Job Description
Job Description
PORT TOWNSEND CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT AND CIVIL SERVICE TESTING INFORMATION
The City of Port Townsend will be accepting applications for the Police Clerk position through December 28, 2025. Following completion of the required Civil Service screening, written standardized testing, and interview process, one applicant will be selected to fill one job opening.
Note: Completed application, cover letter, and resume are required. Applications submitted without cover letter and resume will not be considered. Applications not documenting the required four (4) years of general office experience on the application form will not be considered.
Job Summary
The Police Clerk performs specialized clerical and secretarial tasks unique to the support services section of the Police Department and services as office receptionist. Work requires considerable public contact involving patience, tactful and courteous treatment of the public, and efficient, accurate processing of transactions.
Job description available here.
Required Qualifications
- Minimum of 18 years of age
- High school graduate or GED
- Four years of general office experience
- No felony convictions
- No convictions or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude
- Pass a job-related Civil Service examination
- Must be able to pass an FBI fingerprint criminal history background check and successfully complete CJIS Security Awareness training before working in the secured portions of the City's police department
- Possess a Washington Driver's License and maintain a driving record acceptable to the City's insurance carrier
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working in a public sector law enforcement agency.
- Experience in social media and website updating.
Placement in this position is subject to a reference check, criminal background check, motor vehicle record check, thorough background investigation, drug screen, and a polygraph exam.
COMPENSATION
2026 Base Pay Range: $30.70-34.84 per hour depending on qualifications.
2026 Total Pay Range (including maximum possible longevity): $30.70-39.02
This position may be eligible for the additional compensation listed below. Details can be found in the Collective Bargaining Agreement:
- Longevity pay on a graduated schedule starting at 2% after 5 years up to 12% after 25 years
- Overtime pay or compensatory time
- Premium pay or compensatory time
- Jury duty pay at regular rate during service
* Teamsters initiation fee is $100 and monthly dues are 2.25 of hourly wage x the base hourly rate rounded to the nearest dollar.
BENEFITS
- WA State PERS retirement and optional 457 Deferred Comp
- Teamsters pension *
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance through WA Teamsters Welfare Trust Fund *
- Time loss/short-term disability insurance
- 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
- Eligible for up to 3 floating holidays based on years of service
- Up to 5 days of bereavement leave, if applicable
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Testing Process
Application Scoring
Applications will be scored based on several job-related factors including how closely they meet required qualifications and work experience performing key essential duties. 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, the written test.
Written Standardized Exam
Candidate application scores will be ranked and those with rankings of 1 through 10 will be invited via email to participate in the standardized testing process. As the City intends to limit testing to the top ten ranked 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 standardized test.
The standardized examination will include questions related to but not limited to English usage, basic math, reading comprehension, and clerical/office procedures. Minimum passing score is 75%. Up to the top six (6) highest passing applicants will be eligible to move on to the Oral Board Panel Interview.
Oral Board Panel Interview
The panel interview will be scored by three evaluators and will include a series of questions to assess the applicant's communication skills, experience and performance criteria relevant to the position. Minimum passing score is 75%.
Test Scoring
The standardized written exam will be weighted 30% of the final score, and the panel interview will be weighted 70%. Veteran's scoring criteria will be factored into the final score if applicable (see below). The top five scoring candidates on the employment eligibility list will be eligible for interview by the Chief of Police, with one candidate selected to fill the current job opening. Additional successful applicants will be placed on an employment eligibility list that will be retained for six months.
Testing Schedule
Standardized Examination
Tentative Date and Time: Thursday, January 8, 2025, at 10 a.m.
Location: Cotton Building, 607 Water Street, Port Townsend
Panel Interview
Tentative Dates: Friday, January 16 or 23, 2025
Time: As scheduled, following invitation
Location: Port Townsend Police Department, 1925 Blaine Street
Veterans Preference
In accordance with State law RCW 41.04.010 and 41.04.005, certain veterans as defined in RCW 41.01.007 are eligible to receive a scoring criteria status in examinations. A scoring criteria status is the addition of a percentage to the "passing mark, grade or rating" received in a competitive examination by a veteran. All veterans' scoring criteria may be claimed upon release from active military status. If claiming Veteran's scoring criteria status, the Veteran's Scoring Criteria Status In Examinations Form and a copy of applicant's DD-214 must be provided with your application.
THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER