The Mount Vernon Police Department continuously accepts applications for employment. We currently have two openings; interested parties are encouraged to visit www.PublicSafetyTesting.com for information on how to apply.  The application and test scheduling process is completed at the convenience of a computer terminal.

Department Information
The Mount Vernon Police Department has a staff of 56. There are 44 sworn employees, which include 1 Chief of Police, 3 Lieutenants, 6 Sergeants, and 34 Police Officers.  In addition, we have 2 Community Service Officers, 1 Animal Control Officer, 1 Records Manager, 1 Administrative Assistant, 1 Investigations Secretary, 1 Receptionist, and 5 Records Specialists. With the exception of the Chief of Police and Records Manager, all are civil service positions.

Check out our benefits package and working conditions by clicking on these pdfs:
Benefit1.pdf & Benefit2.pdf

Hiring
It is important to our Department to recruit quality employees, and to represent the diversity of the community we serve. The multi-faceted hiring process takes anywhere from four to six months, and includes the following:

1. Meet qualifications and submit an application (through publicsafetytesting.com)
2. Pass Physical Agility Test (measures strength, agility, and endurance)
3. Pass Written Exam (measures judgment, writing, and academic skills)
4. Oral Board Interview (evaluates presentation, common sense, decision-making abilities, communication skills, etc.)
5. Polygraph Exam (verifies truthfulness)
6. Background Investigation (thorough review and verification into the candidates' background)
7. Conditional Offer of Employment (candidate is suitable to continue in the selection process)
8. Psychological Examination and Evaluation (measures psychological characteristics and stability)
9. Medical Examination (physical examination, drug screening, x-rays, lab work, vision, hearing, etc.)
10. Applicant is hired and sent to the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center for approximately 18 weeks of training at the Basic Law Enforcement Academy

Recruiting
Competition among police agencies throughout the State is tough. Everyone wants to hire the best candidates; the "cream of the crop." The Mount Vernon Police Department has two Recruiters, Officers Walter Martinez and Jeff Dowhaniuk, who work under the direction of Administrative Lieutenant Jerry Dodd. Officers Martinez and Dowhaniuk set up information booths at high schools, colleges, military bases, and job fairs. They also rely on speaking engagements, word of mouth, and the media to assist in locating as many potential applicants as possible.

Lateral Transfers (The Department does not accept out-of-state lateral applications)
Sworn Police Officers from other agencies within the State of Washington may apply for employment at the Mount Vernon Police Department. These "lateral applicants" go through a similar testing process described above; however, if hired, they would not have to go to Basic Academy a second time as long as their certification has not expired. If an officer "laterals", his/her training and experience would be evaluated to determine if that officer must attend the Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy. The Department does not accept out of state lateral applications.

Upon completion of one year of service with Mount Vernon Police Department, "lateral" hires receive monetary compensation for their years of service with other agencies by moving to a higher pay range and receives vacation credit as well. Seniority, however, is based solely on time employed with Mount Vernon.

Entry Level
The City of Mount Vernon has contracted with PublicSafetyTesting.com to conduct the written and physical portion of the examination, minimum requirements for the position of Police Officer are:

• United States Citizen
• High School Diploma or GED
• 90 quarter or 60 semester hours from an accredited institution (no waivers/substitutes are allowed)
• 21 years old at time of examination
• Valid Washington State Driver's License
• No domestice violence history or convictions
• No felony convictions

If the minimum requirements are met, interested applicants should go to the website www.PublicSafetyTesting.com or telephone toll-free 1-800-866-HIRE-911 for testing dates and times.  Tests will be offered monthly at various locations around the state.  Tests are not conducted online.

Applicants must apply online for this agency and will access information about the testing procedure.  Scores for applicants that pass both the written and physical agility examinations will be sent to the Civil Service Examiner for further processing.  This may include inviting candidates to an oral board interview.

Oral Board Interview 
The Oral Board Panel is made up of four Mount Vernon Officers.  The Administrative Services Lieutenant facilitates the Oral Board Interview.  By asking both warm-up and scenerio-based questions the panel evaluates a candidate's potential to do the job based on his/her presentation communication skills, judgment, and problem-solving ability. 

Eligibility List
The Civil Service Commission creates an eligibility list based on the results of the written exam and oral board interview.  The Chief of Police and Administrative Services Lieutenant review the eligibility list and, based on the scores, determine the number of applicants who will be scheduled for a polygraph examination.

Polygraph Examination
The polygraph examination is done at the Mount Vernon Police Department.  The use of the polygraph will determine that the candidates' character and integrity are above reproach. Applicants must pass the polygraph exam to continue in the hiring process.

Background Investigation
A thorough background investigation is conducted on each eligible candidate.  Contacts include relatives, neighbors, references, and current and past employers.  Credit checks, criminal history reports, school transcripts, and copies of driving records are requested.  The background investigation is a critical part of the hiring process, and assists in determining which applicants meet the high standards required for employment with the Mount Vernon Police Department.

Conditional Offer of Employment
Per Civil Service Rule VIII.C.1. (d)… "The ten (10) names highest on the applicable eligibility list who remain qualified following the review of the above-referenced examination results shall be placed on a certified eligibility list.  The Commission shall certify ten (10) names for any one vacancy, and if more than one vacancy is to be filled, the name of one additional eligible for each additional vacancy shall be certified." 

One or more of the top three applicant(s) are invited in individually for an administrative interview with the Chief of Police and three Lieutenants.  Upon completion of the interview, the Command Staff evaluates the applicant and, if the applicant meets all requirements, he/she is given a Conditional Offer of Employment.  The applicant is then scheduled for a psychological examination and a medical examination. If both exams are passed the applicant is placed in a pool of eligible candidates for hire.

Psychological Testing and Evaluation 
The Department contracts for this service.  A psychologist administers a series of written tests, which evaluates the applicant's personality traits (aggressiveness, flexibility, independence, maturity, etc.).  The psychologist then provides the Chief of Police with a written evaluation and recommendation.

Medical Examination
The applicant is then scheduled for a medical examination and drug screening to confirm he/she meets the essential functions for the job.  

Hiring
The applicant is sworn in by the Mayor of the City of Mount Vernon.  Family members and Department employees are invited to attend the short ceremony. 

Within a few weeks of being hired, the officer is sent to the Basic Law Enforcement Academy at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center in Seattle for approximately 18 weeks.  When the officer returns, he/she is assigned an experienced Field Training Officer. The Field Training period is 12 - 14 weeks in length. After successfully passing FTO training, the officer is assigned to the Patrol Division.

Residency Requirement
The collective bargaining agreement requires that the Mount Vernon Police Officers live within a forty-five minute travel time from the Police Campus at time of completing probation.