Police Officer - Entry Level

Police Officer

Eligible for a hiring bonus! $20,000 ($2,000 upon hire; $3,000 upon successful completion of the Field Training Program; $3,000 upon completion of second year of employment; $4,000 upon completion of third year of employment; $4,000 at the completion of fourth year of employment; and $4,000 upon completion of fifth year of employment with the city. This specific portion of the policy is limited to the fiscal year funding availability, as determined by the City Manager.

Entry level salary: $7,955- $10,662 per month. Salary also includes an automatic 8 hrs. straight time each month due to 3/12 shift and 9.5 hrs. straight time for monthly holiday pay. This is a non-sworn training level classification requiring no prior law enforcement experience. Trainees will be sent to a basic police academy and upon successful completion of the academy, will be promoted to the sworn police officer classification.

Hiring bonus: $20,000 ($2,000 upon hire; $3,000 upon successful completion of the Field Training Program; $3,000 upon completion of second year of employment; $4,000 upon completion of third year of employment; $4,000 at the completion of fourth year of employment; and $4,000 upon completion of fifth year of employment with the city. This specific portion of the policy is limited to the fiscal year funding availability, as determined by the City Manager.

Benefits include retirement, health insurance, life insurance, long-term disability, uniform allowance, vacation, holidays, longevity pay, sick leave, pre-tax deductions, deferred compensation, bilingual pay, education incentive, and other benefits including access to credit union, tuition reimbursement, PORAC union representation, direct payroll deposit, and retiree medical benefit.

Minimum qualifications include high school graduation or G.E.D. certificate/equivalent, proof of being 21 years old by date of hire, U.S. citizenship or application for citizenship to be obtained within 3 years, record free of any felony convictions, and must reside or be willing to relocate within a 60 minute drive to the police department.

Physical condition requirements include physical health, strength, and agility necessary to meet the physical demands of police work, as determined by a physical agility test and a medical exam based on current California's Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) guidelines. Vision standards include 20/40 or better vision without contact lenses and surgery must have been performed at least one-year prior to date of application.

License/certificate requirements include a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's License (Class C /Class 3).

The position involves patrolling the city in radio dispatched vehicles and on foot; answering calls for protection of life and property; enforcement of City, State and Federal laws; traffic law enforcement; operating radar equipment; suppressing crime by interrogation of suspicious persons, observing unusual situations on patrol beat, and settling disputes and arguments. Perform traffic control, accident investigation, render emergency assistance to citizens in need of immediate help; transport prisoners; serve warrants, participate in investigations of felonies and misdemeanors; interview persons involved in crimes and accidents; document incidents utilizing computers; perform security checks of public, commercial and residential buildings; observe assigned area for suspicious activities and unsafe conditions; provide assistance to other officers and law enforcement agencies. Participate in community-based policing, familiarization between law enforcement and community residents, and collaborative problem solving.

Schedule: All police patrol personnel currently work a 12 hour / 3-4 day work schedule.

The department: The Scotts Valley Police Department serves a community of over 11,000 citizens. During work hours, the population may swell to over 30,000. There are 19 sworn police officers assigned to such areas as patrol, traffic enforcement, investigations, juvenile, training, and Special Response Team (SRT). The Police Department is a service oriented agency.

Application and testing process: Applicants are required to fill out and complete a City application form. Entry level applicants will be required to complete the POST Entrance Assessment Process (written and physical tests) and submit certificates of completion with their application. The written and physical test Entrance Assessment Minimum Requirements include successful completion of the POST Reading and Writing entrance exam with a minimum T-Score of 48 and successful completion of the POST WSTB Physical Agility Test with a minimum score of 320 total points and run 1.5 miles in 14 minutes or less. The City of Scotts Valley accepts written and physical agility test results from the POST Entrance Assessment Process available at any accredited criminal justice training facility as long as the exams were taken within 1 year of the date of application. Local training centers where testing is available include South Bay Coyote Valley, College of San Mateo, and Monterey Peninsula College. For test information, fees, calendar of test dates and locations, and to make online reservations, go to Entry level applicants are also required to complete a Personal History Statement (PHS) – Peace Officer at the following link and email it to the police department's Administrative Secretary at View email address on click.appcast.io. Hearing-impaired individuals can access the Department's TDD machine by calling View phone number on click.appcast.io. Applicants needing special accommodations for testing should submit a request to Personnel at the time of application. Qualified applicants will be invited to a pre-screening interview to be held at the City of Scotts Valley Police Department, 1 Civic Center Drive, Scotts Valley. Qualified candidates will be invited to a selection interview to assess an applicant's experience, education, judgment, oral communication skills and interpersonal skills. All candidates who receive a score of 80% or more on the selection interview will be placed on a hiring list. Top candidates will be selected for a background investigation in accordance with the POST Commission and Peace Officer Background Investigations Guidelines. Candidates will also be required to successfully complete, to the satisfaction of this department, a polygraph test administered by a licensed polygrapher, a psychological exam given by a City selected psychologist and a medical exam by a City selected physician (to include a back X-ray and general physical examination). In addition to the qualifications noted above, suitability for employment will also be based on the following POST job dimensions: moral character, handling stress and adversity, work habits, interactions with others and intellectually based abilities.

Pre-employment policy regarding illegal use or possession of drugs: The following types of illegal drug use or possession will be considered automatic disqualifiers in the pre-employment selection process for sworn police personnel, with no exceptions. Any adult use or possession of a drug classified as a hallucinogenic within seven (7) years prior to application for employment. Any adult use or possession of marijuana within two (2) years prior to application for employment. Any other illegal adult use or possession of a drug not mentioned above, (including cocaine) within three (3) years prior to application for employment. Any illegal adult use or possession of a drug while employed in the capacity of a police officer, licensed security officer, military police, or as a student enrolled in college accredited courses of/or related to the criminal justice field. Any adult manufacture or cultivation of a drug. Failure to divulge to the Police Department during the background investigation any information about personal illegal use or possession of drugs. The disqualification of a police officer candidate for the following types of illegal drug use or possession will be considered in relationship to the overall background of that individual: Any illegal juvenile use or possession of a drug. Any illegal adult use or possession of a drug that does not meet the criteria of the automatic disqualifiers specified above; e.g., marijuana use longer than two (2) years ago or cocaine use longer than three (3) years ago. All information obtained during a background investigation is confidential and will not be released to candidates or others.