Police Officer

Job Description

Police Officer – City of Arlington

To apply, please submit your application through Public Safety Testing and select City of Arlington:
Public Safety Testing – City of Arlington – Police Officer

Job Summary

Individuals perform assigned law enforcement work necessary to maintain public peace and order, to protect life and property, to prevent crime, to apprehend suspected violators of the law, and otherwise to ensure enforcement of State laws and City ordinances.

This position is represented by the Arlington Police Officers’ Association.

Please note: salaries listed are 2026 salaries.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

• Patrol and Observation: Patrol the city by vehicle, maintaining continual observation of residential, business, rural, and industrial facilities. Observe for evidence of illegal activity in progress or which has already occurred, or any other irregular activity indicating a need for attention.
• Foot Patrol and Investigation: Patrol on foot as necessary to perform duties thoroughly. Investigate conditions such as open doors, broken windows, and vehicles parked in suspicious locations.
• Radio Communication: Use portable or car-mounted radio transmitters/receivers as necessary to exchange job-related information.
• Motor Vehicle Enforcement: Enforce motor vehicle operating regulations, apprehend violators, issue warnings or citations, and make arrests or take other action as warranted. Coordinate activities with other law enforcement or government agencies as necessary.
• Traffic Monitoring: Operate radar units to detect speed violations. Perform routine radio checks of vehicle identification against stolen vehicle databases and identify outstanding arrest warrants.
• Public Assistance: Investigate and assist drivers and pedestrians in difficulty, resolving situations or referring to proper authorities.
• Traffic Control: Direct traffic during abnormal situations such as accidents, fires, or periods of congestion.
• Crowd Control: Perform crowd control activities at public gatherings as warranted, including dispersal of unruly individuals or groups.
• Geographic and Criminal Intelligence: Develop detailed knowledge of the city street system, airport facilities, landmarks, local activities, habits of citizens and suspected or known criminals, and other patterns of public activity.
• Emergency Response: Respond to all emergency calls, including traffic accidents, public or private altercations, robberies, burglaries, thefts, industrial or home injuries, water accidents, and deaths.
• Sensitive Call Response: Respond to personally sensitive calls such as family disturbances, missing persons, and domestic altercations. Exercise caution for personal safety and the safety of others at the scene; take appropriate steps to calm parties and resolve the immediate situation.
• Incident Assessment: Upon arrival at the scene of a call, assess the nature and urgency of the problem, determine circumstances and persons involved, decide if routine or emergency handling is required, and determine if other officers or superior officers should be called.
• Crime Scene Management: Upon arriving at a crime scene, arrest or detain suspects for probable cause as warranted. Take all necessary steps to preserve and control the crime scene. May assist in initial investigations, including interviewing victims and witnesses.
• Accident Investigation: Report to accident scenes, administer first aid as necessary, summon medical personnel, control the accident scene, interview principals and witnesses, prepare a general sketch of the scene, and complete standard accident reports. Issue citations or make arrests as warranted.
• Arrest and Transport: Make arrests or detain suspects, employing only the level of physical force necessary to control individuals as warranted. Handcuff and search individuals, advise individuals of their rights, and transport to the County Detention Facility.
• Court Testimony: Appear in court to present evidence, facts, details of circumstances, and otherwise testify against persons accused of crimes. Respond to questioning and cross-examination from prosecuting and defense attorneys.
• Report Writing: Prepare written reports of sufficient legibility and clarity for others without knowledge of the incident to readily comprehend the facts. Ensure reports can serve as the basis for subsequent investigations or for court proceedings and testimony, including narrative writing with identifying features, times, places, and answering “who, what, when, where, how, why.”
• Legal Explanation: Explain the content of the law to persons involved in a dispute, describing the process of filing a formal complaint, the extent of law enforcement powers, and the responsibility of citizens to follow legal procedures. Inform those involved of applicable law and their alternatives, or refer to an employee of higher classification.
• Community Engagement: Conduct presentations before school groups and service organizations on law enforcement matters.
• Legal Interpretation: Read, interpret, and enforce applicable laws and ordinances to quickly determine their application to any encountered incident.
• Situational Assessment and Decision-Making: In any incident, assess the sensitivity and complexity of the situation to expeditiously decide the course of action and whether and when to turn it over to an employee of higher classification.
• Rights Notification: Determine when persons being detained in any incident should know why they are detained and are aware of the law or violation; advise accordingly.
• Composure and Self-Control: Maintain composure and self-control under varied and adverse physical and/or psychological conditions, such as public harassment, heckling, ridicule, critical injury situations, or death. Carry out official duties in a timely, objective, and effective manner.
• Interpersonal Skills: Within departmental policy parameters, develop and apply individual methods and techniques that enhance personal ability to persuade, influence, and control individuals of varied backgrounds.
• Situational Awareness and Self-Defense: Maintain continuous alertness to potential “worst case” reactions from any person questioned for a violation of law. Exercise caution in approaching individuals, be prepared for self-defense or defense of other individuals or property, and apprehend and detain individuals when necessary.
• Emergency Driving: In driving a police vehicle in emergency situations, determine when to use flashing lights and sirens and how to drive in relation to personal driving ability, weather conditions, traffic density, and speed to respond to emergency calls or apprehend offenders.
• Firearms Use: Determine when and how to use firearms of the appropriate type in any specific situation, consistent with departmental policies and procedures.
• Training Completion: Satisfactorily complete coursework and training, including in-service training in methods, procedures, and techniques of law enforcement work presented by higher-classification employees or at special schools.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Ability to express self clearly and concisely in speaking and writing, and legibly in writing or printing.
• Ability to memorize and recall detail, e.g., names, faces, incidents, identification of objects.
• Ability to maintain composure and self-control under adverse conditions, e.g., public harassment, ridicule, critical injuries, death.
• Ability to cope with situations firmly, courteously, tactfully, and with respect for the rights of citizens.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees.
• Ability to perform duties and maintain personal conduct, attitude, and appearance that conform to strict policies, procedures, discipline, and within a “chain of command” management system.
• Ability to hold self in readiness at all times to answer calls, accept authority, obey orders of superiors, and accept a strict personal and organizational code of conduct and ethics.
• Ability to adjust to a lifestyle that requires working rotating shifts and days of the week, including work on holidays, and being subject to overtime, holdover, and call back at any time.
• Ability to maintain a balanced perspective about life in general notwithstanding continuous exposure to the criminal element of society.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be twenty-one (21) years of age.
• Must be a United States citizen, lawful permanent resident, or DACA recipient.
• Criminal record free of any convictions which relate to fitness to perform the job.
• High School Diploma or GED.
• Associates Degree in criminal justice or a related field preferred.
• Valid Washington State Driver’s License, or ability to obtain, and a driving record acceptable to the City.

Hiring Process and Training Requirements

• Pass Civil Service Examination process.
• Upon a conditional offer of employment, other examinations will include, but are not limited to:
  • Pre-employment interview
  • Psychological examination
  • Polygraph examination
  • Complete background investigation including criminal history and driving record
• Must complete Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission Basic Law Enforcement Academy within one year of hire.