Lateral Officer

Bellingham Police Department is seeking experienced law enforcement officers, to join our team. 

  • Successful completion of WSCJTC Basic Law Enforcement Academy; OR 
  • Successful completion of an approved law enforcement training academy and ability to meet standards prescribed by WSCJTC for eligibility and successful completion of Basic Law Enforcement Equivalency Academy;     

           AND

  • Associate degree or two years (90 quarter hours/60 semester hours) of general education coursework toward a degree at an accredited college or university; OR 
  • High School Diploma or equivalent, AND
  • Four years of active military service with honorable discharge (four years of military service may be substituted for two years of general education coursework toward a degree at an accredited college or university)

            AND

  • Two years (Twenty-four months) of full-time paid duty as a sworn police officer in a civilian governmental jurisdiction providing general law enforcement services, and be in said position at the time of application, or retain active commission. 

            OR

  • Four years of full-time paid duty as a sworn police officer in a civilian governmental jurisdiction providing general law enforcement services and be in said position at the time of application, or retain active commission (two additional years of experience may substitute for two years of general education course work toward a degree at an accredited college or university).  
  • Bilingual proficiency is highly desirable

  • Lateral officer salary range is $73,176 – $94,140 annually. Starting pay and vacation accrual rate are dependent on years of service at previous agency, up to – capped at 10 years of service.
  • Enrolled in the Law Enforcement Officer/Fire Fighter (LEOFF) Plan 2 Retirement System.
  • Matching 4.75% deferred compensation plan and additional city contribution of 1% for which employee matching is not required.
  • Incentives
    • AA Degree or 90 quarter/60 semester college credits – 2%
    • Bachelor’s Degree – 5%
    • Bilingual – 1%
    • K9 Handler – 3.75%
    • Range Officer – 1.75%
    • FTO – 5%
    • SWAT – 2%
    • Detective – 6%
    • Crime Scene Investigator – 6%
  • Vacation accrual per month
    • 1-4 years = 7.34 hours
    • 5 years = 10.34 hours
    • 6 years = 11 hours
    • 7 years = 11.67 hours
    • 8 years = 12.34 hours
    • 9 years = 12.34 hours
    • 10 years = 13 hours
    • 11 years = 13 hours
    • 12 years = 13.67 hours
    • 13 years = 13.67 hours
    • 14 years = 14.34 hours
    • 15 years = 18.17 hours
  • Current Contract
  • Medical Benefits

  • 1040s – Five 10.7 hour workdays comprise a work week.
  • Built on a 28-day work cycle, repeating monthly, with three work cycles and three day off cycles (five on, four off, five on, four off, five on five off)
  • Work 15 days, off 13 days in 28 day work cycle, one 5 day weekend (Wed-Sun each cycle.)
  • Work weeks are Mon-Fri, Wed-Sun, Fri-Tues
  • Friday-Tuesday workweek begins with a training day on that Friday, meaning we offer 12 in-house training days per year for every patrol officer.

All equipment provided by the agency.  This includes all uniforms, outer vest carriers, ballistic vests, firearms, and less lethal options.  Officers also receive a $250 boot allowance every two years.

  • Detective – 6% incentive
  • K9 Handler – 3.5% incentive
  • Crime Scene Investigator – 6% incentive
  • Firearms Instructor – 1.5% incentive
  • Field Training Officer – 5% incentive (while training)
  • Computer Forensic Officer
  • Forensic Video Analyst

  • SWAT – 2% incentive
  • Hazardous Device Unit
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Pilot
  • Crisis Negotiator
  • Defensive Tactics Instructor
  • Emergency Vehicle Operations Instructor

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