Police Officer Compensation and Benefits

An entry-level Gresham police officer earns 21.33 hours of paid time off each month (6.4 weeks per year). PTO increases with length of service. A senior level Gresham police officer earns 31.42 hours of paid time off per month (9.4 weeks per year). Newly hired lateral police officers will be placed on the PTO accrual scale based on total years of previous law enforcement experience.

PTO Accrual Scale

Officers work a 40-hour week divided into four 10-hour shifts.

Officers can dedicate one hour of their work day to any wellness activity of their choice, like going to the gym, running, yoga, mindfulness – anything you find restful and restorative.

Salary Scale

Salary Progression

Entry level

A new employee shall be hired at Step 1 of the salary schedule and shall be eligible to advance to Step 2 upon a satisfactory performance evaluation and 12 months of service. 

An employee will be eligible to advance to Step 3 after successful completion of probation (18 months from the date of hire).

In-state lateral experience

A new employee (verified or certifiable) with police experience in Oregon and hired under the criteria of the City's lateral entry program shall be credited one pay step for each completed year of previous full-time, paid experience as a sworn officer, up to a maximum starting pay of Step 5 of the police officer salary range. 

An employee will be eligible to advance one step after successful completion of probation (12 months from date of hire).

Out-of-state lateral experience

A new employee (certified or certifiable) with out-of-state police officer experience and hired under the criteria of the City's lateral entry program, shall initially be hired at Step 1. 

Upon certification from the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) that the employee's out-of-state training is equivalent to the DPSST basic training program, the employee shall be credited one pay step for each completed year of previous full-time paid experience as a sworn officer, up to a maximum of Step 5 of the police officer salary range, retroactive to the hire date. 

An employee will be eligible to advance one step after successful completion of probation (12 months from date of hire).

Salary Examples

Officer Jones has been with the Gresham Police Department for 8 years. Officer Jones was an in-state lateral hire with 4 years prior experience. Officer Jones has an Intermediate DPSST certificate and an Advance DPSST Certificate. Officer Jones has a Bachelor’s Degree and Mental Health First Aid Training. Officer Jones is assigned to patrol. Officer Jones is also on the Crisis Negotiation Team. Officer Jones’s salary is calculated:

Monthly salary (top step): $8,651

• DPSST Intermediate Certificate: 6% of $8,651 = $519.06
• DPSST Advance Certificate: 5% of $8,651 = $432.55
• Bachelor’s Degree: 2% of $8,651 = $173.02
• Mental Health First Aid Training: 1% of $8,651 = $86.61
• Crisis Negotiation Team: 5% of $8,651 = $432.55
• Total monthly salary: $10,294.69

Salary Averages

• The average salary for a 3-year Officer at Gresham Police Department (including overtime): $102,311/year
• The average salary for a 5-year Officer at Gresham Police Department (including overtime): $117,960/year
• The average salary for a 10-year Officer at Gresham Police Department (including overtime): $144,019/year

Gresham police officers enjoy the ability to diversify their career path through participation in numerous specialty assignments within the Police Department. These assignments offer specialty pay on top of base salary.

Assignments include:

• Behavioral Health Team (Mental Health Services)
• Bomb Technician
• Comfort Dog Handler
• Crisis Negotiation Team
• Detective
• Field Training Officer
• Honor Guard
• K-9 Team
• Neighborhood Enforcement Team
• Peer Support
• Public Information Officer
• Rapid Response Team
• Recruiting
• Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory
• Safe Streets Taskforce
• Special Investigations Unit
• SWAT
• Traffic Unit
• Training Officer
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems
• Vehicle Crimes Team

Specialty Assignment Pay

Note: Specialty assignment pay is capped at 14%.

Certification and Other Incentive Pay

Certification and incentive pays are stackable with no limit. 

Officers who want to add training, certification, or any other education to their repertoire, the City offers officers up to $5,000 a year to put toward educational opportunities.

The City of Gresham offers Police Officers multiple options for medical and dental insurance, all of which are provided at no premium cost to employees, spouse and children. Learn more about these benefits.

The Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) is a hybrid pension plan with two components – the Pension Program and the Individual Account Program (IAP). The pension is calculated based on highest salary earned and length of service. PERS members must be vested before becoming eligible to receive a PERS pension. Vesting in the PERS Pension Program generally occurs after five years. You are immediately vested in your IAP account, which is also funded by the City.

Gresham Police Officers are represented by the Gresham Police Officers Association (GPOA), a labor union that protects officer rights, compensation and benefits. Learn more about the GPOA labor union.

Officers receive a City-funded account through the health reimbursement arrangement (HRA VEBA) that provides funds to be used for medical expenses now or in retirement.

Officers can use tax-deferred funds to pay for health expenses and dependent care, including daycare and camp.

The Gresham Police Department is in the process of implementing a take-home car program.

• Life insurance
• Accidental death and dismemberment insurance
• Long-term disability insurance
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Deferred compensation
• Uniforms and uniform cleaning
• Equipment (weapons, vest, and other equipment)
• Travel assistance
• Legal Shield