Currently certified law enforcement officers that can meet all SPD requirements and pass a Police Officer Equivalency Examination, may be considered for a Lateral position. Benefits of a lateral transfer include not having to attend the basic law enforcement academy and receiving pay comparable with your years of service from Step 3 up to Step 6.

The Pre-Employment Process:

#1 - Ensure you meet the Requirements
Before you begin the application and test preparation process, ensure that you meet both the minimum hiring standards as well as the requirements for Lateral Candidates. Once in Backgrounding, applicants who do not meet the police department's eligibility requirements will be considered less competitive.

#2 - Application Process
Apply with the City of Seattle Personnel Office

You can apply online (preferred) or via mail:

Police Exam Application Information

All exam candidates who submit an application will receive an exam scheduling letter 2 weeks after the filing deadline. This scheduling letter will provide the scheduled time and location of each portion of the exam process. Candidates should not wait to receive the scheduling letter in order to make any necessary plans for travel.

Lateral Entry candidates must complete the PHI packet and bring it to your Written Test.

Personal History Information Packet
  PDF Doc Word Doc

NOTE: Failure to return your completed PHI will result in disqualification from the hiring process. Make sure and attach photocopies of your driver's license, social security card, DD 214 and academy certification (if applicable). The Release of Information & Credit History Release forms MUST be notarized.

#3 - The Civil Service Examination
Written Test:

• Focuses on memorization, general knowledge, grammar & spelling, multi-tasking, common sense questions, and reading comprehension.
• You will have a 2 hour and 15 minute study session prior to the test to prepare for the memorization portion of the test.
• The written test has 135 questions, you need 80% correct to pass. (You can miss up to 27 questions.)

You will have 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete the written test.

You will be notified within 3 weeks by mail by Seattle's City Personnel office as to your overall score on the Examination and placement on the eligibility list.

Please do not call to inquire about your score.

Note: Lateral officers are not required to take the Physical Agility Test or participate in Oral Boards.

#4 - The Background Process
The Seattle Police Department Background Unit continually processes police officer candidates. Background investigations commence once a candidate is assigned to a detective. Candidates are assigned in the order of their placement on the civil service list. This process can take some time, so please be patient.

#5 - The Hiring Process
After successfully completing the backgrounding and testing processes, the most competitive candidates are offered conditional employment with the Seattle Police Department.

DO NOT QUIT YOUR CURRENT JOB or MOVE until you receive a written
FINAL OFFER of employment!

After receiving a conditional offer of employment you will be scheduled additional tests, including a polygraph, psychological exam, medical exam and finally, an in-person interview with a Seattle Police Assistant Chief or his/her representative.

Once you receive your final offer of employment you will be notified of your academy start date & employment orientation.

Employment:

#6 - The Law Enforcement Academy
ALL certified law enforcement officers from outside the State of Washington must take and pass the Police Officer Equivalency Examination administered by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission.

Lateral officers attend a 2 week State Equivalency Academy.

#7 - Post-BLEA and Field Training
Upon successful completion of the equivalency academy, there will be a 4-week Post-BLEA (Basic Law Enforcement Academy) course where you will learn Seattle Municipal Laws, policy and procedures and services specific to Seattle.

Field training for Lateral Officers is scheduled for 8 weeks.

#8 - Probationary Period and Assignments
Once you successfully complete the Field Training program you will be assigned to the Patrol Division where you work a Patrol shift at one of our five precincts.

Lateral applicants will be paid at a rate comparable with the years of service within their current agency as a POLICE OFFICER, up to Step 6 on the SPD pay scale.

You will be a probationary police officer for the first year following your graduation from the academy. Once passing probation, you will become a permanent member of the Seattle Police Department.

The Police Officer training program at the Seattle Police Department is approved by the Higher Education Coordinating Board's State Approving Agency (HECB/SAA) for training of those eligible to receive veterans benefits under Title 38 and Title 10, U.S. Code.

After working 3 years in Patrol, you are eligible to apply for other assignments.
You become eligible to test for promotion after 5 years.