Please use this form to sign up for information regarding the next Community Police Officer and Lateral Police Officer Test.
Lateral Officer
A Lateral officer is someone that has completed at least 3 years of continuous service and is currently employed or has been employed within the past 6 months by a police agency as a sworn police officer (responsible for 9-1-1 calls) for a recognized state, county or city (municipal) entity. The 3 years of service must be current, full-time, unbroken, and continuous with no more than a 30 day break in service with a city, county or state police agency.Upon passing probation lateral officers earn a higher pay grade and vacation accrual. Lateral officers whose state certification is recognized by Oregon do not have to attend the DPSST Basic Academy. However, lateral officers must attend the Advanced Academy, which is run by the Police Bureau in Portland. Lateral officers go through the same 18-month probation and training program (FTEP) as recruit officers, but tend to accelerate more quickly.
Why Join?
The public depends on law enforcement officers to protect the lives and property of civilians. We work and live by a set of values: integrity, compassion, accountability, respect, excellence and service. Law enforcement officers serve as the first and last line of defense against any criminal action. We help keep the streets safe by putting the bad guys behind bars. We mentor kids and help keep them out of gangs. We improve peoples’ lives by pushing criminals out of their neighborhoods and making them safe. You get to help people every day; they trust, depend and look up to you. Compared to working as a Portland Police Officer, all other jobs seem ordinary.Why Portland?
Portland is one of the most beautiful cities in the country. Oregon ranks among the top ten highest paying states for law enforcement.With an affordable cost of living, Portland is that much more beautiful.
A Position with the Portland Police Bureau is:
- Fast-paced, exciting and varied work.
- A rewarding career with great pay and benefits.
- Full of assignments and opportunity for promotion.
- A gateway to excellent training programs. You have all the tools to fight crime and protect the people before your first day on the street.
- A retirement you can count on. With a thinning social security program and economic fluxuations that can make corporate pensions disappear, this is great peace of mind.
- Job security – A job that’s here today, a job that will be here tomorrow.
To apply now to become a Lateral Police Officer, click here
What's Next: The Hiring Process