Law Enforcement Officer Position

Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife - Fish and Wildlife 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.

Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife - Fish and Wildlife Officer

Last updated on December 30, 2024
PST Partner Agency since October 19, 2011

Vacancies: 5

Testing Deadline: April 21, 2025.

Important Information

We are currently hiring! Make sure that your Personal History Statement is complete (DETAILED) when submitted.

Entry level applicants must have:

Two years of college coursework (60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits) in any discipline
OR
Three years paid, full-time natural resource experience
OR
Three years active duty military service

Please review our updated disqualifiers at https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/enforcement/jobs/requirements

To find job details, go to: https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/enforcement/jobs

We are looking for exceptionally qualified candidates who meet our minimum eligibility requirements, and are passionate about protecting Washington's fish and wildlife populations.

Exceptionally qualified applicants will not only meet or exceed our minimum qualifications, but will also have an extensive background in hunting and/or fishing, a clear understanding of our highly specialized brand of law enforcement, and a strong desire to protect Washington’s fish and wildlife species for future generations to enjoy. Exceptional candidates will also be able to provide examples of how they exemplify the WDFW Police core values (Accountability, Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Respect, and Empathy) in both their personal and professional lives.

Duty stations are assigned upon completion of the entire hiring process, prior to entering the Academy. Duty stations are assigned per mission need and recruits may not always receive the area they desire. However, there are opportunities for movement as positions come open, thus a recruit could eventually end up in the desired location. Recruits should be flexible and willing to move upon application for a Fish and Wildlife Officer career.

Please pay close attention to the minimum requirements and disqualifiers before applying for a Fish and Wildlife Police Officer position. There are no exceptions granted for minimum requirements and/or automatic disqualifiers.

Community Information

Washington State boasts lush rainforests, majestic mountain ranges, freshwater lakes, a rugged coastline, rolling hills, alpine meadows, high desert, and winding rivers – a diverse landscape that is home to nearly seven million people and a variety of fish and wildlife species. Land this rich in natural beauty and habitat is ideal for those seeking outdoor recreational opportunities. Most Washingtonians and many visitors enjoy participating in outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, clam digging, boating, and wildlife watching, on both public and private lands throughout the state.


Although Washington’s recreating public tends to have the most contact with our Officers, Fish and Wildlife Police Officers are deployed statewide in both rural and urban areas to enforce all Washington State laws (including criminal code, traffic laws, etc.), fish and wildlife regulations, and specific federal laws.

Department Information

"PROTECTING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE PUBLIC WE SERVE"


The mission of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police is to protect our natural resources and the public we serve. We currently have 176 Fish and Wildlife Police Officer (FWO) positions deployed statewide to meet this mission.

 Our Officers are fully commissioned, general-authority peace officers who enforce all Washington State laws (including criminal code, traffic laws, etc.), fish and wildlife regulations, and specific federal regulations. All Fish and Wildlife Police Officers must complete the Basic Law Enforcement Academy at the Criminal Justice Training Center in Burien, before they can become a fully commissioned law enforcement officer.

Area Information

County: Statewide
Population: N/A
# of Staff: 176

Hiring Status

Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife - Fish and Wildlife Officer has 5 vacancies.

The deadline to test for the next hiring cycle is April 21, 2025.

New Fish & Wildlife Officer testing standard is set for 75% or better for the LEO written exam.

We are currently hiring!  Projected interview panels:

- May 20-22, 2025 -- Testing Deadline of April 21, 2025.

Make sure that your Personal History Statement is complete (following all directions on each page and detailed) when submitted, within seven (7) days of testing. Additionally, we request you submit a one (1) page cover letter, uploaded to your PST profile as soon as your testing is completed. This cover letter should address the following:

- Why are you a good fit for a Fish & Wildlife Officer career?

- What are your outdoor hobbies?

- In what capacity have you participated in a team environment (i.e. sports, work, etc.)?

A candidate is not applying for a particular duty station at the time the application (Public Safety Testing scores, Personal History Statement, and Cover Letter) is submitted. As the hiring authority, WDFW Police Chief assigns duty stations based on mission need. Therefore, a candidate must be prepared for any statewide assignment. However, there are occasions where a duty assignment can accommodate both current mission needs and personal location desires. Out of the open duty stations available that have a high mission need candidates are often provided more than one option to choose from. Finally, duty stations are typically assigned just before the Basic Law Enforcement Academy attendance for entry level Recruits.

There are opportunities for lateral movement (changing duty stations) throughout an officer’s career, thus the potential to eventually be in the desired location may be achieved. Additionally, it is very rare that an officer is directed to move once they settle into a duty station.

Open duty stations can change frequently, even while an applicant is going through the hiring process. Frequent changes are usually the result of retirements, in-agency lateral officer transfers, and a mission need update on the duty station.

Officers must live within twenty (20) miles of the legal boundary of the city assigned, and within Detachment boundaries consistent with the current bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

Fish and Wildlife Officer Recruit: $5,810.00 per month, while in training. 

- Plus Education Incentive (Associates = 2%, Bachelors = 4%)

- Base Pay: $6,275.00 (Training Completion)

- Plus 10% Assignment Pay (Training Completion)

- Plus Longevity Pay (Starts at 5 Years)

Benefit Information

Benefits include a flexible work schedule, 10% assignment pay, education incentives, paid vacation and sick leave, military leave, 11 paid holidays, excellent health, life, and long term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and a state retirement plan (LEOFF 2).

Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife - Fish and Wildlife Officer Requirements

Category Requirement Required at time of...
    Test Hire
Written Examination Yes, required

PST Written Test Passing Score = 75% or Better

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 10 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

Multi-lingual applicants that are also fluent reading and writing English are encouraged to apply. WDFW is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment.

Vision Requirements

20/40 (CORRECTED OR UNCORRECTED)

College Requirement Two years college coursework ( 60 semester or 90 quarter credits) in any discipline; OR three years of paid full-time, natural resource experience; OR three years honorable Active Duty Military Service; OR three years of paid Law Enforcement experience.
Veterans Preference Points Yes
Other Preference Points No, other preference points are not available.
Multiple Scores from Same Applicant We only consider the most recent score
Request/Access Scores On an as-needed basis as vacancies occur

Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife - Fish and Wildlife 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 DUI within five years. Also includes reduced charges (e.g. negligent driving).
Automatic Pattern of traffic violations and/or auto accidents in the past five years or while employed in a criminal justice capacity.
Potential Applicant's driving record.
Automatic Suspension of driver's license within past 7 years.
Drug Usage
Automatic Use of marijuana in the last 12 months.
Automatic Illegal drug use other than marijuana in the last 3 years.
Automatic Illegal drug use while employed in a criminal justice capacity.
Automatic Manufacture, sale, transporting for sale, or facilitating the sale of illegal drugs (unless under 21 at the time AND the act occurred more than 10 years from the date of application).
Potential Pattern or history of drug use.
Potential Illegal drug use while serving in the military.
Potential

Misuse of prescription drugs, unless there was an immediate, emergency medical circumstance to justify the use of a prescription-controlled substance not prescribed to the person.

Potential

Note:

Illegal drugs are those controlled substances listed in drug schedules 1-5 derived from RCW 69.50.204, RCW 69.50.206, RCW 69.50.208, RCW 69.50.210 and RCW 69.50.212

Possession is defined as having actual physical control of any illegal (non-prescribed) drug for personal use or otherwise.

Use is defined as trying, testing, or experimenting, which includes, but is not limited to tasting, smoking, injecting, absorbing, sniffing, or inhaling.

Potential Other drug use outside these standards will be considered on case by case basis.
Criminal Activity
Automatic Any felony conviction.
Automatic Any criminal conviction while employed as a criminal justice professional.
Automatic Conviction for any crime under a domestic violence statute.
Potential Adult misdemeanor convictions.
Potential Pattern of Fish and Wildlife and/or natural resource violations.
Employment
Automatic Dishonorable or bad conduct discharge from the United States armed forces.
Automatic Falsification of the application, personal history questionnaire, or any other forms during hiring process.
Automatic

Revocation or denial of any Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC)/Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) certified status, or suspension of current CJTC/POST certified status.

Potential

Any termination or resignation in lieu of termination, from a law enforcement agency or other form of employment.

Potential

Law enforcement applicants involved in open administrative investigations or inquiries.

Potential

Patterns of substandard employment performance and/or disciplinary actions

Potential Civil litigation while employed in a criminal justice capacity.
Potential
Financial
Automatic

Not in compliance with income tax or child support payments at the time of application.

Potential

Failing to pay financial obligations; accounts in collections, garnishment of wages, civil litigation (bankruptcy), etc.

Other
Automatic Any conduct or pattern of behavior that would tend to disrupt, diminish or otherwise jeopardize public trust in the law enforcement profession.
Automatic No Personal History Statement.
Potential

Candidates with any tattoos that are deemed offensive may be disqualified. Visible tattoos will be evaluated by the appointing authority or designee on a case-by-case basis.

Potential

Visible piercings will be evaluated by the appointing authority and shall not be offensive or indecent in nature.

Potential

Incomplete Personal History Statement (PHS), or inaccurate/outdated information provided in PHS.

Contact Information

Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife - Fish and Wildlife Officer

1111 Washington ST SE
Olympia, WA 98501 Statewide County
360-742-6905

Website
Facebook

Contact a Recruiter
Agency Test Requirements
Written Examination: Yes, required
PAT: Yes, required

PST Personal History Statement: Yes, required within 10 days of passing required exam(s)


Other Washington State Dept. of Fish & Wildlife positions

Communications Officer/Dispatcher
Lateral Fish and Wildlife Officer