Police Recruitment Information
General Testing Information
In partnership with the Human Resources Department, the Renton Police Department is continually seeking qualified men and women from all segments of society to help us continue our tradition of giving the City of Renton the best possible law enforcement service. To apply for an Entry Level position, please contact - Public Safety Testing. To learn if there are any vacancies or to apply for a Lateral position please go to the City of Renton Job Opportunities page. For questions about the recruitment process, contact Brian Sandler, Civil Service Chief Examiner, (425) 430-7650.
ENTRY/LATERAL POLICE OFFICER
When you apply for the position of Police Officer, you are actually applying for placement on an eligibility register. If you meet the minimum qualifications, you may progress in the competitive selection process. The entry level police officer testing process includes a written examination, physical ability test battery, and an oral board interview. The lateral (experienced) police officer testing process includes an oral board interview. The lateral police officer is done on a continuous basis. Candidates who successfully complete the process will be placed on the eligibility register according to their composite score, plus veterans' preference points, if applicable. Each testing phase, for both positions, has standardized criteria that must successfully be met by a candidate to qualify the applicant to continue in the hiring process, which may include the following components:
An applicant's failure to meet the criteria in any phase constitutes grounds for disqualification.
Police Officer Applicant Qualifications
Entry Applicant Qualifications
Entry level applicants must meet the following criteria:
Age 21 at the time of examination
United States citizen; read and speak the English language
High school graduate or equivalent, college course work preferred
Ability to obtain a Washington State Driver's License free of suspensions or revocations
No felony convictions
Ability to pass a series of qualifying pre-employment examinations
Lateral Applicant Qualifications
In addition to meeting the above requirements, all lateral entry applicants must have been employed on a full-time basis as a general authority, paid commissioned officer for a minimum of 12 of the last 36 months at the time of application. Applicants must also have successfully completed a basic police training academy and become certified by the Washington State Equivalency Academy within one year of employment.
The Department
The Renton Police Department is a full service law enforcement agency, organized in six divisions; Patrol Operations, Patrol Services, Investigations, Administrative Services, Auxiliary/Staff Services and Special Operations. The Renton Police Department is proud to be recognized as a fully accredited agency by both the State of Washington and the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
We take great pride in the quality of our personnel and the services they provide, which include:
- Animal Control
- Bicycle Patrol
- K-9
- School Resource Office
- Volunteer Program
- Vacation Home Security
- Traffic
- Narcotics
- Emergency Services
- Citizen's Academy
- Valley Narcotics Enforcement Team (V.N.E.T.)
- Neighborhood & Business Watch
The Role of a Police Officer
The nature of police work involves the protection of life and property, enforcement of laws and ordinances, the prevention and investigation of crimes, and the ability to exercise independent discretion. A police officer must possess intelligence and integrity and stand up to rigorous personal, ethical, moral and physical challenges. While providing service to the community, the greatest rewards of the profession are self-esteem, pride and the opportunity to utilize individual talents and skills.
Academy and FTO Training
A police officer's career begins at the academy where training is provided for 18 weeks (720 hours), 8 hours every day, except weekends and holidays. Commissioned academy graduates are assigned to the Patrol Division under the guidance of a Field Training Officer who instructs and guides new officers in the practical application of academy training.
Lateral police officers are assigned directly to the Patrol Division with a Field Training Officer to provide orientation and training. Performance is evaluated during the first year on a regular basis.
All Entry-Level officers serve an 18-month period of probation where job performance is formally evaluated by a supervisor.