Entry Level Police Officer

Job Description

Entry Level Police Officer

The City of Oregon City Police Department is establishing a hiring list for Entry Level Police Officers. We are seeking dedicated individuals to join our team in providing full performance law enforcement and crime prevention services to our community.

Compensation & Benefits

• Additional Pay for DPSST Certification:
  • 5% for Intermediate Certification
  • 10% for Advanced Certification
• Detailed information about salary and benefits is available on the National Testing Network website.

Application Deadline

To be considered for employment, applicants must complete an online City of Oregon City job application and submit National Testing Network (NTN) FrontLine Test scores by 11 p.m., December 31, 2026.

Application and Testing Information

The Oregon City Police Department utilizes the National Testing Network (NTN) for entry-level testing. Follow the steps below to apply and test:

1. Complete an Online City of Oregon City Job Application: This must be done first, especially if you plan to request a scholarship.
2. Sign up for Testing with National Testing Network:
   • Go to www.nationaltestingnetwork.com.
   • Select “Law Enforcement” and sign up for the “Oregon City Police Department”.

What to Expect on the National Testing Network (NTN) Website:

• Completion of the NTN application process.
• Review all information related to the Oregon City Police Department police officer position, including minimum requirements, salary, and benefits.
• Detailed information about the entry-level testing process.
• Opportunity to take online practice tests at www.frontlinetest.com.
• Ability to schedule your own convenient test time (tests are offered multiple times a week, including Saturdays).
• Take high-quality job simulation tests in a standardized, fair testing environment.

Testing Requirements:

• NTN FrontLine Test:
  • Oregon City Police requires a score of 75% or higher in four FrontLine tests to be considered: writing, reading, and both parts of the Public Safety Self-Assessment.
  • Upon completion, all candidate scores are automatically forwarded to the Oregon City Police Department.
  • Candidates must attain at least a 75% score on EACH section of the NTN exam to be placed on the department’s eligibility list.
• ORPAT (Oregon Physical Agility Testing):
  • Oregon City Police Department will contact candidates on the eligibility list and invite them to continue to participate in other stages of the department selection process, including the scheduling of the ORPAT.
  • The ORPAT will be scheduled and conducted by the Oregon City Police Department.
  • The City of Oregon City DOES NOT accept ORPAT test results from other jurisdictions.

National Testing Network is a service provided to conduct entry-level testing. NTN does not replace the Oregon City Police Department’s responsibility and decision-making in the testing process; all candidate results are provided to Oregon City Police Department where the final decisions are made.

Job Summary

This is full performance law enforcement and crime prevention work. Employees occupying positions of this class are responsible for the protection of life and property through enforcing statutes and laws; rendering emergency assistance to the public in a wide variety of situations; performing standard crime and accident prevention duties; serving arrest warrants; issuing citations for violation of city ordinance and state statutes; identifying and recovering stolen property; investigation of traffic accidents and initial investigation of crimes; deciding whether to arrest or not, as well as when to use force or firearms. Work involves an element of personal danger, and incumbents are responsible for enforcing statutes and laws with minimal supervision. Work is occasionally reviewed while it is being performed but is primarily reviewed by a supervisor who reads reports and evaluates results of completed work.

During their probationary period, officers receive classroom and on-the-job training related to police work, applying these to work situations. They are transferred from one shift to another to acquaint them with various aspects of work within the department. Throughout this period, officers perform the full range of police officer duties under the immediate supervision of an experienced police officer or high graded person. They are also required to obey all orders from superior officers and all rules and regulations of this department.

Typical Duties Include:

• Patrols a designated area of the city in a police patrol vehicle or on foot to deter and discover crime and enforce traffic ordinances; does on-the-scene investigations of incidents, aids persons in trouble, and renders other public services as needed.
• Issues citations to violators of city ordinances and state statutes; serves warrants of arrest; arrests persons on misdemeanor and felony charges; handcuffs and searches arrested persons and secures their custody; completes necessary reports concerning the alleged crime, the circumstances of arrest, evidence obtained and the names of witnesses, victims, and complainants.
• Responds to reports of possible crime and takes initial action as situations require, to secure the scene; administers emergency first aid; interviews available victims and witnesses; gathers evidence and arrests suspects; completes incident and arrest reports; investigates persons suspected of being engaged in crime; ascertains and secures evidence pertaining to alleged crime; arrests suspects for probable cause; and requests specialized assistance as needed.
• Responds to automobile accidents; administers emergency first aid and summons necessary assistance; interviews principals and witnesses; makes general drawings of accident scenes, noting details and completes standard accident reports; issues citations or makes arrests as situation warrants.
• Investigates and assists drivers in stalled vehicles and pedestrians who appear to be hurt or in trouble; interviews persons with complaints or inquiries, gives information on laws and ordinances, and attempts to resolve the problem or to direct them to proper authorities.
• Investigates family disputes and reports of maltreatment of children; takes principals into custody, as needed, or refers them to appropriate agencies, such as juvenile and medical authorities.
• Performs guard duty in court or serves as bodyguard to public officials or threatened persons; transfers prisoners to and from jails, testifies in court.
• Performs specialized duties depending upon individual officer’s background and abilities and the needs of the department and are required to maintain their assigned departmental equipment.
• Performs physical requirements associated with the position; including the ability to walk, run, jump, stand, lift, sit, restrain combative individuals, drive for long periods of time, and other physical requirements as determined by DPSST.
• Develops contacts to obtain information about crime, maintains contact with paroled criminals and suspects at large.
• Broadcasts and receives messages; maintains contact with and notes status of field units.
• Processes and secures services or information required by field units; relays requests to proper departmental division.

Not all work to be performed is specifically described.

Required Skills

• Skill in analyzing situations quickly and objectively to recognize actual and potential dangers and to determine proper course of action.
• Skill in reading and understanding laws, ordinances, rules and regulations.
• Skill in coping with stress situations firmly, tactfully, and with respect for individual rights.
• Skill in communicating clearly, verbally and in writing.
• Skill in the use of computers.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with fellow employees and with citizens from varied racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds.
• Skill in developing proficiency in the use and care of a variety of firearms.
• Skill in learning and using investigative techniques and procedures.
• Skill in observing and remembering detail.
• Skill in learning to drive light duty passenger vehicles skillfully.
• Physical strength and agility sufficient to perform the work of the class.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from high school, or the equivalent GED certificate.
• Preference will be given to:
  • Previous experience in law enforcement.
  • Those who have a basic DPSST certificate.
• Desirable: College level law enforcement coursework.
• Any satisfactory equivalent combination of experience and training, which insures the ability to perform the work, may be substituted for the above.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of Oregon City is an Equal Opportunity employer. The City will continue to recruit, hire, train, and promote into all job levels without regard to race, religion, gender, marital status, familial status, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, source of income, or protected veteran status. It is the City’s policy to prohibit workplace harassment, discrimination and retaliation on the basis of protected status. The City of Oregon City is committed to creating a respectful and professional work environment that is free of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation and that promotes employment opportunities.

Scholarship Request for Testing Fees

Oregon City Police is in partnership with The National Testing Network (NTN). The NTN allows applicants to take the law enforcement video and written test and Oregon Physical Abilities Test (ORPAT) at any time at an NTN location and use those scores when applying with the Oregon City Police Department (OCPD) for law enforcement positions.

There is a fee associated with this service. However, OCPD does not want a fee to prevent any interested person from testing to become an Officer. If you are interested in taking this test for a law enforcement career opportunity but are discouraged by the fee, please complete the Scholarship Request Form (form not included in this description, please refer to OCPD or NTN website for access).

OCPD has scholarships available. If you have questions, please call Kelly Dilbeck, Police Business Manager at 503-905-3513.

Important Notes Regarding Scholarships:

• Receiving a scholarship has no bearing on your scoring or testing outcomes.
• Upon acceptance, this scholarship is only valid for the Oregon City Police Department.
• You will be notified of your acceptance and sent a voucher number.
• You must have applied with the City of Oregon City first before receiving this scholarship.
• Please do not sign up for testing until you have received your voucher number.
• The Oregon City Police Department will not forward this scholarship or test results to other agencies.