Law Enforcement Officer Position

College Place Police Department - Entry Level Police Officer

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PROFILE DISCLAIMER

The information herein is provided by the respective agency and is only as accurate and as up-to-date as the agency representative(s) update this information. PST is not responsible for the veracity of this data as it is provided directly from the agency. It is ultimately the applicant's responsibility to verify any information about the agency with the agency.

College Place Police Department - Entry Level Police Officer

Last updated on August 28, 2025
PST Partner Agency since January 26, 2017

Vacancy: 1

Testing Deadline: September 30, 2025.

Community Information

Live and work in one of the most beautiful locations in the State of Washington. College Place offers a great place to live, work and play. College Place has something for everyone in the family to include hunting, hiking, fishing, biking and nearby skiing in the winter or golfing in the summer. We are surrounded by the Blue Mountains and nearby rivers. College Place and the Walla Walla valley have great shopping, special events and over 140 wineries. The College Place School District recently opened three new schools; elementary, middle and high school. We are also home to Walla Walla University.

Department Information

The College Place Police Department is responsible for providing law enforcement coverage 24 hours per day, seven days a week and includes patrol, community response, traffic, investigation, police records management, and police administrative services. The Police Department operates with a budget of just under $2 million, and is budgeted for a total of 20 officers and support staff. Current staff in the department includes the Police Chief, Police Captain, two Patrol Sergeants, two Detectives, twelve Patrol Officers, a Records Supervisor and Records Clerk. Working closely with Walla Walla Police Department, Walla Walla County Sheriff's Office, Milton-Freewater Police Department, and neighboring Columbia County, the College Place Police Department went live with New World Computer Aided Dispatch in August of 2016.

Job Description

POSITION DESCRIPTION

A police officer is charged with the responsibility of protecting life and property through enforcing statues and laws. Personal conduct and behavior (on duty as well as off duty) must be such that it does not bring disrepute or unnecessarily endanger the public’s trust or confidence in the agency or its members. Duties normally consist of patrol and traffic activities in the City on an assigned shift in a patrol car or on foot; however, employees may be assigned special functions requiring prior law enforcement experience and may assume the supervisory duties of a higher-level classification for training purposes. Patrol Officer may also act as the School Resource Officer (SRO) and provide special security and law enforcement services to schools. Primary functions include:

  • Police patrol activities.
  • Utilizing various proven methods to prevent crime.
  • Investigating criminal activity, apprehending and arresting law breakers.
  • Conducts traffic law enforcement and investigates collisions.
  • Investigates, reports, and determines factors, takes enforcement when appropriate; and provides the information to appropriate authorities and recommends preventative measures.
  • Helping those persons in need of a variety of different kinds of assistance.
  • Testifies in court.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Depending upon assignment, the incumbent may perform a combination of some or all of the following duties, which are a representative sample of the level of work appropriate to this class.
  • Works independently with minimum supervision in the investigation(s) of violations of law or duties related to position.
  • Respond to calls for service, the public’s needs, and department assignments.
  • Observe and recall incidents and situations encountered while on duty.
  • Investigate crimes and/or traffic collisions, enforcement and incidents.
  • Prepare and present reports and information as required.
  • Maintain relations with citizens and agencies in the community.
  • Accomplishment and adherence to mission, vision, values, goals, objectives, policies, rules, and regulations of the department.
  • Maintain records chronologically in accordance with department rules and procedures.
  • Works with Records Coordinator to organize, locate and archive all reports as required by the State Retention Schedule.
  • Notify Communications or a supervisor of their location when off duty as needed to establish availability for emergencies in accordance with rules of the Policy Manual.
  • Represent the College Place Police Department at events, schools, and other public gatherings.
  • Maintains vehicle, uniforms, tools, equipment, and work area in a clean and professional manner.
  • Ability to testify in court regarding criminal arrests, investigations and infractions.
  • Pushing/pulling – for example, disabled vehicles, violators, cuffing resistant persons, operating vehicle controls, removing people from vehicles, forcing a jammed vehicle door open at collision scene, opening and closing patrol car door.
  • Climbing/jumping – for example, negotiating all terrains (icy, bumpy, graded, loose gravel, or dirt) at collision and investigation scenes, nuisance code, obstacles when in foot pursuit or providing assistance to someone, jumping onto hood of vehicle to safety; climbing over guardrails, fences or gates.
  • Squatting/kneeling – for example, retrieving evidence at crime scene, reading tape measure at collision scenes, checking vehicle equipment, rendering first aid, and picking up dropped items.
  • Bending/stooping – for example, operating, entering, and exiting vehicles quickly, applying bandages to injured person, accessing reference materials, and effecting physical arrests or restraining a person.
  • Twisting/turning – for example, exiting vehicle quickly to engage in foot pursuit, operating vehicle shield, conducting vehicle inventories, applying first aid to victim within a vehicle, picking up evidence at crime scenes, drawing weapons, arresting persons, reaching for handcuffs, or opening doors.
  • Handling/grasping – for example, operating vehicle controls, handling weapons, flashlight, ticket books, reports, telephones, radios, writing instruments, door handles, handcuffing, or collecting evidence.
  • Finger dexterity – for example, writing reports, pulling trigger of firearms with both hands, and drawing collision scene diagrams.
  • Smelling – for example, distinguishing odors of gasoline, propane, diesel, fertilizers, insecticides at collision scenes or spills; marijuana or odors associated with the manufacture of illegal drugs.
  • Feeling – for example, locating controls of vehicle or using firearms in the dark, locating a pulse during first aid, or determining if an engine is warm or cold at crime scenes.
  • Pushing/pulling – for example, obtaining items from vehicle, lifting objects, putting a spare tire onto lugs for motorists, and closing vehicle trunk.
  • Squatting/kneeling – for example, applying tire chains during inclement weather.
  • Bending/stooping – for example, retrieving evidence from crime scene, picking up dropped item, obtaining tread depth readings at collision scenes, removing spare tire from trunk, and reaching supplies on shelves.
  • Shoveling – for example, snow, sand, or clearing debris.
  • Hammering – for example, PK nail at collision scene.
  • Twisting/turning – for example, retrieving spare tire, accessing reference materials from shelf, or reaching for supplies in storeroom.
  • Handling/grasping – for example, handling rifle, shotgun, ballistic shield, tire-iron, jack, wrench, grasping tire pressure or tread depth gauges.
  • Reaching – for example, items from glove box, supplies in cabinets.
  • Machinery, tools, equipment, personal protective equipment: Patrol vehicle, firearms (sidearm, shotgun, optional rifle) flashlight, taser, emergency equipment, handcuffs, ballistic vest, baton (asp), PBT, first aid equipment, speed monitoring devices, OC-10 spray, ballistic shield, flashlight, vehicle jack, lug wrench, jump pack, tire chains, mobile data terminal (MDT) computer terminal, radio and video device.
  • Protective equipment include: bloodborne pathogens protection (gloves, face shield, Tyvek suit); HEPA filter mask, gas mask, ballistic vest, and riot helmet.
  • Office equipment include: laptop or desktop computer, copier, printer, shredder, calculator, telephone, fax machine, blackberry, or cell phone.
KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED
  • Complete the State of Washington Basic Law Enforcement Academy through the Criminal Justice Training Commission and serve one-year probationary period before receiving permanent status as a police officer.
  • Understand and follow applicable laws, regulations, and other standards to maintain a safe working environment.
  • Adhere to established safety policies and procedures; carefully observe and report potential hazards or breaches of security plans while in the work place.
  • Maintain and properly utilize personal protective equipment as required by training and or division/district policy/procedure.
SKILLS/ABILITIES REQUIRED
  • Maintain the public’s safety when dealing under stress and pressure situations and take a human life in self-defense or when necessary to protect the public.
  • Willingness to work with and serve all people in a wide variety of situations.
  • Communicate orally and in writing with a variety of people in different settings.
  • Recognize and appropriately respond to potentially dangerous or stressful situations.
  • Ability and willingness to learn and apply common sense in all situations to the best of their ability.
  • Ability to adjust to and perform well in rapidly changing situations.
  • Meet the physical demands of police work, including use of physical force, compatible with the psychological requirements of police work.
  • Knowledge of investigative procedures, evidential and departmental reporting requirements, and the use of proper arrest techniques.
  • Take decisive action and be self-reliant when patrolling and providing security.
  • Knowledge of departmental objectives, procedures, rules, regulations, city ordinances, federal and state law.
  • Use of specialized police equipment and instruments.
  • Use of police firearms and knowledge of safety procedures and legal controls.
  • Knowledge of locations of allied city, county, state and federal or emergency agencies in assigned geographical areas of responsibility.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
  • Must be a high school graduate or have obtained a general education diploma.
  • Must be 21 years of age.
  • Complete applicant testing phase to include passing polygraph, background, psychological evaluation and medical screening.
  • Possess a valid un-restricted Washington Driver’s license.
  • Complete the State of Washington Basic Law Enforcement Academy through the Criminal Justice Training Commission and serve one-year probationary period before receiving permanent status as a police officer.
  • Reaching (overhead, outward) – for example, arresting or handcuffing, operation of vehicle controls, radios, handing objects to others, measuring collision scenes, obtaining items from vehicle interior, firing weapons (shotgun, rifle, pistol, taser); answering telephones, writing reports, opening doors, restraining resistant prisoner, and manual traffic control.
  • Lifting – for example:
    • Lightweight objects (25 pounds or less), such as flashlight, ticket books, reports, and tape measures
    • Medium weight objects (25 to 100 pounds), such as debris in roadway.
    • Heavy objects (100 – 250 pounds), such as during physical arrests, apprehending suspects, lifting bodies, removing obstructions from highway, carrying stretchers.
  • Sitting for long periods of time, including but not limited to the following; road closures, criminal investigations, and other emergency activities.
  • Standing for long periods of time while conducting the following task; traffic control, investigations, security functions, and contacting violators.
  • Maintaining balance for example, at grades or rough surface at collision scenes, on trestles or bridges.
  • Walking for long periods of time for example, making violator contacts, contacting the public, completing reports, obtaining information, and conducting investigations.
  • Walking on rough terrain at collision scenes, or searching for wanted persons.
  • Running during a foot pursuit, rendering aid, or assisting fellow officers.
  • Have the ability to communicate knowledgeably while making violator contacts, court testimony, contacting the public, and communicating on the car radio or phone.
  • Hear- Possess the ability to hear the following; radio traffic, court testimony, violator contacts, contacting the public, hearing alarms, ascertaining where sound is coming from during building searches, apprehending criminals, and approaching traffic; and discrimination among environmental sounds as in building searches, apprehending criminals, and criminal investigation scenes.
  • Vision – for example, close vision for reading reports and statures in the English language, conducting sobriety tests, perceiving minute items of evidentiary value, or perceiving dangers; far vision for observing danger, reading license plates, identifying persons or vehicles, observing traffic, reading traffic control devices in the English language; side (peripheral) vision; for observing movement, such as violators, oncoming traffic perceiving danger; depth perception for discerning distances at collision scenes, distances between vehicles following too closely approaching traffic, or danger; night vision for observing person, objects, motion, and other characteristics in darkness, driving, operating vehicle controls, and contacting violators in the dark, glare recovery from oncoming headlights or signs, and perceiving danger in the dark; and color vision for discerning the color of hit-and-run vehicles, color of clothing of suspects of criminal activity, colors of buildings or homes to contact the public, and color of traffic control devices or signing.
LICENSE & OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Valid State of Washington driver’s license and driving record acceptable to our insurance provider.

WORKING CONDITIONS

  • Work is performed in office and outdoor settings, in all weather conditions, including extreme temperature, and exposed to various pollens, dusts, and insects.
  • Individual may be exposed to conditions and hazards associated with obstacles, heights, use of firearms, motor vehicle operation and maintenance, emergency response to fires, spills, or hazardous material, collisions involving power lines or flames.
  • Work may be performed alone in remote locations.
  • Individual may be exposed to hazards associated with law enforcement, such as physical altercations, use of force, and/or exposed as a target for other persons.

Area Information

County: Walla Walla
Population: 10,050
# of Staff: 20

Hiring Status

College Place Police Department - Entry Level Police Officer has 1 vacancy.

The deadline to test for the next hiring cycle is September 30, 2025.

The eligibility list is a continuous listing and maintained as scores are received from PST with oral board interviews conducted on an as-needed basis. Vacancies are filled by Civil Service "rule of three" with the top three candidates forwarded to the appointing authority for background investigation & selection as vacancies occur.


Number of Current Vacancies: 1

Salary Information

Probationary (without state certification): $5,782/mo. Police Officer: $6,735/mo - $7,580/mo

Benefit Information

• Excellent Medical, Dental, and Vision for employees and dependents

•$50,000 Life Insurance Policy

• 12 1/2 Paid Holidays

•Sick & Vacation Leave

•LEOFF 2 Retirement Program

• Education Incentive Pay

• Specialty Incentive Pay

• Longevity Pay

• Employee Assistance Program

• Uniforms and equipment provided

• Take Home Vehicle

•Optional 457 Plan, AFLAC, and Flexible Spending Plan


College Place Police Department - Entry Level Police Officer Requirements

Category Requirement Required at time of...
    Test Hire
Written Examination Yes, required
LEO/CO Physical Ability Test (PAT) Yes, required

Your physical ability test must be completed 180 days (~6 months) before or after your passing written exam.
PST Personal History Statement Yes, required within 7 days of passing required exam(s)  
Minimum Age Minimum of 21 years of age at the time of the final selection process.
Citizenship US Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident
High School Grad/ GED Yes
Driver's License Required Must possess driver’s license (WA & OR).
Felony Conviction(s) as an Adult

No adult felony convictions at any time.
Felony Conviction(s) as a Juvenile

Will be carefully reviewed
Ability to Read, Speak & Write the English Language Yes
Vision Requirements Correctable to 20/20
Basic Law Enforcement Academy Certification Not for an initial entry level hire. Must be able to get into and successfully complete academy to within a year of hire to be retained as a Police Officer.
Prior Experience Requirement Not required, but will be considered.
Veterans Preference Points Yes
Multiple Scores from Same Applicant We only consider the most recent score
Request/Access Scores On an as-needed basis as vacancies occur

College Place Police Department - Entry Level Police Officer Disqualifiers

The following are automatic and potential disqualifiers. Applicants should not apply to our agency if they indicate any of the automatic disqualifiers. Potential disqualifiers will be considered on a case by case basis.

Category Disqualifier
Driving
Automatic 1 or more traffic crime convictions in last 10 years (DWI, Suspended, Reckless, etc.).
Automatic Suspension of driver's license within past 10 years.
Automatic 3 or more moving violations in past 10 years.
Automatic More than 1 at-fault accident within past 10 years.
Drug Usage
Automatic Illegal drug substance usage or exposure within past 10 years.
Automatic Illegal use of illegal drugs in the last 10 years.
Automatic Illegal use of ANY controlled substance while employed in a criminal justice capacity.
Automatic Illegal opiate use.
Automatic Hallucinogen use within past 10 years. No more than 1 uses total.
Automatic Illegal use of 1 or more different controlled substances.
Potential Other drug use outside these standards will be considered on case by case basis.
Automatic No illegal sale of ANY drug, including marijuana.
Automatic Illegal use of dangerous drugs or narcotics, other than marijuana, for any purpose more than 1 time(s) in lifetime, and no use within the past 10 years.
Automatic Pattern of illegal use of prescription medication.
Automatic Marijuana use within one year of application
Criminal Activity
Automatic Any adult felony conviction.
Automatic Any misdemeanor, or felony conviction while employed in a criminal justice capacity.
Potential Adult misdemeanor convictions will be carefully reviewed.
Potential Juvenile felony conviction will be carefully reviewed.
Automatic Been convicted of any crime under a domestic violence statute.
Automatic Unlawful sexual misconduct.
Employment
Automatic Falsified his or her application, personal history questionnaire, or any other forms during hiring process.
Financial
Automatic Failure to pay income tax or child support.
Other
Automatic PLEASE NOTE: If you have any questions or concerns regarding the disqualifiers, please contact Administration at 509-394-8506.

Contact Information

College Place Police Department - Entry Level Police Officer

629 S College Avenue
College Place, WA 99324 Walla Walla County
509-529-1200

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Agency Test Requirements
Written Examination: Yes, required
PAT: Yes, required

PST Personal History Statement: Yes, required within 7 days of passing required exam(s)


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