Police Officer (Recruit Level)

Join The San Diego Police Department Team

Join the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) team today! SDPD honors your service and sacrifice if you are a veteran. SDPD is certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to train veterans and eligible persons under 38 U.S.C. 3675. SDPD can certify candidates who are eligible to receive VA education benefits under the on-the job-training (OJT) program while employed by SDPD to attend a paid California POST approved Police Academy and up to a year after graduation while completing the field training program and SDPD probation period.

Do you have a strong dedication to public service? If you do, a career with the San Diego Police Department may be for you! A career with SDPD offers excitement, rapid growth opportunities, work-life-balance, and the chance to make a positive impact in your community. As one of the nation's leaders in Community Oriented Policing, we strongly value the partnerships we have built with the diverse communities of San Diego and are looking for Officers that will uphold that tradition. Throughout your career with SDPD, you'll have the chance to follow many paths in over 70 different positions, including: Detective, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), New Technologies, Canine (K9) Handler, Beach Patrol and Motor Officer, among others.

SDPD offers a competitive base salary, great benefits, and many additional pay opportunities. The following skills and desirable attributes exemplify what we look for in a Police Officer (Recruit Level): integrity; leadership skills; excellent judgment under pressure; ability to maintain sufficient level of fitness to safely perform as a law enforcement professional; the ability to be aware of, control, and express emotions appropriately, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically; ability to maintain confidence in uncertain situations; excellent judgment and ability to act under pressure; ability to thrive in diverse populations.

A San Diego Police Officer:

• Contributes to the team effort of maintaining a presence in the community that helps to deter crime and provide support to citizens.
• Collaborates in building strong relationships with community members, upholding best practices of Community Oriented Policing.
• Acts as a police presence at major public events to ensure public safety.
• Identifies potential criminal activity or other hazardous situations and takes proper actions to protect citizens and property.
• Helps to secure crime scenes and process evidence.
• Responds to calls for service; observes violations; makes arrests and citations when necessary.
• Conducts criminal investigations by gathering evidence and interviewing victims and witnesses.
• Documents observations and actions by radioing information; completing reports.
• Fulfills court orders by testifying in court regarding criminal investigations and citations.
• Maintains safe traffic conditions by monitoring and directing traffic; enforces laws and ordinances; investigates collisions; reports unsafe streets and facilities.

Police Officer (Recruit Level) employees attend the Police Academy classroom lectures on subjects including criminal law, laws of arrest, traffic laws, juvenile law, principles of law enforcement, rules of evidence, rules of search and seizure, patrol theory and methods, and report writing; observe demonstrations on arrest and control methods and the care and use of firearms; participate in physical conditioning and self-defense exercises; practice the use of firearms; and take examinations.

Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS). Police Officer (Recruit Level) employees must complete the Regional Academy Training and receive a Basic P.O.S.T. Certificate within ONE year of hire. After completing the Police Academy, Police Officer (Recruit Level) employees are promoted to Police Officer I and assigned to the Field Training Unit for a minimum of four months. Police Officer I employees may work a 4 day/10-hour, rotating shift work schedule, depending on assignment. After one year, Police Officer I employees receive a $900 annual uniform allowance. Bilingual pay (3.5% of base pay) is provided to qualified officers, if skills are required. Additional add on pays may be available if you meet the requirements.

State Standards: In accordance with P.O.S.T Standards, candidates must be free of any felony convictions. Candidates will be screened by the San Diego Police Department and are subject to immediate disqualification if any of the following are found during the background investigative process: domestic violence conviction(s), or if you are a registered sex offender; for additional information refer to the following link: P.O.S.T. Disqualifiers (Download PDF reader).