Personnel Division

Information
New Police Officers holding badges after being sworn in.
The Personnel Division provides human resource-related service to the Police Bureau.

Responsibilities of the division include: conducting background investigations for all positions within the Police Bureau, maintaining personnel records, coordinating FMLA/OFLA for employees, manage members assigned to Modified Duty/Cold Call Taking due to injury or illness, managing the sworn/non-sworn recruiting plan & overseeing the separation process of Police Bureau employees.

Now Hiring

Police Officer

This is a sworn law enforcement position with an emphasis on impacting change, organizational excellence, community engagement and inclusion.

The Portland Police Bureau offers the highest pay in the state of Oregon. Currently, the entry level wage is $75K, with a $5,000 hiring bonus (new officers receive $1,000 after being sworn in, another $1,000 at end of probation and the final $3,000 upon completion of 3 years of service). For lateral hires, the wage starts at $87K and goes to $107K.

"This is a defining time in public safety and the City of Portland," said Chief Chuck Lovell. "We have been hiring, but now with some enhancements, we are able to increase this process and bring on the next generation of police officers.”

Public Safety Support Specialist

The Public Safety Support Specialist for the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) is responsible for: Providing support to sworn police officers in non-emergency, non-priority situations, assisting sworn personnel in community outreach with the public, and providing a visible, community-based police support function to enhance service to the public.  

Responsibilities include: 

  • Responding to non-emergency calls for service that do not require police authority; 

  • Assisting sworn officers with community engagement;

  • Assisting sworn officers with non-emergency calls; 

  • Providing referral services to the public; and 

  • May be assigned to work on special projects within the division.

Incumbents in this position may also be required to respond after regular working hours and on weekends.

Professional Staff

Civilians fill a number of varied non-sworn positions at the Portland Police Bureau.  Being a member of our professional staff offers a great opportunity to give back to the community while working in the rewarding field of law enforcement.

Civilian positions provide a supportive role to sworn personnel. Positions include: records personnel who work in the Records Division; administrative staff who work in precincts or our specialty units; specific roles in our Property Evidence Division; and positions that provide specialized services, such as fiscal/accounting, communications or crime analysis, auto servicing and horse training/barn stable.

Civilian positions offer competitive pay and City of Portland health and retirement benefits (PERS).

Some positions may require varied shifts, including nights and weekends.