Police Officer Trainee

Salary : $89,843.00 Annually
Location : Police Department-965 Sonoma Ave Santa Rosa, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 25/26-80ASM-O
Department: Police
Opening Date: 06/08/2026
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: 14


The Position
Police Academy starts Jan 2027
Santa Rosa Public Safety Training Center-Windsor, CA

Want to enforce the law and work in partnership with the Community?
Become a Santa Rosa Police Officer!
Why Santa Rosa?
The Santa Rosa Police Department was formed in 1867 with three "Town Marshals" and currently employs 261 employees. The Police Department is part of the City of Santa Rosa organization. The dedicated staff of the Police Department are committed to providing exceptional public safety services and taking a leadership role in building community partnerships to make our city a better, safer place to live, work and play.
To be eligible to apply, you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

• 21 years of age or older
• Graduated from a U.S. High School or passed the G.E.D. Test or California High School Proficiency Exam at time of application
• No felony convictions as an adult

Disqualifying Factors
If you have been unsuccessful in a previous background investigation process (including polygraph examination or psychological assessment) with the Santa Rosa Police Department, your application will be screened on a case-by-case basis to determine if you will proceed further in the selection process or whether there are factors supporting an immediate disqualification.
The City of Santa Rosa is committed to building a workforce reflective of our community and establishing a lasting culture of equity and belonging within our organization. Our collective talents and expertise contribute to high-quality public services that support a vibrant, resilient, inclusive City for our community and visitors. We celebrate a diverse workforce and welcome all qualified candidates to apply.
You are encouraged to talk with the Santa Rosa Police Department Recruiting staff for additional information or questions:

SRPD Recruiting Office

(707) 543-HIRE
santarosapd.com/Careers
Examples of Duties and Responsibilities
Police Officer Trainees learn to enforce Federal, State and local laws and to respond to calls for the protection of life and property by attending a Police Academy.

After successfully completing the academy, candidates promote to Police Officer and begin field training. The job description and current base salary range for Police Officer is
Police Officers enforce Federal, State and local laws and to respond to calls for the protection of life and property.
The following duties are considered essential .

• Patrol assigned area of the City in a car, on a motorcycle, or on foot;
• enforce local, State and Federal laws;
• respond to calls related to the protection of life and property, traffic incidents, and other required emergencies;
• prepare reports of arrests made, activities performed, and unusual incidents observed;
• conduct both preliminary and follow-up investigations of disturbances, criminal incidents, hazardous incidents, vehicle accidents, and deaths;
• make arrests;
• interrogate suspects and interview victims, complainants and witnesses;
• coordinate and conduct detailed investigations of violent crimes, child abuse, property crimes, vice, gaming, and narcotics violations;
• testify and present evidence in court;
• provide backup assistance for other officers and personnel;
• collect, preserve, and maintain evidence, found property, and property for safekeeping;
• assist and advise motorists and enforce traffic safety laws by issuing citations and warnings;
• search, fingerprint, and transport prisoners;
• respond to demonstrations, riots, hostage situations, barricaded subjects and other extremely hazardous situations;
• maintain contact with the public regarding potential law enforcement problems and preserve good relationships with the public;
• serve warrants and subpoenas;
• observe, monitor, direct, and control routine and unusual traffic conditions;
• check buildings for physical security;
• and administer first aid.

In addition to the duties listed in the Essential Duties Section, each employee in this classification may perform the following duties. Any single position may not be assigned all duties listed below, nor do the examples cover all duties which may be assigned.

• Perform undercover and surveillance activities;
• develop and maintain good relationships with informants and contacts which may be helpful in criminal investigations;
• prepare search and arrest warrants;
• contact and cooperate with other law enforcement and non-law enforcement agencies in matters relating to the apprehension of offenders and the investigation of offenses;
• make presentations to citizens and groups;
• assist in the performance of special investigative and crime prevention duties;
• may serve as a member of a Special Response Team;
• may serve as Field Training Officer, supervising and training new personnel;
• coordinate departmental training programs;
• prepare, submit, and administer grants; conduct specialized crime prevention programs;
• seize assets through the preparation and service of asset seizure documentation;
• manage a caseload of registered sex offenders, including initial registration, follow up, and coordination with the Department of Justice;
• provide training for department personnel in such areas as defensive tactics, use of firearms, defensive driving, crowd control, use of chemical agents, and other specialized functions;
• collect, analyze, and disseminate criminal street gang information;
• and direct traffic at fires, special events and other emergency or congested situations.

Required Qualifications


Ability to:
Observe accurately and remember faces, numbers, incidents, and places; demonstrate proficiency in the use and care of firearms; think and act quickly in emergencies, and judge situations and people accurately; maintain a professional demeanor during stressful situations; learn, understand, and interpret laws, rules, regulations, and policies; communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing; prepare accurate and grammatically correct written reports; learn standard broadcasting procedures of a police radio system; demonstrate proficiency in the exercise of defensive tactics; handle an automobile in high speed and emergency situations; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; understand and carry out oral and written directions; uphold the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics at all times.



Additional Information

The selection process has three testing parts. You must successfully complete each part to be invited to the next.

Part I: Written Exam
Applicants considered most qualified based on a screening of applications and questionnaires will be invited to the California P.O.S.T. (Peace Officer Standards and Training) Entry Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) written examination. The PELLETB has three test components: a writing skills test that measures writing clarity, vocabulary, and spelling; a reading test that measures reading comprehension; and a reasoning ability test. The minimum qualifying score is a T-Score of 42.

Part I testing, the PELLETB written examination, will be scheduled on a as needed basis.

If you have taken the California P.O.S.T. PELLETB written examination within one year prior to application and received a T-Score of 42 or above, please attach to your online application documentation listing the agency you tested with, the test date, and your T-Score; and if qualifying and approved, we will waive the Part I PELLETB written examination requirement.

Part II: Oral Appraisal Interview
Applicants successful in Part II testing will be invited to the oral appraisal interview. The oral appraisal interview will evaluate your education, training, experience, problem-solving and interpersonal skills, community involvement/cultural awareness and other job-related qualifications.

Interviews will be scheduled by appointment.

Part III: Background Investigation
Part III consists of a thorough background investigation which includes: police records checks, D.M.V. records review, P.O.S.T. Personal History Statement, SRPD Background Issues Questionnaire, employer reference checks, and polygraph examination.

All applicants successful in the background investigation screening and the Chief's interview will be required to take and pass Physical Function Testing, a comprehensive medical examination, and a psychological evaluation prior to appointment.

Vision Acuity Standards:
For individuals wearing eye glasses or hard contact lenses, uncorrected vision of 20/80 or better in both eyes; corrected vision of 20/30 when both eyes are tested together. For those wearing soft contact lenses, no uncorrected far-vision acuity standard applies, but vision must be corrected to 20/30 when both eyes are tested together. The wearer of hard or soft lenses must have at least one year of successful use. Normal color vision is required. Individuals who have had LASIK surgery may be cleared for hire if visual function standards are met and there is no presence of significant symptoms, complications, or regression.

Working Conditions:
Incumbents in this classification are required to work rotating shifts and assignments, and may be assigned to work overtime with little or no notice. Due to the varied and unpredictable nature of police work, incumbents may also be required to perform the following:

Measure distances using calibrated instruments such as when investigating traffic accidents or processing crime scenes; make precise arm-hand positioning movements and maintain static arm-hand position such as when sighting and shooting a firearm; direct traffic which requires continuous and repetitive arm-hand movements; use sufficient strength to enable the incumbent to sprint, jump, or physically overcome resistance when chasing or apprehending suspects; coordinate the movement of more than one limb simultaneously such as when using a hand radio while driving a vehicle or searching a building with firearm drawn, flashlight on and opening and closing doors; bend or stoop repeatedly and continuously over time such as getting in and out of a patrol car or gathering evidence at crime scenes; patrol officers wear a carrier vest or a 15 pound utility/gun belt which requires the continuous support from stomach and lower back muscles; a patrol officer typically spends 7 - 8 hours per day driving a vehicle which requires the continuous support of lower back muscles; climbing ladders and searching rooftops requires lifting arms above shoulder level and working at heights greater than ten feet; searching for suspects or lost persons may require walking over rough, uneven, slippery or rocky surfaces including fields, parks, hillsides and creeks; an officer is required to listen for alarms, screams, breaking glass or other suspicious and unusual noises that may require investigation; move heavy objects such as equipment (50 pounds and more), and lift and carry injured or intoxicated persons short and long distances; work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions with exposure to the elements; tolerate very hot and very cold temperatures; sit for extended periods of time and may or may not be able to change positions such as when sitting in a patrol vehicle, or performing surveillance; foot beat and search activities require walking for extended periods of time, unable to stop, sit or rest at will; crowd and traffic control duties require standing for extended periods of time, unable to sit or rest at will.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter.


The City does not discriminate on the basis of disability in employment. Requests for reasonable accommodations needed to participate in the recruitment process may be made by submitting a Request for Reasonable Accommodation Form within five (5) business days of being noticed that an event requiring accommodation is occurring. You may also contact the Human Resources Department at View phone number on click.appcast.io or View email address on click.appcast.io.
In addition to offering a challenging, rewarding work environment and excellent salary, the City of Santa Rosa provides a generous suite of benefits.

This job classification is in Miscellaneous Unit 14, Police Civilian - Technical. Please click HERE to be redirected to the City's benefits information page.
01


Are you currently 21 years of age or older, or will you be 21 years of age at the time of graduation from the Basic Police Academy by May 2027?

• Yes
• No

02


Do you meet one of the following education requirements? Check the appropriate box. (Per Government Code Section 1031(e)

• I graduated from a United States Accredited High School
• I passed the General Education Development (G.E.D.) Test
• I passed the California High School Proficiency Examination
• I possess an Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's Degree or higher level from a United States accredited college or university
• No, I do not meet the above education requirements

03


Do you meet the following Vision Acuity Standards? For individuals wearing eye glasses or hard contact lenses, uncorrected vision of 20/80 or better in both eyes; corrected vision of 20/30 when both eyes are tested together. For those wearing soft contact lenses, no "uncorrected" far-vision acuity standard applies, but vision must be corrected to 20/30 when both eyes are tested together. The wearer of hard or soft contact lenses must have had problem-free use for a period of at least one year. Normal color vision is required. Individuals who have had LASIK surgery may be cleared for hire if visual function standards are met and there is no presence of significant symptoms, complications, or regression.

• Yes
• No

04


Have you taken the California P.O.S.T. PELLETB written examination within one year of TODAY and received a T-Score of 42 or above? Part I Testing may be waived with documentation of a valid T-Score. Your T-Score documentation must be attached to your online application.

• Yes, I have a California P.O.S.T. PELLETB T-Score of 42 or above from another jurisdiction and I have attached score which will include the letterhead of the agency that proctored the test
• Yes, I have taken the P.O.S.T. PELLETB written examination within the last 30 days, and I am awaiting my results
• I do not elect to waive Part I Testing and expect to be scheduled to take the California P.O.S.T. PELLETB written examination

05


Have you had any felony convictions as an adult? (Per Government Code Section 1029(a)(1)

• Yes
• No

06


I certify that I have read the job bulletin and understand the minimum qualifications for this position, that all information provided in this questionnaire is true, and I agree and understand that any misstatements or omissions of material fact may forfeit my rights to continue in this examination process and/or employment with the City of Santa Rosa Police Department.

• Yes
• No

Required Question