Police Officer II

Salary: $108,763.20 - $119,724.80 Annually
Location : City of San Diego, CA
Job Type: Permanent, Full Time
Job Number: RR-T11943-202506
Business Area: 1914 - Police
Personnel Area: 4000 - Police
Opening Date: 06/13/2025
Closing Date: Continuous


JOB INFORMATION
APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY TO THE FOLLOWING RELATED RECRUITMENT(S):

• Police Officer I

JOIN THE SDPD TEAM TODAY!!!

Please read through the entire bulletin for important information.

Veteran friendly employer!
You served our country and worked hard to earn your GI Bill benefits, it's time to let them work for you. Not to worry, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) honors your service and sacrifice. In addition to great pay and benefits, SDPD is certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to train veterans and eligible persons under 38 U.S.C. 3675. For which 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 the San Diego Police Department 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, SWAT, New Technologies, 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 II: 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.

THE TYPICAL STARTING SALARY IS APPROXIMATELY $9,095.00 MONTHLY.

Police Officer II positions work under general supervision to patrol an assigned area in the enforcement of law and order and prevention of crime; respond to emergencies as directed by radio and telephone; investigate unusual or suspicious conditions, traffic accidents, and complaints; make arrests, guard prisoners, and question witnesses and suspects; issue citations; prepare evidence and testify in court; fingerprint, photograph, book, supervise, and transport prisoners; prepare reports on investigations, offenses, arrests and activities; serve criminal and civil papers; answer inquiries from the public; and perform other duties as assigned.


NOTES:

• 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 II employees must complete the Regional Academy Training and receive a Basic P.O.S.T. Certificate within ONE year of hire.
• Police Officer II employees may work a 4 day/10-hour, rotating shift work schedule, depending on assignment.
• After one year, Police Officer II 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.
• Initially, Police Officer II employees will be assigned to the Patrol Division.

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:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.


AGE: 21 years of age at time of hire.


CITIZENSHIP: You must be a United States citizen or have the current legal right to work in the United States.
NOTE:

• Candidates screened by the San Diego Police Department must present proof of legal right to work in the United States when they submit their Background Investigation Questionnaire.

EXPERIENCE: Two years of full-time paid experience as a sworn peace officer with a city police, county sheriff, state or federal law enforcement agency performing correction duties, patrol functions, or traffic enforcement. Experience must include service with a law enforcement agency WITHIN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. Time served in a training capacity as a recruit/trainee as part of a Police Academy does NOT qualify for the experience requirement.


EDUCATION: You must also meet ONE of the following options:

1. Graduation from a High School located within the United States or a United States territory AND successful completion of a minimum of 30 semester/45 quarter college-level units.
2. Passage of the California High School Proficiency Examination (C.H.S.P.E.) or General Education Development (G.E.D.) with scores that meet the California standard established by the American Council on Education AND successful completion of a minimum of 30 semester/45 quarter college-level units.
3. Possession of a two or four-year degree from an accredited college or university located within the United States or a United States territory. (Accreditation must be from an institutional accrediting body which has been recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation).

NOTES:

• Applicants who lack the required college-level units may substitute additional qualifying experience for some or all of the education lacked, according to the following formula: 2.5 semester/3.75 quarter college units = 1 month of experience.
• Candidates screened by the Police Department must present proof of education when they submit their Background Investigation Questionnaire.

POST CERTIFICATE: You must meet ONE of the following options:

1. Graduation from a California P.O.S.T. approved Police Academy with a Basic Peace Officers Course Certificate.
2. Possession of a California Basic P.O.S.T. Certificate.
3. Possession of a California P.O.S.T. Basic Course Waiver letter dated within the last one year.

NOTE:

• Applicants meeting the experience requirement as specified above, who lack the required California P.O.S.T. Certificate, may apply. If hired, attendance at a PAID Regional San Diego Police Academy is required to satisfy California state certification requirements. This certification is necessary to work as a Police Officer for the City of San Diego.

LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License is required at the time of hire.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (MUST SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION):

• California Basic Peace Officers Course Certificate, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• California Basic P.O.S.T. Certificate, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
• California P.O.S.T. Basic Course Waiver letter, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements. The letter needs to be dated within the last year.
• California POST work sample test battery (WSTB) score verification report, if used to waive the physical abilities performance test. NOTE: The WSTB needs to be administered by an agency with staff that has completed the California POST Basic Course Physical Training Instructor training.

Required documents should be attached electronically to your application. If you are unable to attach at the time of application submittal, you must submit them as soon as possible via fax: View phone number on click.appcast.io; or to the Employment Information Center: City of San Diego Personnel Department, 1200 Third Avenue - Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101. Include your name and the title of the position for which you are applying.

SCREENING PROCESS
The screening process will consist of the following components:


1. APPLICATION REVIEW: Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental questions will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in this initial screening process, your application will be reviewed for applicable education, experience, and/or training to ensure all minimum requirements have been met.


2. PERFORMANCE TEST: The performance test is pass/fail examination which consists of 5 different events based on the California P.O.S.T. Work Sample Test Battery and measures a variety of physical abilities necessary in police work. The test requires candidates to: a. Complete a 99 yard Obstacle Course consisting of several sharp turns, a number of curb height obstacles, and a 34 inch high obstacle that must be vaulted; b. Jump, step and/or climb over 6-foot fence(s); c. Partially lift and drag a 150 pound "simulated victim"; and d. Complete a 500 yard run. Test information will be given to candidates prior to their scheduled test date.


3. PERFORMANCE TEST WAIVER: You may be eligible to waive the performance test if one of the following applies to you:

• You have passed the CURRENT City of San Diego physical abilities performance test within the last TWO (2) years.
• You have taken the California POST Work Sample Test Battery (WSTB) within the last six (6) months and acquired a score of 384 or higher. NOTE: The WSTB needs to be administered by an agency with staff that has completed the California POST Basic Course Physical Training Instructor training.
• You are currently employed as a full-time sworn Peace Officer in a California POST participating Law Enforcement Agency or an Out-of-State Law Enforcement Agency AND MUST possess at least ONE of the following California POST certificates dated within THREE years from application date: Basic Peace Officers Course (Full Police Academy) Certificate; Basic Peace Officers Course Requalification Certificate; Basic Peace Officer Course Waiver letter; OR a Basic P.O.S.T. Certificate.

If your application and request for a waiver is approved, you will bypass this step and be placed on the eligible list. NOTE: Requests for waivers will be considered on a case-by-case basis based on your responses to the supplemental questions on your application.

Candidates who pass the performance test (or are approved for a waiver) will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next one year. For each vacancy, only those candidates with the most appropriate qualifications will be contacted by the hiring department for an interview.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Individuals who are placed on the eligible list and are being evaluated by the Police Department for employment, must successfully pass the following prior to hire:


FIREARM PROFICIENCY TEST: This pass/fail test is conducted with a Police Department approved handgun and involves firing at a silhouette target from 3, 7, 10, and 15 yard lines with both strong and weak hands. A minimum score of 255 out of 300 or 85% is required to pass.
VISION/HEARING REQUIREMENTS: Vision requirements vary depending upon the corrective measures employed.


1. If you do not wear corrective lenses your better eye may be no worse than 20/20 and your weaker eye can be no worse than 20/40.
2. If you wear eyeglasses or hard (non-orthokeratology) contact lenses, your uncorrected vision may be no worse than 20/40 in each eye and must correct to 20/20 in the better eye.
NOTE:

• Hard contact lenses also include semi-soft, semi-rigid, semi-permeable, gas permeable, and similar lenses.

3. If you have worn soft contact lenses for more than 6 months your vision must correct to no worse than 20/20 in the better eye and 20/40 in the weaker eye. If you have not worn soft contact lenses for more than 6 months, then the hard contact lenses requirement applies (see No. 2).


To qualify under this provision, you will be asked to present satisfactory medical evidence from your private optometrist or ophthalmologist documenting that you have been a successful wearer of soft contact lenses for six months prior to the medical examination given by the City of San Diego. Such documentation must also indicate if you have any medical contraindications to wearing soft contact lenses. We will request this information from you following the medical examination given by the City.


You will also be required, as a condition of your employment, to sign a pre-employment agreement obligating you to wear soft contact lenses at all times while on duty, except when otherwise authorized by the San Diego Police Department. Your use of soft contact lenses will be subject to verification by the City of San Diego and to such medical eye examinations as necessary in the judgment of the City.


4. (a) If you have undergone any type of refractive vision surgery (or "touch up" surgery) such as Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK), radial keratotomy (RK) or photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) prior to being medically considered for a Police Officer (Recruit Level) or Police Officer position, you must be substantially free of vision problems including, but not limited to: impaired vision at night or under dim lighting conditions; sensitivity to glare; starbursts experienced around light sources such as street lights or headlights; hazing or blurring of vision; eye irritation and pain; progressive regression of visual acuity; and/or daily changes in visual acuity. Your vision must meet the uncorrected standards listed under No.1, with your better eye no worse than 20/20 and your weaker eye no worse than 20/40.


To qualify under this provision, you will be asked to submit the results of a recent eye examination from your private ophthalmologist documenting the status of your vision. We will request this information from you following the medical examination given by the City.


(b) If you have undergone any type of refractive vision surgery (or "touch up" surgery) within six months of being medically considered for a Police Officer (Recruit Level) or Police Officer position, you may be hired on a "conditional" basis.


To qualify under this provision, you must successfully complete a City provided vision examination prior to hire and six months from the date of your last vision surgery or "touch up" surgery. You must be substantially free of the vision problems outlined in paragraph 4 (a) above. Your vision must be 20/20 in your better eye and 20/40 in your weaker eye. If it is not, it must be corrected to 20/20 in the better eye and 20/40 in the weaker eye in accordance with the requirements in No.1 - 3 above.


5. In all cases, you need to have binocular vision (vision in both eyes), normal visual fields, normal binocular fusion, and freedom from other visual conditions that would interfere with your ability to perform the full range of duties of a Police Officer (Recruit Level) or Police Officer with the San Diego Police Department.


6. In all cases, you need an acceptable level of color vision. This is determined at the time of the medical examination given by the City using standardized color vision tests.


For hearing requirements, the City of San Diego uses the California Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission's guidelines for Police Recruit applicants. These guidelines require pure tone threshold testing for each ear separately at 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, and 6000 Hz. For acoustical reasons, audiograms must be done without hearing aids in place.


An additional examination by a medical specialist will be required if the screening audiogram is considered "abnormal" or there is a history of ear-related symptoms. In general, an audiogram is considered to be abnormal if thresholds exceed 25 dB. In these cases, the examining physician must determine 1) whether the hearing loss is functionally relevant to the safe performance of patrol duties, and 2) whether the candidate needs to be evaluated by a hearing specialist to assess treatment options and/or prognosis.


Candidates with hearing aids: Candidates who wish to be tested with their hearing aids will be administered a test to assess speech comprehension ability in noise and quiet. Both tests will be administered by sound field methods rather than headphones. An aided audiogram will be reviewed to evaluate sound detection ability.


Prior to testing, the candidate must attest that he/she has worn the aids regularly for at least one month. In addition, all records from the audiologist who dispensed the hearing aids must be provided, including documentation of the fitting program and other hearing aid settings, which are used on a regular basis by the individual.


As a condition of employment, candidates who wear hearing aids will be required to sign a pre-employment agreement obligating them to wear their hearing aids when assigned to field duty or other hearing critical tasks.


NOTE:

• Any evaluation by a hearing specialist, including additional audiogram testing, will be at the applicant's expense.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS: Employment offers are conditional pending the results of all screening processes applicable to this position, which may include the following: confirmation of citizenship or legal right to work in the United States; completion of a pre-employment medical review and exam (which may include drug and alcohol testing); reference checks; and fingerprinting. Fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Justice for a conviction record report. Certain positions may require additional screening processes, including a polygraph examination and/or background investigation. All screening processes must be successfully completed before employment begins. A positive test result for alcohol, cannabis/marijuana, illegal drugs, or inadequately explained prescription drugs, or misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of pertinent facts in any step of the screening or selection process, may constitute cause for disqualification or termination of employment. Nothing in this job posting constitutes an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. Candidates must notify the Personnel Department of any change in their name, mailing address, email address, or phone number, otherwise they may miss employment opportunities.
City employees may be eligible to participate in a benefit program including holidays, vacations, savings and retirement plans, health programs, and other benefits.


Eligible City employees initially hired or assuming office on or after July 10, 2021, with the exception of Police Recruits participating in the City's Police Academy, will participate in the City's Defined Benefit Plan administered by the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System (SDCERS).


Benefits may change due to employer-employee contract negotiations.

or review the
01


I understand that failure to respond to the following questions in the spaces provided may result in the rejection of my application. In addition, I may miss out on employment opportunities. Resumes are NOT reviewed for assessing the minimum requirements, qualifications will be determined from the answers provided to the supplemental questions.

• Yes
• No

02


Are you a current or former City of San Diego government/municipal employee?

• Current city employee
• Former city employee
• Current & former city employee
• None of the above

03


If you have previously worked or are currently working for the City of San Diego, please enter your PERNR.
04


The minimum age requirement for City of San Diego Police Officers is 21 years of age, but candidates who are 20 years of age can apply. Are you currently at least 20 years of age?

• Yes
• No

05


Do you have full-time paid experience as a sworn peace officer with a city police, county sheriff, state or federal law enforcement agency performing correction duties, patrol functions, or traffic enforcement WITHIN THE LAST FIVE YEARS?

• Yes
• No

06


Please indicate Police Officer Academy you have attended. Please provide the academy name, academy start date and academy graduation date. If you have not attended a Police Academy, write "None." NOTE: Attach your academy graduation certificate to your application.
07


Specify which one of the following options you are using to meet the education requirement.

• Graduation from a High School located within the United States or territory; OR Passage of the California High School Proficiency Examination (C.H.S.P.E.); OR passage of the general Education Development (G.E.D.); AND successful completion of a minimum of 30 semester/45 quarter college-level units.
• Possession of a two or four-year degree from an accredited college or university located within the United States or a United States territory. (Accreditation must be from an institutional accrediting body which has been recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation).
• Graduation from a High School located within the United States or territory; OR Passage of the California High School Proficiency Examination (C.H.S.P.E.); OR passage of the general Education Development (G.E.D.); AND substitute additional qualifying experience for some or all of the education lacked, according to the following formula: 2.5 semester/3.75 quarter college units = 1 month of experience.
• None of the above.

08


Specify which one of the following options you are using to meet the California POST certificate requirement?

• Graduation from a California P.O.S.T. approved Police Academy with a Basic Peace Officers Course Certificate. NOTE: Attach your academy graduation certificate to your application.
• Possession of a California Basic P.O.S.T. Certificate. NOTE: Attach your academy graduation certificate to your application.
• Possession of a California P.O.S.T. Basic Course Waiver letter dated within the last one year. NOTE: Attach your academy graduation certificate to your application.
• I met the experience requirement as specified above, but lack the required California P.O.S.T. Certificate. I understand, that if hired, I will need to attendance a PAID Regional San Diego Police Academy to satisfy California state certification requirements. This certification is necessary to work as a Police Officer for the City of San Diego.
• None of the above.

09


To request a Performance Test waiver indicate which of the following apply to you. NOTE: Requests for a waiver will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

• I passed the CURRENT City of San Diego physical abilities performance test within the last TWO (2) years.
• I have taken the California POST Work Sample Test Battery (WSTB) within the last six (6) months and acquired a score of 384 or higher. NOTE: Attach your California POST work sample test battery (WSTB) score verification report and ensure that the staff that administered the WSTB completed the California POST Basic Course Physical Training Instructor training.
• I am currently employed as a full-time sworn Peace Officer in a California POST participating Law Enforcement Agency or an Out-of-State Law Enforcement Agency AND possess at least ONE of the following California POST certificates dated within THREE years from application date: Basic Peace Officers Course (Full Police Academy) Certificate; Basic Peace Officers Course Requalification Certificate; Basic Peace Officer Course Waiver letter; OR a Basic P.O.S.T. Certificate. NOTE: Attach the certificate to your application.
• I am not requesting a performance test waiver. NOTE: You will receive instructions on how to self-schedule your performance test via email.

Required Question