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Animal Control and Compliance Officer

Salary

$70,408.00 - $85,612.80 Annually

Location

Tacoma, WA

Job Type

Classified

Job Number

5365-25

Department

Tacoma Police Department

Division

Police

Opening Date

09/25/2025

Closing Date

10/16/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Position Description

The Tacoma Police Department is seeking an Animal Control and Compliance Officer (ACCO) to join the department's Animal Control and Compliance Unit. An ACCO enforces animal control ordinances, related laws and regulations, and responds to animal control complaints such as stray, noisy and dangerous animals.

Responsibilities Include:

+ Patrolling areas of the City to observe ordinance violations

+ Investigating departmental complaints through field audits and communicating with victims and/or offenders

+ Issuing citations to offenders (animals and responsible party)

+ Picking up and transporting deceased and injured and/or dangerous animals

NOTE: Employees may be required to work nights, weekends, holidays and non-standard hours and are subject to 24/7 emergency call-out.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

Physical requirements include lifting 75 pounds properly and unassisted, and greater than 75 pounds with assistance. In order to capture and detain animals this job requires physical exertion, bending, stooping, and crawling.

Additional Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

+ Outdoor and vehicle environment; subject to adverse weather conditions

+ Must be able to wear and use protective equipment

+ Frequent contact with hostile or abusive members of the public

Please note: This recruitment is being conducted to create a Civil Service Eligibility List that will be used to fill Animal Control and Compliance Officer vacancies as they occur for a period of at least one year.

City of Tacoma Recruitment Information:

One of the primary goals of the City of Tacoma Equity and Empowerment Initiative is that the City of Tacoma workforce reflects the community it serves. We actively work to eliminate racial and other disparities and we welcome candidates with diverse and/or multicultural skill sets and personal experiences. Our goal is for Tacoma to be an inclusive and equitable place to live, work and play.

Qualifications

Graduation from high school or equivalent and one of the following:

One year of professional animal care and/or treatment experience or training to include one year assisting a licensed veterinarian, or one year of experience as an Animal Control Officer.

Any combination of the training and experience may be accepted as long as it amounts to one year of total experience.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Legend drug and euthanasia drug certification within 12 months of appointment with maintenance thereafter

Valid Washington State Driver's License required at time of appointment with maintenance thereafter.

As part of the Animal Control and Compliance Officer position, additional licenses and certifications will be required including completion of the Animal Control Academy training within 12 months of appointment and a limited Tacoma Police Commission as appointed by the Chief of Police at time of appointment with maintenance thereafter. Note: certifications obtained and maintenance required for the position will be paid for by the City of Tacoma.

Knowledge & Skills

+ Animal control ordinances, laws, codes and regulations pertaining to animal control

+ Standard internal operating procedures and policies

+ Investigative skills

+ Oral and written communication skills to include clear, concise and objective incident reports

+ Use and care of animal control equipment

+ Safe handling and transporting of sick, diseased or injured animals

+ Effective mediation and negotiation skills to gain the cooperation of the public, under stressful situations

+ Exercise sound judgment under hostile, dangerous and stressful situations, using tact, diplomacy and professionalism

+ Familiarity with basic computer skills and Windows operating systems

Selection Process & Supplemental Information

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will have their responses to the supplemental questions evaluated and scored. These questions will be scored on the basis of information provided; therefore, it is the responsibility of the applicant to carefully list all pertinent experience and training related to the position. Providing false information will result in disqualification. Candidates must pass this evaluation in order to be placed on the eligible list for interview and hiring consideration.

Candidates who pass the evaluation step will receive a Formal Personal History Questionnaire (FPHQ). The FPHQ is a mandatory step in the hiring process. Candidates must complete the FPHQ and return it to the department by the established deadline to continue in the process.

Animal Control and Compliance Officer is a limited commission position within the Tacoma Police Department; therefore, candidates must pass a Criminal Justice Information Services Division (CJIS) background check and be able to maintain CJIS certification in order to be appointed to this position.

Candidates whose experience and training most closely reflect the needs of the department may be invited to participate in an interview. Appointment is subject to passing a law enforcement background check.

Applicants may be expected to travel up to three times to the City of Tacoma in order to complete the entire recruitment process for this position.

Please Note: You are responsible for checking your e-mail regularly for any information coming from Human Resources and the Tacoma Police Department. Please allow your computer security protocols to accept e-mail from the City of Tacoma. If we are unable to access your email or receive e-mail back undelivered, your materials may not be processed further.

Once a conditional offer of employment is made, the selected applicant must undergo a medical examination and psychological evaluation and polygraph to determine if they meet City of Tacoma standards in effect at time of examination. The medical examination will include a drug screening. Applicants must pass all screenings conducted before and after the eligibility list is established, including driving record, credit history, conviction/arrest record, work history, reference check, oral board interview and polygraph. Applicants may be removed from the eligible list for failure to pass the pre-employment interview, background investigation or other screening element.

This position is covered by a Labor Agreement between the City of Tacoma and Local 117. New employees must successfully complete a twelve-month probationary period prior to obtaining permanent status in this classification.

Communication from the City of Tacoma:

We primarily communicate via e-mail during the application process. E-mails from tacoma.gov and/or governmentjobs.com must be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk e-mail folders.

The online application system requires you to enter a substantial amount of information. Be prepared to spend an hour or more entering the required information. In order for your application materials to be considered, all information must be submitted before the closing date and time listed on this job announcement.

If you have any additional questions regarding this position, please contact the Human Resources Department at 253.591.5400 before 5pm on the closing date.

Compensation:

HOURLY

$33.85 - $41.16

ANNUALLY

$70,408.00 - $85,612.80

Employee Benefits | City of Tacoma (https://tacoma.gov/government/departments/human-resources/employee-benefits/)

The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision plans for the whole family; paid holidays and paid leave; participation in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System (alternate plan for Police/Fire); continuing education and advancement opportunities and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities and incentives.

Medical Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.

Dental Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.

Vision Coverage: For eligible employees and their eligible dependents.

Paid Leave: City employees are entitled to received paid holidays, sick/vacation leave or personal time off (PTO), depending upon union affiliation and appointment type.

Insurance Plans: Employees are covered by a long-term disability plan. Short-term and expanded long-term disability insurance plans are also available to employees. The State Industrial Insurance Act also covers employees.

Deferred Compensation: Income can be set aside on a pretax basis and invested for supplementation of normal retirement income.

Retirement: All employees of the City, except members of the Police and Fire services, Tacoma Rail and certain project employees, are included in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System. Information on the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System can be found at www.cityoftacoma.org or by calling (253) 502-8200.

Other Employment Information

Direct Deposit: Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule by direct deposit.

Salary Increases: Based on satisfactory job performance, the City provides for a regular progression of salary increases for most classifications according to the salary schedule.

Union Affiliation: Many job classifications are covered by union security provisions which require union membership, dues, or payment of equivalent service fees.

Note: The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.

01

The Supplemental Questionnaire and the Application are managed as two separate documents. The following Supplemental Questionnaire is the Civil Service Exam for this position and will be used to determine your exam score. The Application will be used to determine if the applicant meets the minimum qualifications of the position. The Supplemental Questionnaire will be used as an experience and training test. Applicants responses will be scored by a panel of subject matter experts and the total score used to rank the candidate on the eligible list for interview and hiring consideration. In order to receive every consideration in the selection process, you must complete all questions with concise but detailed answers and provide all requested information. Each answer will be scored separately. References such as 'See Resume' as a response will not be scored. By continuing in the exam process, you are certifying that all information provided in the Supplemental Questionnaire is true to the best of your knowledge. I have read and understood the above instructions.

+ Yes

+ No

02

Select the option that best describes your highest level of education.

+ High school diploma or GED

+ Some college, no degree

+ Associate's degree

+ Bachelor's degree or higher

+ None of the above

03

How many years of professional experience do you have assisting a licensed veterinarian in the care, treatment or training of animals?

+ No experience

+ Less than 1 year

+ 1 year but less than 2 years

+ 2 years but less than 4 years

+ 4 or more years

04

How many years of experience do you have as an Animal Control Officer?

+ No experience

+ Less than 1 year

+ 1 year but less than 2 years

+ 2 years but less than 4 years

+ 4 or more years

05

Select all the boxes that best describe your full-time paid or volunteer experience with stray, sick, abandoned, diseased, poisonous, dangerous, rabid, or infectious small animals, poultry, livestock, or other animals.

+ None

+ Impounding animals

+ Feeding animals

+ Capturing rabid, infectious, or dangerous animals or reptiles

+ Investigating, evaluating, and resolving complaints concerning animals

+ Boarding and caring for animals

+ Locating and removing dead animals of all sizes as a regular part of your job duties

+ Performing euthanasia

06

Describe your paid or volunteer experience in caring for and handling of animals in a facility such as an animal shelter, veterinary clinic, pet store, research lab, or similar facility. Please be sure to include when and where this experience was obtained.

07

Share an example of when you had to handle an aggressive animal. Please be as specific as possible, what was the situation? How did you handle it?

08

Describe an incident where you were required to deal with the public in a highly stressful situation, and it was necessary for you to enforce rules, ordinances, or laws. Include in your response how you were able to achieve a successful outcome. If you have no experience, enter none.

09

Please provide an example of a time when circumstances at work created a great deal of stress and you were still able to perform effectively. In your response, please include: • What was the situation? • What actions were taken? • What were the results of your actions?

10

The person selected for this position must have an exemplary background. Are you confident that you can pass a background and personal history check, polygraph test, and psychological evaluation?

+ Yes

+ No

11

Tell us how you learned about this job opening.

+ Job Interest Card notification

+ Professional organization

+ Union job posting

+ City of Tacoma employee

+ Online job board posting

+ Word of mouth

+ Tacoma community organization

+ General internet job search

+ Other

Required Question

Employer

City of Tacoma

Address

Human Resources Department 747 Market Street Tacoma, Washington, 98402-3764

Phone

253-591-5400

Website

http://www.tacoma.gov

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