prostitution
ORS 167.070
Sending Obscene Materials to Minors
ORS 167.012
Promoting prostitution
ORS 167.075
Exhibiting Obscene Performance to a Minor
ORS 167.017
Compelling prostitution
ORS 167.080
Displaying Obscene Materials to Minors
ORS 163.465
Public Indecency
YOU ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE HIRED AS A PORTLAND POLICE OFFICER IF:*
Your traffic record, police
contacts, accident record, and credit report show a continuing or recent
pattern of poor decision making.
Your personal life shows a
history of poor judgment and refusal to confront problems.
You have recently or are
currently misrepresenting yourself or ignoring laws.
You have provided controlled
substances to others, or have been involved in long-term criminal activity.
Your work history shows a pattern
of unexcused absences, discipline, or discharge.
People who know you have doubts
about your honesty or character.
*This list is not all-inclusive. It is intended as a general guideline.
THE MOST COMMONLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
(Visit our web site for other
FAQ's)
Q)
When can I find out my score
on the written test?
A)
The Bureau of Human Resources
will notify you within 3-4 weeks. If you do not receive information after
4 weeks, call 503-823-3572.
Q)
Is there a study guide for
the written exam (Phase I)?
A)
There is the Police Officer
Test Guide. In addition, there are numerous books on test taking and test
taking strategies that you may find helpful in preparing for the written
test. These books can be found at libraries and most large bookstores.
(i.e. Barron's Police Officer Exam) The written exam consists of 169
multiple-choice questions. Two hours are allowed for the exam, in which
97% of applicants finish in time.
Q)
What happens after I pass
the first phase, the written test?
A)
Your score will integrate you
onto our eligibility list. Our hiring needs dictate how fast and deep we
work down the eligible list.
Q)
How can I find out more
about each phase of the examination process?
How can I prepare myself for
the physical assessment portion of the medical exam?
A)
Applicants should plan to
demonstrate aerobic and anaerobic fitness, flexibility and abdominal and
upper body strength.
Q)
How many officers will the
Police Bureau be hiring and when?
A)
Many over next few years.
Sorry, there are too many factors that prevent an exact prediction. Hiring
has been consistent with the Police Bureau; however, there are too many
factors that prevent us from giving an exact number.
Q)
Why does Portland's testing
process take longer than some agencies?
A)
The Police Bureau believes in
using our testing process as part of our selection of police officers.
This means our testing process helps us select officers who have the skill
sets that allow them the best chance to make it through our academies and
field-training program. What this means to you is that we do not have the
number of recruit officers fail our academies and field training program
which other agencies do who rely heavily upon their academies and coaching
programs to "select" their officers. We hope you will agree, our selection
process, although longer than some agencies, is not only good for you, but
also for the employers which we take you from, and our organization. The
longest part of our testing process is the background investigation phase.
Remember that, patience is a virtue and the best things in life are worth
waiting for!
Q)
What is the background
investigation?
A)
Refer to the explanation in
this job announcement. We will evaluate you in the following ten job
dimensions:
Communication skills
Skill in assessing situations; recognizing when to
take action and deciding on an appropriate course of action
Skill in reading, comprehending, retaining, and
applying written factual information
Skill in analyzing situations quickly and
objectively; recognizing actual and potential dangers; determining a
proper course of action
Skill in observing and remembering detail
Willingness to confront a variety of problems and
situations
Interpersonal/public relations skills
Skill in operating a motor vehicle
Dependability and sound work habits
Characteristics necessary to maintain integrity,
truthfulness and credibility
Q)
How long is the Police
Academy?
A)
Recruit officers attend a
16-week basic academy and a 16 week advanced academy sometime during their
18-month probation. Lateral officers attend the advanced academy; their
ability to meet Oregon certification criteria will determine attendance at
the basic academy.
Q)
What career opportunities
are there in the Bureau?
A)
Smaller agencies cannot compete
with the selection of job opportunities over a career. A partial list of
assignments include 9-1-1 patrol, K-9, drug and vice investigations,
domestic violence investigations, gang enforcement, transit enforcement,
background investigations, district attorney office investigators, horse
patrol, ATV (all terrain vehicle) patrol, air support, neighborhood
response team, traffic enforcement, youth intervention programs like
Police Activities League (PAL), Gang Resistance Education and Training
(GREAT), school resource officers, Special Emergency Response Team (SERT),
bicycle patrol, Explosive Disposal Unit (bomb squad), crime analysts, and
an assortment of regional task forces.
Under current standards, Officers are eligible to take
the promotional exam for sergeant or detective after 4 1/2 years. There
are a variety of opportunities for sergeants as well. They can supervise a
shift of officers at a precinct or run an entire specialty unit like K-9,
Emergency Disposal Unit and mounted horse patrol. In addition, sergeants
can also serve in our Identification Division and Detective Division.
Q)
Do we offer scholarships?
A)
Yes, many $30,000 scholarships
are available. Visit the Police Corps at:
www.Oregonpolicecorps.com
or call 800-848-3957.
Q)
Is there a color vision
requirement?
A)
Yes, color vision should be
perfect. Nevertheless, red or green deficiencies will need to pass the
Ishihara (24-plate edition) with 9 of the 13 plates required. Recourse
testing is available by means of the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue Test
Applications are available at the
following locations:
(click button to view locations)
