Recruit Police Officer

Description The men and women of the Santa Clara Police Department take tremendous pride in providing the community with outstanding service through the "Santa Clara Way" of service. In partnership with the citizens, the team provides law enforcement services with professional and dedicated staff. The team will always identify and resolve problems utilizing all available resources and perform services professionally and with a high level of integrity. To learn more visit our website. Position This position is an entry-level, non-sworn position in the Police Department. Incumbents in the position are assigned to the Basic Peace Officer Academy and must satisfactorily pass all of the requirements that lead to the possession of the Basic Peace Officer Standards and Training Certificate before becoming candidates for the sworn position of Police Officer. Performs related duties as assigned. Required Documents Verification of a valid POST-Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) examination from another agency or approved entity with a T-Score of 50 or above. OR Verification of completion from the National Testing Network: NTN with the following scores or above: Frontline Test: 65% Video, 70% Reading, and 70% Writing. Verification of POST Physical Ability Examination (WSTB) PASS. Minimum Qualifications Education and Experience Completion of sixty (60) semester units or ninety (90) quarter units of academic level course work at an accredited college or university with no experience required; OR Completion of thirty (30) semester units or forty-five (45) quarter units of academic level courses at an accredited college or university and two (2) years full‑time, paid, recent police experience with a sheriff's department, state police, highway patrol, or municipal police department. Acceptable Substitution: None. License/Certifications Possession of an appropriate, valid California driver's license is required at time of appointment and for duration of employment. The minimum peace officer selection standards are set forth in Government Code (GC) Sections 1029, 1031, and 1031.4. Every California peace officer must be: Other Requirements Physical And Other Requirements Must be at least 20 years of age at time of application filing and 21 years of age at time of job appointment; Must possess the strength and physical ability necessary to perform the essential functions of the position of Police Officer; and Must be willing to be fingerprinted. Vision Requirements Vision including color, night, depth, and peripheral vision sufficient to perform all of the essential functions of the position of Police Officer; Visual acuity of not less than 20/80 vision in each eye uncorrected, and corrected to 20/30 in each eye. EXCEPTION: Applicants with correction afforded by soft contact lenses are exempt from the minimum uncorrected vision standard of 20/80, provided their corrected vision is 20/30 in each eye. Hearing, speech, and mental capabilities sufficient to perform all the essential functions of the position of Police Officer. Special Conditions Required to work a basic 5‑day workweek during the Academy. Attendance of classes at odd and unusual hours may be required, as well as working on weekends and designated holidays. Candidates are required to pass the following City examinations prior to being given a conditional offer of employment: oral examination, reading/writing assessment, physical ability assessment, and personal history questionnaire. If given a conditional offer of employment, candidates must also pass a full background check which may include medical, psychological, and polygraph examination prior to appointment. Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities Follow this link to view the entire Class Specification, which includes more information on Typical Duties and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Candidates must attain a passing score on each phase of the examination process to qualify for the Eligible List. A department interview may be required prior to appointment. Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of Santa Clara will not sponsor, represent, or sign documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application. Veteran’s Preference Points This position qualifies for Veteran’s Preference Points. Applicants who have separated from service (Active Duty Status) must submit proof of honorable discharge (Form DD214) with their application at time of filing or will be ineligible to have points added to their final score. Equal Opportunity The City of Santa Clara is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of Santa Clara is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at View phone number on click.appcast.io or View email address on click.appcast.io. Benefits Summary Overview City Of Santa Clara Benefit Summary Overview For Bargaining Unit #2 Police Officers Association: This summary provides a brief overview of the City of Santa Clara's benefits available to Bargaining Unit #2 employees in 2026. In the event of any conflict between the information in this summary and the applicable official plan documents, City Manager's Directives (CMDs), Personnel and Salary Resolution, or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the applicable official plan documents, CMDs, Personnel and Salary Resolution, or MOU will prevail over this summary. Benefits are subject to change. Retirement* Membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) Classic Employees: 3.0% @ age 50 formula – employee pays 11.25% of gross pay New Employees: 2.7% @ age 57 formula – employee pays 12.25% of gross pay Medicare and Social Security (FICA) Employee does not participate in Social Security Employee pays 1.45% of gross salary for Medicare * Recruit Police Officers are represented by Unit #2, but are considered Miscellaneous under CalPERS – 2.7% @ 55 (Classic)/2% @ 62 (New) with 8% less $61 bi‑weekly/6.50% employee contribution. Recruits also participate in Social Security and Medicare with 7.65% contribution. After Recruits have successfully completed the Academy and are sworn, retirement is as above. Health Insurance The City contributes up to 100% of the premium of the Kaiser (Region 1) plan for Employee Only and Employee + 1 Dependent plans, and up to 90% of the premium of the Kaiser (Region 1) plan of the Employee + 2 or More Dependents plan Employees electing health coverage with premiums above the City health contribution will pay additional premium costs from salary on a pre‑tax basis No cash difference is paid if an employee elects a plan cheaper than the max City contribution To be eligible for the City’s contribution toward health, employees must be on a paid status for at least 80 hours in the month prior to the month of coverage Coverage is effective as early as the first day of the month after date of hire Employees hired on or after 1/1/2023 who opt‑out of City‑offered health insurance and provide annual attestation and acceptable proof of alternative required coverage for themselves and their tax family, if applicable, are eligible for a cash‑in‑lieu amount of $250/month. Contact Human Resources for more details Dental Insurance Choice of two Delta Dental plans; enrollment is mandatory City pays lowest cost employee only plan; additional cost is paid by employee Coverage is effective as early as the first day of the month after date of hire Vision Insurance Choice of two VSP plans City pays lowest cost employee only plan; additional cost is paid by employee Coverage is effective as early as the first day of the month after date of hire Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA) City contributes $100 a month toward employee's VEBA account Account funds may be used to pay for qualified medical expenses after separation from the City and after age 50 (pre‑tax) Life Insurance City pays for $15,000 of Basic Life Insurance coverage Coverage is effective the first of the month after one calendar month of employment Additional optional life insurance may be purchased for the employee, spouse, domestic partner, and/or dependent children Deferred Compensation Voluntary plan available through Nationwide Retirement Solutions Employee may contribute up to the lesser of the IRS maximum or 100% of gross compensation into a pre‑tax 457(b) account or a post‑tax Roth 457(b) account (or a combination of the two accounts) subject to IRS rules Additionally, the City contributes $150 a month toward employee's 457(b) account. This dollar amount will factor into the above mentioned IRS rules and limits Flexible Spending Account (IRS Section 125 Plan) Employee may contribute up to $3,400 per year in pre‑tax dollars to a health care spending account Employee may contribute up to $7,500 per year in pre‑tax dollars to a dependent care spending account Employee may contribute up to $340 per month in pre‑tax dollars to a commuter benefit plan Vacation Vacation is accrued bi‑weekly, cannot use vacation during first 6 months of City service For 1 - 9 years of service: 120 hours/calendar year For 10 - 15 years of service: 160 hours/calendar year For 16 - 20 years of service: 176 hours/calendar year For 21+ years of service: 192 hours/calendar year Maximum vacation accrual is 400 hours Once per year, employees can elect to convert up to 90 hours of accrued vacation to cash to be paid out in up to two cash‑outs the following calendar year Sick Leave Sick leave is accrued bi‑weekly for equivalent of 96 hours/calendar year with no maximum accrual Up to 56 hours/ calendar year of accumulated sick leave may be used for family illness Up to 32 hours/calendar year of accumulated sick leave may be used as personal leave Employee may convert sick leave to vacation once per year (annual maximum conversion is 96 hours sick to 48 hours vacation) Partial sick leave payoff provision on retirement depending on years of service Holiday Pay 7.5% of base salary for Holiday Pay Bilingual Pay If the Chief of Police determines that a particular assignment involves need for bilingual skills on a regular basis, a certified bilingual employee is eligible for $45/bi‑weekly or $90/bi‑weekly for advanced certification (employees who have demonstrated both oral and written bilingual proficiency) Additional Premium Pays Various premiums including Night Shift Differential, Field Training Officer, Narcotics Task Force, Specialized Crimes Action Team, Special Response Team, Traffic Investigator, Explorer Coordinator, Public Information Officer, POST Intermediate Certificate, POST Advanced Certificate, Motorcycle Duty, Armorer, Crime Scene Investigator and Field Evidence Technician are available, depending upon shift, assignment and/or other requirements Uniform Allowance $600 per year (per MOU) Tuition Reimbursement Program Up to $2,000 per fiscal year for tuition reimbursement Psychological Counseling Confidential psychological counseling is available (Employee pays $10 for each visit. The uninsured costs of all visits are borne by the City) Retiree Medical Reimbursement Program Employees who retire from the City with at least ten (10) years of service shall receive reimbursement to help cover retiree single health insurance premiums. The reimbursement maximum includes the PEMHCA minimum. Up to age 65, retirees are eligible for reimbursement up to $438/month in 2026 (amount adjusted annually) After age 65, retirees are eligible for reimbursement up to $262/month in 2026 (amount adjusted annually) Salary The annual salary range for this position is 114,713.16 - $146,499.72. This position may be filled at or near the minimum of the salary range. #J-18808-Ljbffr City of Santa Clara