Police Officer Recruit

The Position

You must have taken and passed the Police Officer Recruit examination for further consideration. To take the examination, click here. Please note: a candidate must successfully pass a thorough background investigation, including a criminal history check for job-related convictions, fingerprinting, polygraph test, psychological test, credit check, and a drug use history to be considered for this position. Applicants applying to this posting will be hired as a Police Officer Recruit and must successfully complete a twenty-four (24) week P.O.S.T. Basic Course Police Academy. Upon satisfactory graduation from a P.O.S.T. Basic Course Police Academy, a Police Officer Recruit meeting the requirements of the Police Officer classification shall be advanced to the career classification of Police Officer. For more information regarding the Police Officer or Community Service Officer II positions, please visit the following links: Police Officer Classification Specification: Community Service Officer II: Under close supervision, Police Officer Recruits participate in a basic law enforcement training program, at the Sacramento Police Academy. Police Officer Recruits gain an understanding of police procedures, law enforcement techniques, first aid, and acquire physical and emotional skills needed to successfully complete the police academy and may perform non-sworn, non-hazardous duties in support of a variety of police operations. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The Police Officer Recruit is a non-career developmental classification used to recruit and train qualified candidates to learn the duties of a Police Officer or Community Service Officer II in the Sacramento Police Department. Incumbents of this class undergo a formal, comprehensive training program in a State of California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Basic Police Academy conducted by the Sacramento Police Department to prepare for performing duties in support of police operations. Incumbents are expected to demonstrate satisfactory proficiency in the required physical agility testing component prior to and during the academy. On-going physical training will be a required skill set for any successful incumbent. Upon satisfactory graduation from a P.O.S.T. Basic Course Police Academy, a Police Officer Recruit meeting the requirements of the Police Officer classification shall be advanced to the career classification of Police Officer. Incumbents promoted to CSO II at time of completion of the POST Basic Police Academy, are expected to attend accredited college level courses in order to satisfy the minimum qualification requirements of the Police Officer classification within their limited-term appointment. Employees shall not be classified as Police Officer Recruit for more than one year from the date of hire unless the employee was unsuccessful in an Academy and the employee is invited to participate in an additional academy. Advancement to Police Officer or Community Service Officer II is dependent upon satisfactory job performance. Failure to graduate from the Police Academy and/or failure to meet satisfactory progress within the prescribed training period will be cause for termination. SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED Immediate supervision is provided by higher-level sworn or civilian personnel.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Learn and apply knowledge of the Sacramento Police Department's organization, chain of command, and rules and regulations.
• Learn, identify and emulate principles and techniques that promote community service, crime prevention, and appropriate behavior.
• Learn and apply knowledge of enforcement and procedural aspects of criminal law and the legal obligations inherent in enforcement of those laws.
• Learn and apply knowledge of proficient application of the rules of evidence. Receive training in and practice effective and professional communications through written, oral, and mechanical media.
• Learn to recognize vehicle violations, locating the violations in the Vehicle Code, and under supervision, safely and professionally contact the violator.
• Participate and assist in applying basic criminal investigation processes and techniques, including the identification, collection, and preservation of evidence, courtroom testimony, and witness interrogation.
• Learn and practice physical fitness and defense techniques programs.
• Learn and practice first-aid, including Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation techniques.
• Other related duties may also be performed; not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each individual holding this classification. Duties may include, but are not limited to, assisting in routine investigations; assisting in preparing non-injury police reports; assisting in responding to fire alarms, street hazards and found property calls; assisting in traffic and non-violent crowd control duties; as directed transporting citizens, personnel and equipment.

Qualifications

Ability to:

• Acquire, through training, knowledge of modern approved principles, practices, and procedures of police work, state laws, City ordinances, first-aid, the geography of the City, and the location of important buildings.
• Write clearly, accurately, concisely, legibly, and with correct English grammatical construction and spelling.
• Read and interpret complex technical documents in English. Understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Observe, assimilate, remember, record, and recall pertinent facts and details. Read maps and mapped information.
• Apply selected knowledge (i.e., laws, statutes, court decisions, department policies, criminal investigation theories, etc.) in collecting, organizing, and analyzing a variety of information in order to decide on an appropriate and reasonable course of action.
• Analyze problems and have the potential to rationally and calmly take effective action in emergency and stress situations.
• Plan and effectively present material orally to diverse groups. Deal courteously but firmly with the general public.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with co-workers and other City employees.
• Undergo strenuous physical conditioning.

Experience and Education:

Education:

High school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent

Experience:

No experience required.

Age:

Must be at least 18 years of age by the time of appointment.

Driver License:

Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License at the time of appointment.

Respiratory Protective Equipment:

Work in this class requires wearing respiratory protective equipment at times. When assigned to such work, facial hair must be shaven when it interferes with the safe fitting of respiratory protective equipment.

Felony Convictions:

Free of felony convictions under California Government Code Section 1029.

Background:

Must pass a background investigation, which includes a criminal history check for job-related convictions, fingerprinting, polygraph test, credit check, and drug use history.

Medical/Drug Test/Psychological Test:

Must pass a medical examination, drug test, and psychological test.

Continued Education:

Eligible to enroll in an accredited college or university.

This is a developmental classification designed to attract and retain persons with the desire and potential to be appointed to the Police Officer classification and who are working to satisfy the minimum qualification requirements of the Police Officer classification. Failure to make satisfactory progress may be cause for termination.

Physical Requirements:

The position requires sitting, standing, walking, running, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, squatting, and crouching in the performance of daily activities. The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement, and fine coordination in the preparation of reports and using a computer keyboard; hearing and speaking are required for interacting with the public and others and to hear sirens. Additionally, the position requires depth perception, near, far, night, peripheral, and color vision in viewing crime scenes or evidence. May be required to walk on uneven and slippery surfaces. Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.

Environmental Conditions:

Incumbents work outdoors in all weather conditions, around loud siren noise, moving vehicles, and around animals; exposed to controlled temperature conditions in an office environment and unpredictable work conditions, including but not limited to, physical threats, verbal abuse, and stressful situations when in the field. This position may require working around chemicals, blood, and other potential toxic exposures.

The Selection Procedure

Please note, the City of Sacramento's preferred method of communication with applicants is via e-mail. As such, please ensure you verify the e-mail address on your application, and check your e-mail frequently, including your spam and junk folders. All e-