Applicants must meet the Minimum Requirements described below.

General Requirements

• You must be a United States citizen;
• You must possess a high school diploma or GED;
• You must be at least 20.5 years of age at the time of application and be 21 years of age by date of appointment;
• You must be able to meet the physical requirements and medical standards prescribed by the City of Tacoma and Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission.

Licenses & Certifications

• You must possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license at the time of application.  A valid Washington State driver's license is required for employment (with maintenance thereafter) and driving history will be thoroughly assessed during the hiring process.
• First Aid and CPR card upon hire with maintenance thereafter.

Physical Requirements

• Above-average physical endurance in running, climbing, and lifting as well as good balance, hearing, and vision.
• Work includes indoor and outdoor environments.
• Employees will have a work schedule that will consist of working Holidays, weekends, and various shifts. Depending on staffing and seniority.
• Incumbents in this classification may be exposed to gunfire, toxic chemicals, traffic hazards, and occasional driving at high speeds.

Knowledge & Skills

• Fluent English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary.
• Principles, practices, and procedures used in police work.
• State, County, and City laws and ordinances.
• Recent legislation and court decisions affecting police duties.
• Traffic and crowd control techniques.
• Rules of evidence and laws of arrest.
• Operation of a variety of specialized police vehicles and equipment.
• Crime scene preservation and investigation methods and techniques.
• Basic First Aid procedures.
• Operation of a personal computer.
• Prepare clear and concise reports.
• Maintain proficiency in driving and in the use of firearms in accordance with department guidelines.
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt effective courses of action.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Understand the scope of authority.
• Relate effectively to people of a variety of cultures, languages, abilities, and social-economic situations.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
• Observe legal and defensive driving practices.
• Comply with safety standards and regulations.

If you have questions or concerns about Minimum Qualifications or disqualifying factors, a TPD recruiting officer is available to provide insights and to discuss the process further. Just reach out to us using the form below.

Applicants who have applied and met the City's minimum qualifications will be sent an Initial Personal History Questionnaire via e-mail. It is the applicant's responsibility to follow all instructions, to check their e-mail regularly, and to meet set deadlines. Failure to follow the requested processes may result in disqualification.

Veterans Preference

Applicants who are eligible for veterans scoring criteria (Veterans Preference) MUST attach a copy of their DD-214 member copy 4 (proof of military discharge form) at time of application to be eligible for review for Veteran's Preference Points.

If you have questions or concerns about the Personal History Questionnaire, a TPD recruiting officer is available to provide insights and to discuss the process further. Just reach out to us using the form below.

Upcoming Test Dates

• April 9, 2022
  Apply Jan. 10 — Mar. 4, 2022
• June 25, 2022
  Apply Mar. 14 — May 20, 2022
• August 27, 2022
  Apply May 30 — July 22, 2022
• October 29, 2022
  Apply Aug. 1 — Sept. 23, 2022

If you have questions or concerns about taking the written exam, a TPD recruiting officer is available to provide insights and to discuss the process further. Just reach out to us using the form below.

Physical Ability Test (PAT) can be an evaluation tool for the candidate and their agency to gauge their ability to participate in the physical requirements expected during the Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) Control and Defensive Tactics training.

The PAT consists of: 

1. Squat Thrusts

• 3 minutes to complete a minimum of 35 squat thrusts to pass
• Stand tall with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms at your sides
• Push your hips back and bend your knees, squat down, and place your hands on the floor in front of you, shoulder-width apart
• Keeping your hands in place, back flat, and core engaged, kick your feet back to a plank position: arms and body straight, hands in line with and slightly wider than your shoulders
• Reverse the sequence to return to the starting position

2. Sit-up Test

• 90 seconds to complete a minimum of 25 sit-ups to pass

3. Push-up Test

• 90 seconds to complete a minimum of 20 pushups to pass

If you have questions or concerns about taking the Physical Ability Test (PAT), a TPD recruiting officer is available to provide insights and to discuss the process further. Just reach out to us using the form below.

The Oral Board (OB) is a formal interview. Unlike the Physical Aptitude Test (PAT) and other group-oriented steps in the process, the OB is the first opportunity for the applicant to meet with TPD personnel as an individual. Candidates must score a 70% or higher to continue in the application process. To ensure that all applicants are treated fairly, TPD does not ask follow-up questions.

Suitability Assessment

The Suitability Assessment is an online test designed to understand the psychology of the applicant. The results of this test are not publicized.

If you have questions or concerns about the Oral Board or the Suitability Assessment, a TPD recruiting officer is available to provide insights and to discuss the process further. Just reach out to us using the form below.

A complete background investigation typically includes:

• Personal/professional references
• Driving record (since inception of driving)
• Employment history
• Credit check
• Drug use history
• Criminal history
• Home check (interview with spouse/significant other)

If you have questions or concerns about a background check, a TPD recruiting officer is available to provide insights and to discuss the process further. Just reach out to us using the form below.

Conditional Offer of Employment (COE)

Once the background check is complete, each viable application (whether lateral or entry) is presented to the TPD Chain of Command. Applicants whose applications are accepted will receive a Conditional Offer of Employment (COE).

Final Offer of Employment (FOE)

Once the polygrapher, medical doctor, and psychologist verify that the applicant meets the department's standards, the applicant is notified and a date and time for the applicant to receive their FInal Offer of Employment (FOE) from the Tacoma Chief of Police.

If you have questions or concerns about the Offer of Employment phase, a TPD recruiting officer is available to provide insights and to discuss the process further. Just reach out to us using the form below.