Lateral Officer Position for the City of Langley, Washington

The City of Langley (population 1,130) is accepting applications for the position of Lateral Police Officer. We are hoping to find an additional officer who will fall in love with our small “city” and become part of our community.

Langley is a popular and beautiful seaside town located on the southern end of Whidbey Island in the Puget Sound.  We live in Island County, which encompasses Whidbey Island, Camano Island and a few tiny islands. Together these islands have a population of approximately 90,000. Our island is 50 miles long but, in many places, less than a few miles wide, and has stunning views of both the Cascade Mountains and the Olympic Mountains.  We have active farming and logging on the island, and tall pine trees, deer, bald eagles and other wildlife abound. Driving around Whidbey one often has the feeling of driving in a National Park.  In the ocean we often see seals, porpoise, and sometimes grey whales and orca whales.

Our area is known for its scenic beauty, outdoor activities, cultural events and more.  In the summer people enjoy sailing, fishing in the ocean (mostly salmon, halibut, flounder) and nearby lakes, kayaking, biking, hiking, festivals/fairs, and cultural events.  Langley is home to the South Whidbey Port Authority’s limited-service marina. Nearby freshwater lakes have fishing, swimming and waterskiing. The Whidbey Island Fair grounds in Langley hosts an annual fair that includes carnival rides, 4-H events, music, food and other family fun activities.  We are 45 minutes north of Seattle (after a short ferry ride). In the winter we have ski resorts nearby such as Steven’s Pass (www.stevenspass.com) and numerous cultural events.  The temperature is moderate year-round, with only a few days each year below freezing or above 80 degrees.  People who live here love it and love the sense of community we have cultivated.  Many of our residents have chosen to live and work here because they put quality of life issues above the higher salaries, they might be able to obtain working for larger municipalities.

Langley is a very progressive and innovative community.  In our Police Department we have had two women officers in the past. In 1920 we had the first all-female city council and mayor in the United States. Our current mix of department heads and council members is 50/50 female/male. Lately we are taking the lead on issues of inclusivity for not just women, but also other historically marginalized people. Within our government we have a Dismantling Systemic Racism (DSR) advisory board and we have provided training on that issue as well as ethics, sexual harassment, substance abuse and other important issues. We believe in equal employment opportunities (EEC) and within our city staff we do not discriminate based on race, color religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability or veteran status.  We are looking for an individual who embraces diversity and understands why the inclusion of all races and backgrounds an important value for our organization and our community is.  Experience with mental health care issues is also a plus.  

Despite our small size, we have a lot of active community organizations and churches in and near Langley, and a very involved citizenry who care a great deal about the environment and fair treatment of all people. We also serve as the center of activity for south Whidbey Island.  Here are some of the organizations located in Langley:

Langley Chamber of Commerce