Police Commander Jobs (NOW HIRING)

POSITION TITLE:    Police Sergeant
DEPARTMENT:    Public Safety
LOCATION:     Ridgefield, WA     
REPORTS TO:    Police Commander
STATUS:        Hourly, fulltime
WAGE:        $66.16 per hour

Close Date: August 12, 2026

***If you are an American Indian/Alaska Native and/or a Veteran and would like this to be considered a preference in hiring, please upload documentation with your resume and cover letter. Acceptable documentation includes Tribal Enrollment card, a letter from your Tribe stating your enrollment, or BIA 4432 and/or DD214.***

Position Summary: 

Provides guidance and leadership to Police Officers in field operations and takes command over emergency situations. Performs law enforcement and crime prevention services to maintain a safe and secure community for Cowlitz Indian Tribe residents. Honors and represents the mission, vision, values of CIT and Public Safety department.

This list of duties and responsibilities is illustrative only of the tasks performed by this position and is not all-inclusive.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Supervises and coordinates activities of Police Officers; ensures compliance with established policies, procedures, and work standards.
• Conducts roll call of officers and issues duty assignments; performs shift inspections of equipment issued to police units.
• Performs as training officer for new officers entering the Field Training Program.
• Improves staff effectiveness by coaching, counseling, training, and recommending disciplinary action for employees; planning, delegating, monitoring, and appraising job tasks and results in a timely manner.
• Conducts employee performance evaluations of employees under their supervision.
• Communicates departmental policies, procedures, regulations, guidelines, goals, and objectives.
• Participates in and hosts regular meetings to ensure communication between staff and Public Safety-related activities.
• Maintains inventory of all police-issued equipment to subordinates.
• Handles coordination and direction of preliminary investigations; interrogates victims, witnesses, and suspects.

• Records and investigates allegations directed toward subordinates in reference to misconduct of any kind. 
• Monitors and supervises police radio and computer traffic and responds to those scenes that are appropriate for the purpose of assuming command.
• Monitors and supervises the progress of pursuit driving situations.
• Monitors arrests made by patrol officers to ensure compliance with law and departmental policy.
• Obtains incident reports, accident reports, and tickets from patrol officers; checks the report for spelling, accuracy, completeness, and legibility; classifies and ensures that all reports are turned in to the desk officer for further distribution and inclusion on daily or operations logs.
• Provides supervision at special activities, including checkpoints and saturation patrols.
• Prepares operational and tactical plans for check points and saturation patrols.
• Prepares and submits reimbursement reports on DUI operations.
• Assists in the investigation and completion of appropriate reports when officers are involved in vehicular accidents.

• Enforces the Cowlitz Indian Tribe Code, charges and books arrested person, or issues citations when appropriate and completes necessary paperwork.
• Patrols tribal roads and state highways within the boundaries of the Cowlitz Indian Reservation to enforce traffic laws and assist motorists in distress. 
• Responds to complaints from Cowlitz Indian Tribe residents and investigates criminal or civil misdemeanors, traffic accidents involving personal injury, property damage, vandalism, and burglary.
• Determines whether there is probable cause for arrest at domestic disturbances.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with co-workers, tribal administrators, and the general public.
• Secures, documents, and examines crime scenes and gathers, preserves, and processes evidence.
• Assists BIA and other federal, tribal and state law enforcement officers in investigating federal or state offenses occurring on the Cowlitz Indian Reservation.
• Observes and reports conditions conducive to crime or which might endanger public safety.
• Acts as a team member on tactical operations with other on and off reservation programs that serve Cowlitz residents that may include search and rescue groups, HAZMAT situations, and fires.
• Works in cooperation with the EMTs and administers first aid or renders interim emergency care when necessary.
• Refers federal crimes to the Federal Bureau of Investigation through the Police Commander.
• Documents the results of investigations in writing and prepares required forms and written reports; completes citation log book and call log as required.
• Transports violators to and from court, rehabilitation sites, or jail facilities.  Serves court papers, warrants, or subpoenas as required.
• Provides oral testimony, service warrants, and police reports, as requested by the Cowlitz Indian Tribal Court and other tribal, federal, and state courts.
• Assists citizen groups, tribal programs, and other programs serving the Cowlitz Indian Tribe to implement crime and delinquency prevention or public awareness/public safety programs through presentations at community meetings, departmental meetings, or with public and private groups.
• Attends routine and specialized training classes and seminars of law enforcement methods and techniques.
• Contributes to a team effort and accomplishes related results as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of relevant laws, regulations and rules pertaining to law enforcement and the CIT.
• Knowledge of current law enforcement principles, practices, methods, and techniques.
• Knowledge of the Cowlitz Indian Reservation including paved and unpaved roads, highways, streets, and locations.
• Knowledge of interviewing and interrogation techniques.
• Knowledge of crime scene management and preliminary investigation procedures.
• Knowledge of and sensitivity to tribal customs and beliefs.
• Skill in supervising, training, and evaluating assigned staff.
• Skill in making effective decisions in emergency situations.
• Skill in the safe and effective operation and maintenance of law enforcement equipment.
• Skill in the safe operation and handling of motor vehicles.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and use discretion when dealing with sensitive information.
• Ability to drive police vehicle in all weather conditions.
• Ability to use personal protective tools including handgun, baton and cuffs.
• Ability to train and use all less lethal options offered by the police department.
• Ability to successfully complete approved firearms qualification courses.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to competently use a computer, including word processing software.
• Ability to enforce the laws fairly and impartially with due regard for the rights and safety of individuals and the preservation of property.
• Ability to work various duty shifts, including holidays, weekends, evenings, and overtime.
• Ability to quickly analyze data, draw logical conclusions, and make sound decisions.
• Ability to demonstrate moral character, honesty, tact, fairness, lack of prejudice, and desire to help when dealing with people.
• Ability to accept the dangers and stresses, regimentation, discipline, and time demands of police work.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associate personnel and the public.
• Ability to prepare accurate, complete, and legible reports and present detailed, accurate, and objective oral presentations and responses to questions.
• Ability to meet the highest standards of professional conduct and ethics while on the job, and to maintain those same high standards when taking actions in their personal lives that could reflect on the Department.
• Ability to fill in for the Commander at the request of the Director when gone on leave or special assignment.

Minimum Qualifications:

• MUST BE ENROLLED COWLITZ OR ALREADY EMPLOYED BY COWLITZ INDIAN TRIBE
• High School Diploma/GED.
• Current certification from Indian Police Academy or Federal Law Enforcement Academy (F.L.E.T.C.) or State recognized Police Academy that qualifies for equivalency by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission.
• Five years as a commissioned Federal, State, County, City, or Tribal Law Enforcement Officer and have some investigative experience.
• Certified Police Instructor.
• Certified Field Training Officer.
• Certified Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST).
• Obtain and maintain of CPR and First Aid Certifications within one year of hire date.
• Valid driver’s license is required when driving vehicles for work-related purposes.
• Must reside within thirty minutes of the Cowlitz Reservation.
• Must be able to successfully pass a background screening / investigation according to the established requirements below.

Tribal preference in accordance with Cowlitz Indian Tribe Code and CIT Employee Policies and Procedures Handbook shall apply to all positions. All positions are required to adhere to CIT’s established safety policies regarding vaccine requirements and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Background Investigation Requirements:

• Pre-employment drug screen.
• Reference checks, education and employment verification.
• Federal, state, and/or tribal criminal history and sanction checks including fingerprint verification.
• Has not been found guilty of, charged with, received a deferred sentence, received a conditional discharge of, or entered a plea of not contest to, or entered a plea of guilty to any one felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence, sexual assault, molestation, exploitation or sexual contact; prostitution; or crimes committed against person(s) or children.
• Medical, psychological and stress examination or test.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently is required to talk and hear.  The employee occasionally is required to walk, run, lift and climb during efforts to catch or subdue hostile individuals. The employee is required to have good reflexes of the arms and hands in order to draw and shoot firearms quickly and accurately. The employee frequently is required to use hands, wrists, and fingers associated with computer equipment. Situations will occur where prolonged sitting, driving, walking, or waiting is required. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus. Position requires occasional lifting of 75 lbs.

Work Environment:

Work is generally performed in a typical interior office setting and outdoor environment or vehicle.  Exposure to dirt, dust, pollen, inclement weather, temperature extremes, traffic hazards, body fluids, hazardous chemicals, flames or burning items, various evidence, firearms, and unpleasant odors will occur. Exposure to hazardous, uncontrollable, and life-threatening situations and infectious disease

may occur. Noise level is usually moderate to high. Tight time constraints and multiple demands are common. Travel is required for training, meetings, conferences, presentations, and other events.  Evening, weekend, and/or holiday work may be required. Extended hours and irregular shifts may be required. Must be on call for emergencies.