Police Officer

Join us for a Hiring Workshop:  

The Portland Police Bureau Hiring Workshops are back! You will have the opportunity to talk with PPB recruiters and background investigators and learn more about the hiring process and the career paths we offer.

Interested candidates can also choose to participate in the Oregon Physical Agilities Test (ORPAT) on a trial basis.

Register for upcoming workshops: https://www.joinportlandpolice.com/workshops 

Wellness Benefit

• Paid time (1 hour) to participate in wellness activities each shift 
• On-site fitness center locations and classes 
• Discounts to local fitness clubs 
• Chronic care coaching programs 
• Worksite wellness screenings
• Tuition Reimbursement Program

Paid Leave

• One hundred twelve (112) hours of vacation each year initially. This accrual will increase yearly.
• Sick leave typically accrues up to a maximum rate of one hundred four (104) hours per calendar year.
• Ten (10) paid holidays each year.
• Forty (40) personal hours accrue each year.

Union Representation: The Portland Police Association (PPA) represents this classification. To view this labor agreement, please go to https://www.portland.gov/bhr/employee-relations/labor-relations/labor-agreements and click on the appropriate link.

Salary Information: $82,000.00 - $117,000.00 annually plus overtime (time and a half) & pay incentives (up to 30% more). Entry Police Officers start at the Entry rate. Lateral Police Officers will go through a Pay Equity Analysis upon job offer. To view the compensation plan, please click here. 

Language Pay: This position is eligible for Language Pay Differential for qualifying employees.

Hiring Incentives 

Amount at Swear-In $1,000

Amount at End of Probation $1,000

Amount Upon Completion of 3 Years of Service $3,000

Total $5,000

*65.1.4.1 The hiring incentives for new officers as set forth in the above table are payable separately upon the new officer’s completion of each of the following events: swear-in, end of probation, and three years of service with the City. This provision does not apply to lateral hires. 

General Questions?

Please Contact: PPBRecruiter@police.portlandoregon.gov 

Questions About the Application Process?

Contact Information

Tamela Ressler, Senior Recruiter

Bureau of Human Resources

Tamela.Ressler@portlandoregon.gov

ALL APPLICANTS must meet each of the following conditions: 

• Must be at least 20.5 years old at the time of application. 
• Must possess a High School Diploma or GED. 
• Must be a U.S. Citizen within eighteen (18) months of date of hire, or a nonimmigrant legally admitted to the United States under a Compact of Free Association https://cann.us/. Non-citizen applicants must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. Application for U.S. citizenship requires five (5) years of residency.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license (in the current state of residence) at the time of application. 

LATERAL POLICE OFFICER QUALIFICATIONS 

• Must have three (3) years of continuous service in another police agency as a sworn police officer from a recognized state, county, or city (municipal) agency, to include sworn Indian tribal police, AND must have been employed there within the last two (2) years.
• 
  
• NOTE: Military police, Federal Law Enforcement, Corrections, and Parole/Probation DO NOT QUALIFY for a Lateral Police Officer. 

DISQUALIFIERS AND ELIMINATING FACTORS: 

• Cannot have any offensive forms of body art or tattoos. Tattoos above the collar or on the hand may be considered on a case-by-case basis. More information can be found at https://www.joinportlandpolice.com/faq/. 
• Must have vision correctable to 20/30. Additional information on medical requirements can be found on the DPSST F-2 form (Download PDF reader) (Download PDF reader). 
• Marijuana Use: As a sworn position, the candidate must not have used Marijuana (not including CBD) within 12 months of application.
• Have no felony convictions. 
• Have no convictions for crimes involving domestic violence. 
• Have no dishonorable discharge from any branch of military service.
• Have no more than three (3) traffic (moving) convictions in the last three (3) years. 

Please visit https://www.joinportlandpolice.com/entry-minimum-requirementsfor a more detailed list of disqualifiers and Eliminating Factors for becoming a Police Officer in Oregon.

The recruitment and selection process can take approximately 5 months. Please visit https://www.joinportlandpolice.com/entry#hiring-process to learn more about each phase of the recruitment process.

Phase 1: Apply Online (2-3 weeks) 

• Once your application is submitted, you will hear within 3 weeks regarding the next steps.
• Your answers to the supplemental questions will be scored. Applicants passing the supplemental question review will advance to next step. 
• Complete the NTN Written Exam, if required.
•  Additional information can be found at https://www.joinportlandpolice.com/entry#phase-1-the-test[RT1] 

Phase 2: Personal History Questionnaire (2 weeks)

Phase 3: Personal History Statement (2 weeks)

Applicants that submit a completed Personal History Questionnaire and Personal History Statement will be placed on an equally ranked eligible list and advance to the Background Investigation phase.

Phase 4: Background Investigation (1-3 months)

• Pass the Physical Ability Test
•  Additional information can be fount at https://www.joinportlandpolice.com/entry#background-investigation 

Phase 5: Command Interview

Phase 6: Psychological Evaluation

Phase 7: Medical Exam 

• Additional information on medical requirements can be found on the DPSST F-2 form (Download PDF reader) (Download PDF reader). 

Application Tips

To Request Veterans’ Preference: 

• Upload and submit with your application a copy of your DD214/DD215 and, if applicable, a copy of a Department of Veterans Affairs letter stating your disability rating with your application. 
• Please check the box in the Agency Wide Questions to identify yourself as a Veteran. 
• You must request Veterans’ Preference AND include a copy of your documentation for each recruitment cycle in which you apply. Veterans’ Preference documentation must be submitted at the time of your application.

 Supplemental Questions: 

• Your application and answers to the supplemental questions will be reviewed and scored.
• PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE QUESTIONS PRIOR TO ANSWERING. 
• Review your answers before submitting the application.
•  Reach out if you need additional clarification before submitting your application.
• Applicants who are disqualified based on their supplemental questionnaire responses will not be able to reapply for the position for six (6) months and may have their eligibility impacted.

Click here for additional information regarding the following: 

• Veteran Preference 
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations  
• Work Status 
• Equal Employment Opportunity 

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employe