Community Information
The City of Sedro-Woolley is a community of approximately 13,000 and is expected to be 13,500 by the end of 2024. Sedro-Woolley is located in the beautiful Skagit Valley. Sedro-Woolley is known as the “Gateway to the North Cascades” because it is located on the western edge of the majestic Cascade Mountain Range in northwest Washington State. Sedro-Woolley is a great place to work, live and play. The city is situated south of Mount Baker National Forest, west of the North Cascade National Park, along the banks of the Skagit River and about 30 minutes east of Puget Sound. Located east of I-5 at the junction of Highway 20 and Highway 9, Sedro-Woolley is perfectly placed for anything outdoors. Sedro-Woolley is a young city with a median age of 34. Sedro-Woolley continues to grow with the thriving industrial development and recent expansions of the Port of Skagit County within the city limits. The Sedro-Woolley School District consists of 3 elementary schools, a newly renovated Cascade Middle School and Sedro-Woolley High School within the city limits and 4 additional elementary schools just outside of the city limits. Sedro-Woolley is the home to community-wide celebrations including Loggerodeo, Blast From the Past, Halloween Parade and the Christmas Parade.
Department Information
The Sedro-Woolley Police Department is a full-service department established in 1898. The Department works with our citizens and visitors to deal with crime and the people or groups who victimize others.
The Department consists of 21 sworn officers - Chief of Police, a Lieutenant, 4 Patrol Sergeants, 2 Detectives, and 13 Patrol Officers. The Department also has 5 support staff, including 1 Code Enforcement/Animal Control Officer, 1 Records Supervisor, and 3 Records/Evidence Clerks.
The Department has partnerships with other agencies including 2 officers on the county-wide Crisis Negotiation team, 2 Investigators on the Skagit Multiple Agency Response Team, 2 officers on the North County Regional Swat Team, and 1 officer on the Skagit County Drug Task Force. The department supports officers' involvement in specialty positions and provides opportunities for officers to receive training to achieve their goals. This has resulted in having 2 Firearms Instructors, 2 Defensive Tactics Instructors, a Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Officer, 4 Active Threat Response Instructors, 3 Patrol Tactics Instructors, an Emergency Vehicle Operations Instructor, 6 Peer Support Officers, 2 members managing social media communication and 1 member for PBT calibrations. Officers are assigned a patrol car and have a take-home Patrol Vehicle Program, which expands to a 25-mile radius from Sedro-Wooolley city hall. Officers with a take-home car must be within a 45-minute response time.
The Sedro-Woolley Police Department benefits from a very supportive community that includes our citizens, elected government, local businesses, and visitors. This support was shown when voters passed a Proposition 1 tax increase to fund an additional 3.25 officer positions and a .5 record position in 2019.
The Sedro-Woolley Police Department and the Sedro-Woolley School District have signed an interlocal agreement as of 5/13/24. We are now in the process of implementing an SRO program by hiring an additional police officer who will be assigned to the school district as a School Resource Officer.
The Sedro-Woolley Police Department is implementing a canine program starting in 2025. We are planning a dual-purpose canine for tracking and controlled substance detection.
Area Information
County: Skagit
Population: ~13,000
# of Staff: 25
Hiring Status
Sedro-Woolley Police Department - Lateral Police Officer has 5 vacancies.
The Sedro-Woolley Police Department continuously tests for entry-level and lateral police officers and currently has 3 openings as of 5/15/24.
Applicants on the Eligibility List may be selected for interview. Vacancies are filled by Civil Service "rule of five" with the top five candidates forwarded to the appointing authority for background investigation and selection as vacancies occur. If given a conditional offer of employment candidates will be polygraphed and undergo a psychological examination and a medical examination. Officers attend the Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy followed by a Field Training Program.
Salary Information
$6,706-$8151per month (2024 rates)
$80,472 - $97,812 annually (2024 rates)
Officers currently work a 4-day work week, consisting of 12-hour shifts followed by 4 days off. While on this 4-12 shift program, officers receive a 5.28% shift premium in addition to their base wages.
Including the shift premium salary range calculates to:
$6,706-$8581per month (2024 rates)
$80,472 - $102,972 annually (2024 rates)
Specialty assignments are given an additional specialty pay of 2.5%-5%.
The current Sedro-Woolley Public Safety Guild Contract can be found on the City of Sedro-Woolley website labeled SWPSG Police Officers for 2023-2024 and updated wages SWPSG Police Officers 2025 Wage Table Update using link below:
https://www.sedro-woolley.gov/resources/employment_opportunities/contracts.php
Benefit Information
The city provides an excellent benefits package that includes Longevity Pay, Vacation Leave, Sick Leave, Medical, Vision, Dental, Long-Term Disability Insurance, Holiday Pay, Deferred Compensation program (at officer's expense), Limited Tuition Reimbursement, Gym Reimbursement and Wellness program, Take-Home Vehicle Program.
Officers currently work a 4-day work week, consisting of 12-hour shifts followed by 4 days off. While on this 4-12 shift program, officers receive a 5.28% shift premium in addition to their base wages.
The current Sedro-Woolley Public Safety Guild Contract can be found on the City of Sedro-Woolley website labeled SWPSG Police Officers for 2023-2024 and updated wages SWPSG Police Officers 2025 Wage Table Update using link below:
https://www.sedro-woolley.gov/resources/employment_opportunities/contracts.php
Sedro-Woolley Police Department - Lateral Police Officer Requirements
| Category |
Requirement |
Required at time of... |
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Test |
Hire |
| Written Examination |
No, not required
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LEO/CO Physical Ability Test (PAT)
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No, not required (may be required later)
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| Minimum Age |
21
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| Citizenship |
US Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident.
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| High School Grad/ GED |
Yes
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| Driver's License Required |
Yes
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| Felony Conviction(s) as an Adult |
None.
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| Ability to Read, Speak & Write the English Language |
Yes
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| Vision Requirements |
Correctable to 20/20
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| College Requirement |
Desirable, not required
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| Basic Law Enforcement Academy Certification |
Yes, must have successfully completed the WA State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) Academy and/or have a WSCJTC Equivalency Certificate.
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| Prior Experience Requirement |
Have a minimum of twelve (12) months full-time job experience as a sworn, fully paid Municipal, County, State or Federal Police (military police experience does not qualify) within the past twenty-four (24) months.
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| Body Decorations |
We allow non-offensive tattoos to be visible while on duty. A neatly trimmed beard or mustache may be worn.
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| Other |
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| Multiple Scores from Same Applicant |
We only consider the most recent score
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Sedro-Woolley 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 |
1 or more criminal traffic convictions in the last 5 years (DUI, Suspended, Reckless, Hit and Run, etc). This includes the charges being reduced or pled to a lesser offense such as DUI to Negligent or Reckless Driving. |
| Automatic |
Suspension of driver's license within past 5 years. |
| Automatic |
Violations: more than 7 points in 3 years.
Denial of Insurance = 8
Neg homicide = 8
DUI = 8
Neg driving w/acc. = 4
Hit & Run attended = 8
Hit & Run unattended = 6
DWLS = 4
Moving violation w/acc = 4
Moving violation = 2
Reckless driving w/acc = 8
Reckless driving = 6
Speeding: 1-14 over = 2, 15-19 over = 3, 20-25 over = 6, over 26 = 8
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| Automatic |
Been involved in more than one motor vehicle accident within the preceding 3 years for which the applicant received a traffic or criminal citation and was convicted, forfeited bail, or entered a plea of "guilty" or "nolo contendere". |
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| Drug Usage |
| Automatic |
Illegal use of any drug or use of any marijuana while employed in a criminal justice capacity. |
| Automatic |
Illegal sale of any drug, including marijuana. |
| Automatic |
Illegal use or pattern of misuse of prescription medication. |
| Automatic |
Used any drug by injection other than for a prescribed medical purpose. |
| Potential |
Use of marijuana, within the past 1 year. |
| Automatic |
Use of any illegal drug within the past 5 years. |
| Potential |
The quantity and pattern of use of any illegal drug or marijuana outside these standards will be carefully reviewed and are potential disqualifiers. |
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| Criminal Activity |
| Automatic |
Any adult or juvenile felony conviction or felony arrest. |
| Automatic |
Any criminal conviction while employed in a criminal justice capacity. |
| Potential |
Adult misdemeanor convictions will be carefully reviewed and are potential disqualifiers. |
| Potential |
Any juvenile misdemeanor convictions or arrests will be carefully reviewed and are potential disqualifiers. |
| Automatic |
Been convicted or committed any crime under a domestic violence statute. |
| Automatic |
Been convicted or committed any unlawful sexual misconduct. |
| Potential |
Illegal or legal sexual activity will be carefully reviewed and are potential disqualifiers. |
| Automatic |
Been convicted of a felony, or any offense that would be a felony if committed in Washington State, or has been incarcerated after conviction for any crime. |
| Automatic |
Been previously employed as a law enforcement employee and since has committed or violated federal, state or city laws pertaining to criminal activity. |
| Automatic |
Committed any serious violation of Federal, State, City or County laws. |
| Automatic |
Past or current gang affiliation. |
| Potential |
Any previously undetected criminal activity discovered during the background will be carefully reviewed and are potential disqualifiers. |
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| Employment |
| Automatic |
Been dishonorably discharged from the United States armed forces. |
| Automatic |
Falsified his or her application, personal history questionnaire, or any other forms during hiring process. |
| Automatic |
Withdrawn from consideration for any law enforcement/fire/ corrections/dispatch employment due to dishonesty or pending criminal charges. |
| Potential |
Previous law enforcement background process disqualifications from other agencies will be carefully reviewed and are potential disqualifiers. |
| Automatic |
Previous revocation or denial of peace officer certification. |
| Potential |
Termination or leaving in lieu of termination from a law enforcement agency will be carefully reviewed and are potential disqualifiers. |
| Potential |
Past employment record will be carefully reviewed. |
| Potential |
Applications that are incomplete or have information omitted. Applicants who are non-responsive and/or that do not complete requested portions of the background process. |
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| Financial |
| Potential |
Current credit accounts or unresolved accounts in collection will be carefully reviewed and are potential disqualifiers.
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| Automatic |
Failure to pay income tax or child support. |
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| Other |
| Potential |
Residency requirement: Police department members will reside at a residence that will allow them to be present at the Police Station in an elapsed time of no more than 45 minutes travel time under normal driving conditions. |
| Potential |
Please contact SWPD for any additional information on any of these sections. |
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