Police Officer - Lateral

Salary : $95,243.20 - $133,993.60 Annually
Location : Anaheim Police Department, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 2026-00124
Department: Police
Opening Date: 06/15/2026


Description
The City of Anaheim is seeking experienced Police Officers to join the Anaheim Police Department for patrol assignments. The mission of the Anaheim Police Department is to maintain order, protect our community, and prevent crime by delivering prompt, professional and high-quality police service. As a valued member of our department, you will demonstrate the values of the organization while providing service to the public through community policing and collaborative problem solving.
Bilingual Pay :

2.5%, 5%, or 7.5%, depending upon level of ability and approval from the Chief of Police.

POST Certificate Salary Ranges :

Basic: $95,243.20 - $133,993.60 Annual

Intermediate: $115,481.60 - $147,388.80 Annual

Advanced: $118,102.40 - $150,737.60 Annual
The City of Anaheim also offers its employees:

Residence Incentive Program

Tuition Assistance Program

Computer Loan Program
For more information about the hiring process, please visit

Essential Functions
The following functions are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed functions and/or may be required to perform additional or different functions from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.
Patrol assigned area and interact with the community; work collaboratively with community residents to address problems and concerns with a focus on identifying solutions.


Receive calls through dispatch and respond to requests for police services; respond to medical aide requests and administer first aid as needed.


Perform problem-oriented policing functions and duties.


Carry out all aspects of police work in accordance with department training and policy including but not limited to:

• Interviewing/questioning individuals as required
• Conducting lawful stops, pursuits, searches of persons or property, detentions, citations, and arrests of persons
• Securing crime and accident scenes
• Collecting and preserving evidence
• Responding to traffic accidents for investigation of cause, traffic control, hazard removal and identification and report of malfunction traffic control equipment
• Completing accurate, complete and timely reports and booking of evidence
• Testifying and presenting evidence in court proceedings

Based on assignment may be required to investigate crimes, perform administrative duties, conduct crime prevention, or conduct training for other personnel.


Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

Note: Incumbents in this class may be assigned to specialized details such as helicopters, motorcycles, investigative, or administrative units.

Qualifications

Knowledge of : City, state and federal laws, statutes, ordinances and court decisions; departmental policies; criminal investigations principles and practices; law enforcement crime prevention community and problem-oriented policing principles; interviewing and interrogation techniques; collection of evidence; and technology including various computer hardware and software applications.


Ability to: Work in a community-based oriented policing environment, communicate clearly and accurately, both orally and in writing; exercise tact, self-restraint and good judgment; demonstrate collaborative problem solving abilities, de-escalate tense and volatile situations; safely and appropriately use firearms and other weapons; enforce laws within established departmental guidelines, standards, policy, and law; and establish and maintain effective relationships with those contacted in the course of employment.
License/Certification Required: Possession of a valid California Driver's License by date of appointment and as a condition of continued employment.
Additional Requirements: Must be a High School Graduate or possess a G.E.D Certificate from an accredited school. Must be a minimum of 21 years of age by date of completion of a California Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) approved Police Academy and be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law. In-state lateral candidates must be currently employed as a Police Officer with a California law enforcement agency, maintain possession of a valid California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Basic Certificate or higher prior to employment, and have successfully completed a probationary period. Out-of-state candidates must have a California POST Basic course waiver prior to the start of the pre-employment background. All non-probationary Police Officers must possess and maintain a valid POST Basic Certificate as a condition of continued employment.


Employees of the Anaheim Police Department must maintain California residency and live within 100-mile radius from the City.

Environmental Conditions: Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents may be exposed to smoke/fumes/gas, live electricity, excessive heat/cold, inclement weather, high frequency noise, dirt/dust, grease/oil, chemicals and solvents/toxic agents and may infrequently be exposed to radiation, treated water, and pesticides.

Physical Conditions: Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to stand, sit in a patrol car for long periods, walk; lift, carry, push, and pull a grown adult; climb walls, fences, stairs and ladders, stoop, twist, squat/kneel, crawl, run grasp, repeatedly bend and move wrists, use both hands, legs and feet; speak, hear and understand radio communications, touch/feel, see at a distance and up close and have depth perception and normal color vision. Must be physically fit to perform the job including corrected or uncorrected vision of 20/20 or better; physical strength and agility to perform foot pursuit and physical restraint of suspects.

Supplemental Information
*** IMPORTANT APPLICATION INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS ***

Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis until the needs of the department have been met. Applicants are encouraged to apply early as this recruitment may close without prior notification.


Physical Ability Test, Oral Interview & Pre-Background Screening : The physical ability test (PAT) and oral interview are tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, August 12 , 2026 or Wednesday, September 23, 2026 Successful candidates will be interviewed by a background investigator after the oral interview.


PAT Course Description
PAT Course Diagram

To be considered a Police Officer - Lateral candidate, you must be currently employed as a Police Officer with a California law enforcement agency, possess and maintain a valid California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Basic Certificate or higher prior to employment, and have successfully completed a probationary period.

Out-of-State Applicants: Must have a CA POST Basic Course Waiver prior to the start of backgrounds. For more information regarding how to obtain a waiver, please visit:

The following documents are required and must be completed and brought to the oral interview:

• Background Investigation Questionnaire (BIQ)
• Required Documents
• Applicant Autobiography

Please provide as many of the required documents along with your Preliminary Background Information Form / PHS, BIQ, and Applicant Autobiography. Items such as transcripts, credit report or other missing documents can be provided upon your receiving them.


Further selection steps include, but are not limited to a background investigation, polygraph examination, psychological evaluation, a medical examination, which includes drug/alcohol screening, and an interview with the Chief of Police. The interview with the background investigator and completion of the background investigation will include, but is not limited to, verification and evaluation of any present and/or past use of drugs, driving and employment history.


Please review the following common disqualifiers. If any items listed pertain to you, you will be automatically disqualified in the background investigation. You may, at this time, want to screen yourself and withdraw prior to starting the recruitment process.

• Any illegal use, sales, or possession of a drug classified as an opiate (heroin, opium, etc.) or PCP.
• Any use of cocaine, methamphetamine, hallucinogens (GHB, MDMA/ecstasy, ketamine, etc.) within five years of date of application.
• Any illegal use of anabolic steroids within three years of date of application.
• Two or more at-fault traffic collisions within three years of the date of application.
• Conviction of a hit-and run offense.
• Any driver's license suspension within five years of date of application.
• Conviction of a felony crime.
• Conviction of any misdemeanor crime within five years of application.
• Any conviction as an adult, of any misdemeanor crime involving domestic violence, sexual-related offenses or crimes against children.
• Any conviction as an adult, of a theft or larceny crime.

The following may result in disqualification :

• Use of cocaine, methamphetamine, hallucinogens (GHB, MDMA/ecstasy, ketamine, etc.) previous to five years of application.
• Prior nitrous oxide use.
• Illegal use of anabolic steroids previous to three years of application.
• Illegal use of a hypodermic needle/ syringe.
• A pattern or history of irresponsibility as evidenced by debt collections, civil judgments, failure to pay, late payments, etc.
• More than one moving violation in the past 12 months, and/or three or more moving citations within the past three years, and/or five or more moving citations within the past five years of date of application.

Candidates must be specific and complete in describing their qualifications for this position. Stating "See Resume" is not an acceptable substitute for a completed application. Failure to state all pertinent information may lead to elimination from consideration.
The City of Anaheim uses E-Verify and new employees must provide documentation to establish both work authorization and identity.


Communication regarding your application and/or status will be sent to the email address listed on your application. Please check your email regularly throughout the recruitment process.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The City of Anaheim offers a range of benefit programs for employees and their eligible dependents. These include health, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as a variety of voluntary benefits. Programs and benefits amounts vary and are based on bargaining unit, family size, hire date, plan selection, and number of hours worked.

To view the current benefits summary, visit:

For additional information about the City's benefits, visit:


RETIREMENT BENEFITS - The City contracts with the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) to provide retirement benefits. Retirement formula is based on appointment date and membership status with CalPERS.


Note : Pension contribution limitations are set by CalPERS each calendar year, with compensation limit requirements for Public Employee Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) members and Classic members. Employee contributions will be deposited into a 401(a) account after reaching this limit. Employees with CalPERS membership dates prior to July 1, 1996 are not impacted by these limits.


To view the current limits and additional CalPERS information, visit:


01


The following Supplemental Questionnaire is part of the examination for this position and will be used to evaluate your qualifications. Based upon the application and responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the best qualified candidates will be invited to participate in the recruitment process. Please read each question carefully and provide a thorough and complete response, detailing your education and work experience. Failure to fully detail all experience or stating experience in response to the supplemental questions but not listing the experience in the application, copy/pasting information, or responses such as "See Resume" or "See Application" will result in your application not being considered. You will not have an opportunity to provide additional information if your application is not selected to proceed in the recruitment process, so you should be sure to detail all relevant education and work experience within your application and supplemental questionnaire.Do you understand this requirement?

• Yes
• No

02


Our primary means of communication about candidate recruitment status is email. Have you provided a valid email address that you can access regularly? PLEASE NOTE: Make sure you check your JUNK folder for email messages that were incorrectly marked as spam.

• I acknowledge I have read and understand the above information.

03


I certify that I have read and understand the Automatic and Discretionary Disqualifiers associated with this position.

• Yes
• No

04


Are you currently employed as a Police Officer with a CA law enforcement agency?

• Yes
• No

05


The following documents are required and must be completed and brought to the oral interview testing process: - Preliminary Background Information form - Background Investigation Questionnaire (BIQ) - Required Documents - Applicant Autobiography PLEASE NOTE: Applicants who do not bring the required documents to the oral interview testing process will be automatically disqualified. Do you understand this requirement?

• Yes
• No

06


Have you successfully completed the probationary period in your current or former agency?

• Yes
• No

07


Do you possess a current CA Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Basic Certificate or higher? Please attach a copy of your POST certification to your application. PLEASE NOTE: Applicants who do not attach the required documents will not be considered for this recruitment and will be automatically disqualified. Have you attached the required documents to your application?

• Yes
• No

08


How many years of experience do you have working as a Police Officer?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to two years
• More than two years, but less than five
• Five or more years

09


Do you currently possess a valid California driver's license?

• No, I am unable to obtain one.
• No, but I am able to obtain one by date of appointment.
• Yes, I possess a valid California driver's license

10


Have you graduated from an accredited high school or successful completed the G.E.D exam?

• Yes
• No

11


Out-of-State Applicants: Are you currently employed as a Police Officer with a law enforcement agency in a state other than California?

• Yes
• No
• Not applicable

12


Out-of-State applicants must possess a valid CA POST Basic Course Waiver prior to the start of backgrounds. If obtained, a copy your CA POST Basic Course Waiver letter must be attached to your application. Do you understand this requirement?

• Yes
• No
• Not applicable

13


Are you a military veteran?

• Yes
• No

14


How did you become aware of this career opportunity?

• Anaheim Police Department Website
• City of Anaheim Career Website
• Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) Website
• Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Website
• Social Media
• Other

Required Question