Police Officer - Lateral

Police Officer

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

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.

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.

*** 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.

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:

• Preliminary Background Information Form / PHS
• 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