Police Officer-Lateral February 2026

Job Description Summary

The Goodyear Police Department is a professional and progressive organization taking great pride in providing excellent customer service to the community. The Police Department is committed to the philosophy of community policing, providing many protective and proactive policing programs resulting in a low crime rate.

At the city of Goodyear, you will be a part of an organization that values its employees as its greatest asset. You will become part of a dedicated team of professionals who are committed to building and maintaining a highly engaged workforce. You will be challenged to learn and grow in an environment that values employee development and career-building. You will thrive in a culture of innovation.

This position patrols designated areas, enforces state laws and City ordinances, responds to emergency situations, educates the public regarding safety and security, and performs administrative duties. Candidates must possess high ethical standards, actively participate in teamwork, and always demonstrate knowledge of safety principles and an awareness of safety requirements.

• Active AZPOST certification in good standing.

• Three or more years of solo police officer status.
• Ability to effectively communicate with diverse populations.
• Quick thinking and the capability to make sound decisions under pressure.
• A strong moral compass and adherence to ethical standards in all situations.
• A good level of physical fitness to meet the demands of the job.
• Commitment to community policing and building positive relationships with the public.
• Flexibility in adapting to new procedures, schedules, assignments, technologies, and community needs.
• Ability to work well with colleagues and other agencies in a collaborative manner.
• Capacity to handle stress and emotional challenges inherent in law enforcement work.

If these core values are on your list of personal attributes and you want to be a contributing member of Team Goodyear, apply with us!

BENEFITS:

• Medical clinic usage at no cost to employees
• Take home vehicle for police officers
• Highest uniform allowance in the Valley
• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
• Retirement healthcare
• Paid time off
• Shift Differential Pay
• Assignment Pay
• Up to $5,250 for Tuition Assistance and many other benefits
• Tremendous growth plan with many career opportunities

The minimum qualifications for a Lateral Police Officer are:

• High school graduate or equivalent.
• Be a United States Citizen.
• The Goodyear Police Department defines an In-State Lateral Police Officer as officers who have successfully completed an Arizona law enforcement academy and who currently possess an active Arizona police certification in good standing.

• High School graduate or equivalent
• Be a United States Citizen
• A minimum qualification is a person who has graduated from a state approved POST basic training academy, has an active police certification in good standing and has at least one year of solo officer experience. Out-of-state lateral officers must complete the AZPOST out-of-state lateral waiver process, which includes a final exam. Goodyear PD will assist with the waiver process and help prepare the applicant for the waiver exam.

Step 1: Apply and submit required documentation

Apply and submit your AZPOST Personal History Form and AZPOST Form ID number to GY-HRPD-Recruitment at GY-HRPD-Recruitment@goodyearaz.gov within 5 business days of completing your application. The subject must read "Police Lateral-Personal History Form- [Your Name and Post Form ID#]".

• If you already have an account, simply log in to locate your AZPOST Form ID.
• If you haven’t registered yet, you’ll need to create an account. This will allow you to either:
  
  • Claim your current AZPOST data (for in-state candidates), or
  • Create a new account (for out-of-state laterals).

Once your account is set up, you’ll be issued a POST Form ID number. Please send this ID to us so we can continue moving you forward in the process. When you log in, be sure to select the Goodyear Police Department as one of the agencies to share your data with.

The Goodyear Police Department is excited to offer the iSWIFT process (Individually Scheduled Wiki Interview and Fitness Testing). iSWIFT gives applicants the flexibility to work directly with our recruiting team to choose interview and fitness testing dates that fit their schedule. Initial interviews can be completed either virtually via Microsoft Teams or in person, making the process especially convenient for out-of-state applicants. This process is designed not only to be convenient but also to expedite the hiring timeline by several weeks.

All qualified applicants will participate in an interview conducted by a panel composed of officers and employees of the Goodyear Police Department.

• Problem-solving abilities
• Interpersonal and communication skills
• Professional demeanor
• Overall appearance

Applicants who successfully pass this step will move forward to Step 3 of the process.

PHYSICAL AGILITY EVALUATION (Out-of-state applicants only)
Applicants will work with the background investigator to schedule a date to complete the POPAT during a visit to Goodyear, Arizona for background processing.

The physical fitness evaluation is designed to give the applicant a chance to demonstrate his/her physical condition. The Goodyear Police Department uses the Police Officer Physical Aptitude Test (POPAT). All qualified applicants will be required to complete a liability waiver prior to participating in the physical agility evaluation. To proceed, the applicant needs to successfully pass the physical agility evaluation. The physical evaluation consists of the following:

All communication regarding application status and interview notifications will be sent via email- please monitor your junk/spam email for communication as messages will come from a system generated source.

Essential Functions

This information is intended to be descriptive of the key responsibilities of the position. The following functions do not identify all duties performed by the incumbent. Other duties and responsibilities will be performed as assigned.

• Performs patrol duties by traveling through designated areas, searching for suspicious, hazardous or criminal activity, field interviewing suspected offenders, and making arrests.
• Responds to both routine and emergency calls including hazardous materials incidents by contacting the reporting person and witnesses and determining the nature of call and action to be taken.
• Follows up on calls by locating suspects, victims, and witnesses, processing and booking suspects, completing report of the incident, submitting report to prosecutor and appearing in court.
• Educates the community by teaching classes at schools, conducting block watch meetings, making public presentations, and answering inquiries regarding legal and safety issues.
• Performs administrative duties by proposing, writing, and reviewing departmental policy, completing statistical reports, training officers, and participating in department/City process improvement teams.

Requirements

• Formal Education/Knowledge: Work requires knowledge necessary to understand basic operational, technical, or office processes. High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Experience: Out-of-State applicants must have successfully graduated from a state-approved POST Basic Training Academy, must maintain an active police certification in good standing, and possess a minimum of one year of experience serving as a solo officer. In-State applicants must be AZPOST Certified.
• Certifications and Other Requirements: A citizen of the United States; and have a valid Driver's License. Applicants must be able to pass required tests outlined and a thorough background examination which includes a polygraph, psychological examination (out-of-state applicants only), medical examination, and drug screening.
• Reading: Work requires the ability to read general correspondence, memorandums, letters, legal documents, and reports.
• Math: Work requires the ability to perform algebra and general math calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
• Writing: Work requires the ability to write general correspondence, letters, citations, and police reports.
• Managerial: Managerial responsibilities include regulating caseloads and course schedules. Most officers are responsible for managing a specialty area, such as code enforcement, alarm ordinance, gang member tracking, etc.
• Budget Responsibility: The employee prepares documents and does research to justify language used in documents for a unit of a department and may recommend budget allocations.
• Complexity: Work involves choices of action within limits set by standard practices and procedures. Professional judgment is required to apply the proper course of action.
• Interpersonal/Human Relations Skills: The employee(s) in this position contact others within the organization. These contacts may involve similar work units or departments within the City which may be involved in decision making or providing approval or decision-making authority for purchases or projects. In addition, these employees work with individuals outside the City who may belong to professional or peer organizations. Working with various state and federal agencies may also be required of the employee. Vendors and suppliers may also be called upon for information on purchases, supplies or products. Meetings and discussions may be conducted with customers, brokers and sales representatives.

12 Month Objectives

• Write clear, concise, and accurate reports as evidenced by supervisory review and approval.
• Learn the geography of the City of Goodyear by displaying an efficient response to calls for service.
• Learn and interpret laws, department policies and procedures, and City policies, together with the ability to use good judgment in its application as demonstrated in report writing and in citizen contact.
• Develop skill and display proficiency in the use of firearms as evidenced through training exercises.
• Deal with the public in a professional and community-oriented manner.
• Recollects names, faces and details of incidents to testify effectively in a court of law.
• Analyze situations and adopt a quick, effective and reasonable course of action under stressful situations as displayed in practical and training exercises.
• Issue appropriate parking, traffic, and criminal citations as demonstrated by properly completing the citations.
• Work effectively with fellow employees and supervisors by practicing good communication, support, and teamwork.
• Maintain a clean and pressed uniform as well as high standard of personal hygiene, as directed by department policy.
• Operate patrol vehicles in a safe, efficient manner by having no accidents, and practicing good driving habits.
• Successfully complete expectations of a police officer at 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month reviews.