Law Enforcement Officer Position

Ridgefield Police Department - Lateral Police Officer

 

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.

Ridgefield Police Department - Lateral Police Officer

Last updated on October 23, 2024
PST Partner Agency since February 01, 2018

Vacancies: 2

Important Information

Lateral candidates are not required to test through PST. Lateral candidates must enter their name on the lateral list for our department and complete the Personal History Statement (PHS) on the PST site.

Qualified lateral applicants are eligible for a $20,000 hiring bonus as outlined below:

  •       $5000  - first paycheck following successful completion of field training.
  •       $10,000 - first paycheck following successful completion of probation period
  •       $ 5,000 - first paycheck following successful completion of two-year anniversary

 To be considered a Lateral with the City of Ridgefield, you must:

  •  Have successfully completed the Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) or be a graduate of a Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy or equivalent, as accepted by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission.
  •  Have 12 months or more active law enforcement as a commissioned, full time, general authority law enforcement officer with a municipal, county or state law enforcement agency and 
  •  Not have been separated from law enforcement for more than 24 months, but less than 60 months.

Names will be pulled from the lateral hiring list as needed. The applicant can expect an email with further information on oral boards or Chief Interview. Invitations to participate in the oral board process will be on a first come, first served basis. 

Community Information

Ridgefield is located in northwest Clark County, Washington along the Interstate 5 corridor, 17 miles from the Portland international Airport. Washington State University-Vancouver,  and Clark College are located within 20 minutes. 

Ridgefield offers the best of life in a small, safe and supportive community while being in close proximity to the Portland-Vancouver metro area.

Located between the Pacific Coast and and the Cascade Mountains, Ridgefield boasts easy access to parks, lakes, rivers and forested areas symbolic of the Pacific Northwest.

Hiking in the Columbia River Gorge, the ski slopes of Mt. Hood, and the Washington and Oregon coasts are all within an easy 90-minute drive. 

With a city population of 15, 180 and 23,000 total outlying population, the community has unique offerings from our local merchants, artisans, wineries and companies supporting commerce and industry throughout the Northwest and beyond. 

Department Information

The Ridgefield Police Department is a community-centered law enforcement agency with a budgeted staff of 19 department members. Sworn positions include Chief of Police, one Lieutenant, four Sergeants and 11 patrol officers. There is also two administrative records positions.  Calls for emergency service are dispatched to officers in the field by the Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA) over an 800 MHZ radio system. 

Officers work four 11-hour shifts with four days off, including six additional training days annually.  They rotate shifts between day and graveyard every 6 months. 

The department is fortunate to experience a good working relationship with residents and the local business community, and continues to further strengthen those relationships through the implementation of neighborhood programs and community partnerships.


Please visit our website for more information at https://ridgefieldwa.us/256/Ridgefield-Police

Area Information

County: Clark
Population: 15,180
# of Staff: 19

Hiring Status

Ridgefield Police Department - Lateral Police Officer has 2 vacancies.

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

Salary Information

Salary Range $82,430 - $95,409 (2023 Annual Base Salary)

5% Instructor Pay
Specialty, Shift Differential and Longevity Pay
Annual Step increases of 5%
College Incentive Pay: 2% Associate, 4% Bachelors
Retention Bonus

**$20,000 lateral hiring bonus for eligible candidates**

Benefit Information

The City of Ridgefield offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes:

$20,000 lateral hiring bonus for eligible candidates

Medical - for employees and eligible family members and domestic partners. 100% Employer paid premium for Employee. 90% Employer paid premium for eligible Family.

Dental, vision and employee assistance program for employers, family, and domestic partners.

Paid Leave: 88 hours vacation per year, accrue 11 hours sick leave per month, 12 paid holidays.

$750 Fitness Bonus

DRS Law Enforcement Officer and Fire Fighters (LEOFF) Retirement

Group Life Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, two-times base salary

Long-term Disability Policy

Take Home Vehicle

Safe and Supportive Community

Collaborative Team Environment

Drone Program

View the full 2023 Benefits Package:

https://ridgefieldwa.us/DocumentCenter/View/416/Police-Benefits-2023-PDF

The Ridgefield Police Officers' Association (RPOA) represents the law enforcement officers. View the current labor agreement between RPOA and the City (PDF), effective January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024:

https://ridgefieldwa.us/DocumentCenter/View/414

Ridgefield Police Department - Lateral Police Officer Requirements

Category Requirement Required at time of...
    Test Hire
Written Examination No, not required

Must complete a Personal History Statement from PST.

LEO/CO Physical Ability Test (PAT) No, not required (may be required later)
PST Personal History Statement Yes, required within 14 days of passing required exam(s)
Minimum Age 21
Citizenship US Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident.
High School Grad/ GED Yes
Driver's License Required Yes
Felony Conviction(s) as an Adult None.
Felony Conviction(s) as a Juvenile None.
Ability to Read, Speak & Write the English Language Yes
Vision Requirements Correctable to 20/20
College Requirement AA degree preferred but not required.
Basic Law Enforcement Academy Certification Yes
Prior Experience Requirement must have a minimum of 1 year experience as a commissioned, full time, general authority law enforcement officer with a municipal, county or state law enforcement agency. However, if there has been a break in full-time law enforcment employment of twenty-four (24) months but less than 60 months, the applicant shall be ineligible for lateral entry. WAC 139-05-210
Other
Multiple Scores from Same Applicant We consider all the scores from the same applicant

Ridgefield Police Department - Lateral 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 __2_ or more traffic crime convictions in last __3_ years (DWI, Suspended, Reckless, etc.).
Automatic A misdemeanor driver's license suspension in the last five years.
Drug Usage
Automatic Illegal use of illegal drugs in the last 10___ year(s).
Automatic Other drug use outside these standards will be considered on case by case basis.
Automatic Pattern of illegal use of prescription medication.
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 statue.
Automatic Unlawful sexual misconduct.
Automatic An applicant must have no prior conviction for or any general factual equivalent of such violations. That is, any deferred prosecution, stipulated continuance, or other equivalent for: A) Any felony whatsoever. B) Crime of domestic violence as defined by RCW 10.99.020. C) Crime classified as domestic violence in any other state, or tribal court. D) Any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.
Employment
Automatic Withdrawn from consideration for any (law enforcement/fire/corrections/dispatch) employment because of the following reasons: - Lied during any stage of the hiring process. - Falsified his or her application, personal history questionnaire, or any other forms during hiring process. - Each termination/discharge will be looked at on an individual basis.

Contact Information

Ridgefield Police Department - Lateral Police Officer

101 Mill Street, Suite 110
PO Box 546
Ridgefield, WA 98642 Clark County
360-887-3556 ext 0

Website


Agency Test Requirements
Written Examination: No, not required
PAT: No, not required (may be required later)

PST Personal History Statement: Yes, required within 14 days of passing required exam(s)


Other Ridgefield Police Department positions

Police Officer