Benefits

Some of the benefits of being a Wasilla Police Officer are: 

• Community Support
• Competitive Pay
• 12 – 20 hours of paid leave per month depending on service time
• Free academy, uniform and equipment
• Education incentive (5% for Bachelor's Degree and 2.5% for Associate's Degree)
• Participation in the State’s Retirement System (PERS & SBS)
• Medical & Life Insurance
• Overtime Opportunities
• Ongoing Training & Professional Development
• 11 paid holidays per year
• $750 Physical Fitness Incentive
• Take-home Vehicle (with 30 miles of City Limits)

Additionally, Officers have the opportunity to work in several specialized areas:

• K9                                                      • Crash Scene Investigation
• SERT Team                                     • Drug Recognition Expert
• School Resource Officer             • Firearms / Tactics Instructor
• Investigations                                • Federal and State Task Force Teams     

Further information on benefits and pay can be obtained through the Wasilla Police Department Employee Association (WPDEA) Collective Bargaining Agreement.  

Lateral Hires

Preference is given to individuals who are currently certified police officers in any state.  Lateral applicants, whose certification is consistent with APSC Standards and 3+ years in law enforcement, start at a higher pay rate (1-1 for years of experience).  Lateral applicants should be prepared to provide transcripts of their academy outlining the number of hours spent on each topic.  

The application and hiring standards are the same for lateral applicants as they are for inexperienced applicants.  
For more information visit about reciprocity for lateral applicants please see APSC Reciprocity Information.

Minimum Qualifications:

All applicants must meet the minimum requirements established by the Alaska Police Standards Council (APSC) and the City of Wasilla.

•  21 years of age at time of hire
•  High school diploma, GED or equivalent
•  Be of good moral character
•  Meet APSC drug and criminal history standards (see statute here)
•  Have no more than 2 moving citations in the last 3 years
•  Type a minimum of 35 words per minute 

Application Process:

Applicants who are selected will be invited to participate in a series of events to include physical fitness and written testing, oral board interview, an extensive background investigation, polygraph, medical and psychological screening.  If at any point during the process you fail a section or are not selected to move forward, you will be notified within a week. 

Although the application process can be a little daunting, the Wasilla Police Department wants to hire the “best of the best”.  Our officers are highly motivated to provide the best possible service to this community.  

Application:

Applications and supporting documents must be submitted through NeoGov.  It is imperative that you fully complete the application forms and leave no blank spaces.  Writing should be legible and easy to read and any scanned documents should be clear.  Failing to do so may result in removal from the process.

Written and Physical Fitness Testing:

A National POST test consisting of basic math, reading comprehension, writing and grammar will be administered.   No previous knowledge of police procedure or law is needed to successfully pass this test.  

Physical Fitness is paramount in the police profession and applicants are encouraged to start preparing themselves for testing as early as possible.  The Wasilla Police Department’s PT test consists of the following:

• 1.5 mile run – Maximum time of 14:46 Minutes
• 1 minute Sit-Ups – Minimum 29
• 1 minute Push-Ups – Minimum 21

Applicants who are traveling long distance to participate in testing should plan on being in the Wasilla area for several days.  WPD will try to limit your travel by completing as much of the process as possible while you are in town.  You will likely need to come to the Wasilla area twice during the application process.  

Oral Board Interview:

The Oral Board Interview is your first chance to formally introduce yourself to the Wasilla Police Department.  You may also meet with a background investigator during the application process if there are any items which need to be clarified or to obtain additional information.  

Background Investigation:

The Background Investigation is very thorough and looks at all aspects of your life.  This step is the most time consuming portion of the process and can take several weeks to complete.  We recognize that no one is perfect and many people have at times struggled.  It is imperative, however, that you answer each question about your personal history fully and honestly.  Failing to do so will be grounds for removal from the process.  During the background portion of the process you will be scheduled for a polygraph.  

Conditional Offer:

Applicants who successfully pass the testing and background investigation will be reviewed and only the best candidates will be sent forward.  Applicants who are sent forward will be offered a Conditional Offer.  Those who receive a Conditional Offer will then participate in psychological, medical and drug screening.  

Hiring Decision:

The hiring process is rigorous and selective.  Once all of the steps are completed, a hiring decision will be made.  The final hiring decision will be made by the Chief of Police.  

Beginning a New Career:

Once hired, a new officer will participate in several months of paid training.  This will include a 16 week police academy (2 weeks for out of state lateral hires), in-service training, and at least 16 weeks of Field Training.  Field Training is “on the job” training where you will be paired with a training officer to help you gain the skills you will need to be a police officer.  A modified Field Training process may be used for lateral hires based on previous experience and performance.  

Alaska Police Standard Council Guidelines

Local 302 Health Trust Information

Pay Scale