PORT TOWNSEND CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT AND CIVIL SERVICE TESTING INFORMATION
The City of Port Townsend will be accepting applications for Police Sergeant through May 10 2026 to fill one vacancy.
Note Completed application cover letter and resume are required. Applications submitted without a cover letter and resume or not documenting the required qualifications below will not be considered.
Residency requirement
All police officers must reside within fifty 50 road miles of Port Townsend city limits within six months of hire date.
Full job description available here.
Required qualifications for external applicants
At the time of appointment an Associate degree or 90 college credit hours toward a Bachelors degree from an accredited college. 7 years of experience as a police officer some of which must have been with an agency in Washington State. Valid drivers license and ability to maintain a driving record acceptable to the Citys insurance carrier. WA State Criminal Justice Training Commission CJTC Basic Law Enforcement Academy BLEA or equivalent. Have not been separated from law enforcement for more than 60 months at the time of hire. Ability to complete CJTCs Pre-Supervisors course within six months of hire date. Ability to complete CJTCs First Level Supervision course within one year of hire date.
Preferred qualifications
Sergeant or other supervisory experience. Completion of CJTCs Pre-Supervisors course. Completion CJTCs First Level Supervision course.
Placement in this position is subject to a thorough background investigation FBI fingerprint and criminal history check motor vehicle record check polygraph exam psychological evaluation medical exam and drug screen.
Benefits
WA State LEOFF pension plan Optional 457 Deferred Comp with 50 match of up to 4 base earnings Medical dental and vision insurance through WA Teamsters Welfare Trust Fund Time lossshort-term disability insurance Retirees Welfare Trust funded by employee Life & AD&D insurance Sick leave earns 1 day per month May be eligible for sick leave conversion annually Vacation graduated accrual schedule starts at 8 hours per month 12 paid holidays accrued at 10 hours per month Up to 5 days of bereavement leave if applicable Employee Assistance Program EAP
COMPENSATION
Base pay 53.40-58.40 Total compensation range 53.40-67.51 per hour including maximum potential longevity educational incentive and specialty pay
This position may be eligible for the additional compensation listed below. Details can be found in the Collective Bargaining Agreement
Annual increases after graduation from the Academy until at step 5 Longevity pay on a graduated schedule starting at 1 after 2 years up to 9 after 20 years Educational incentive 3 for Associates degree 5 for Bachelors degree Overtime pay Compensatory time Holiday pay if scheduled or called in on a holiday Specialty pay of 1 for assignments such as detective or Field Training Officer Jury duty pay at regular rate during service Call-back pay Plain clothes assignment and laundry allowance when assigned by Chief Teamsters initiation fee is 100 and monthly dues are 2.25 of hourly wage x the base hourly rate rounded to the nearest dollar. Officers may be required to work on holidays.
Testing Process
Application Scoring
Applications will be scored based on several job-related factors including required qualifications and relevant work experience. The results of this application scoring are not factored into the final score. This is instead an examination that must be passed to proceed to the next step.
Supervisory Skills & Abilities Test
Candidate application scores will be ranked. Up to the top five candidates will be invited via email to participate in the supervisory skills and abilities test currently scheduled for Wednesday May 27 2026 at the City of Port Townsend Police Department. Exact times to be determined closer to the testing date.
Qualified internal applicants will be given priority for testing. As the City intends to limit testing to five candidates in the event of a tie of application scores the candidate with more years of relevant experience will be invited to continue in the process and take the test.
Testing is in-person only there will not be a virtual option.
The test will be administered by Public Safety Testing PST and will include an inbox exercise critical thinking practical scenarios and a structured interview. Scoring will be based on 1 interpersonal communication 2 leadership and professional presence 3 legal and procedural awareness 4 problem solving and priority management and 5 situational judgment and decision-making with each scoring category receiving 20 of the final PST score.
Thefollowing additional percentages be added to the final PST score
Associate Degree 5 Bachelors Degree 5 5 years service as a police officer 1.5 10 years service as a police officer 3.5 15 years service as a police officer 5
Final scores will be ranked for placement on a promotional eligibility list which will be valid for 18 months. Candidates on the list will be eligible for additional interviewing and background process at the Police Chiefs discretion with one candidate selected to fill the current job opening.
Veterans PreferenceRCW 41.04.0103 states that certain veterans as defined in RCW 41.01.007 may be eligible to receive a 5 scoring criteria status in promotional examinations until the first promotion only. This applies only to veterans who were called to active military service from employment with the state or any of its political subdivisions or municipal corporations.
Veterans Scoring Criteria Status In Examinations Formhttpscityofpt.applicantpool.compagesveteranformand a copy of applicants DD-214 must be provided with your application.
The City of Port Townsend is an equal employment opportunity employer. The City employs retains promotes disciplines and otherwise treats all employees and job applicants strictly on the basis of job-related qualifications and competence. These policies and all employment practices shall be applied without regard to any individuals sex race color creed religion national origin sexual orientation including gender identity pregnancy age marital status military status disability genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.