CITY OF RENTON WASHINGTON

The Renton Police Department is organized in six divisions:

• Patrol Operations
• Patrol Services
• Investigations
• Administrative Services
• Professional Standards
• Special Operations

The department takes great pride in the quality of our personnel and the services they provide, which include (but aren't limited to):

• Traffic
• Narcotics
• SWAT
• Civil Disturbance Unit
• Community Outreach
• Patrol
• K-9
• Bicycle Patrol
• Investigations
• School Resource Officers

The nature of police work involves the protection of life and property, enforcement of laws and ordinances, the prevention and investigation of crimes, and the ability to exercise independent discretion.

A police officer must possess intelligence and integrity and stand up to rigorous personal, ethical, moral and physical challenges. While providing service to the community, the greatest rewards of the profession are self-esteem, pride and the opportunity to utilize individual talents and skills.

The entry level police officer testing process includes a written examination, physical ability test battery, and an a panel interview.

Public Safety Testing is the first step in the application process. Both lateral and entry level candidates who successfully complete their respective process will be placed on the eligibility register according to their composite score, plus veterans' preference points, if applicable.

Entry level applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Age 21 at the time of examination

• United States citizen or lawful permanent resident

• Read and speak the English language

• High school graduate or equivalent, college coursework preferred

• Ability to obtain a Washington State Driver's License free of suspensions or revocations

• No felony convictions

• No domestic violence convictions

• Ability to pass a series of qualifying pre-employment examinations

• $1,000 sign-on bonus

Lateral applicants must have been employed on a full-time basis as a general authority, paid commissioned officer for a minimum of 12 of the last 36 months at the time of application.

Applicants must also have successfully completed a basic police training academy and if they are from outside of the State of Washington, become certified by the Washington State Equivalency Academy  within one year of employment.

The city offers lateral candidates a $40,000 signing bonus through 2024, a 250-hour sick leave bank, and a 250-hour personal leave bank. Lateral police officer candidates must pass a panel interview.