Police Officer Recruit

Salary : $68,412.00 Annually
Location : Westminster Police Department, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 2026-24
Department: Police
Opening Date: 05/20/2026
Closing Date: 6/10/2026 11:59 PM Pacific


Description
Are you committed to public service, professionalism, and a peaceful community? Make a real difference to the people in your community, immediately. If you possess integrity, and strong communication skills, you can make a difference with the Westminster Police Department.

Police Recruit

$5,701 Monthly

Police Officer I

$7,445 - $9,502 Monthly (Upon successful completion of the academy)

The salaries are scheduled for a 5% increase effective July 2026
TESTING PROCESS OVERVIEW

1. APPLY
2. WRITTEN EXAMINATION
3. PHYSICAL ABILITIES TEST
4. ORAL INTERVIEWS
5. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION & POLYGRAPH
6. MEDICAL & PSYCHOLOGICAL
7. ENTER THE ACADEMY!

The Police Recruit Written Exam and Physical Abilities Test are conducted annually at the Westminster Police Department. Examinations will be held on the following dates:

• Written Exam (PELLETB) - June 16th
• Practice PAT - June 23rd
• Physical Abilities Test - July 7th
• Oral Exam - July 15th

Come join us for a Meet & Greet on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at the WPD from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Examples of Duties


Under immediate supervision, actively participates in the P.O.S.T. (Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training) prescribed police academy training program; performs all related learning and testing activities. Upon successful completion of the academy program incumbents of this non-sworn classification may be appointed to the sworn classification of Police Officer.

This is the entry level, training classification for professional law enforcement in the City of Westminster Police Department. This is a non-sworn classification and upon successful completion of the P.O.S.T. approved academy, a Police Recruit may be promoted to the Police Officer classification.

Typical Qualifications
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• US high school graduate or G.E.D. equivalency
• Applicants must be twenty-one (21) years of age or older at completion of the Basic Police Academy.

• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver's License by time of appointment.

Supplemental Information
STEP 1: APPLY
Applicants must submit an online application. Candidates are required to provide specific information on their education and experience as it relates to the position by completing all fields of the application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete ( resumes are not accepted - do not attach a resume to your application ).
STEP 2: WRITTEN EXAMINATION

The City of Westminster will accept scores from the following entities:
The California POST Entry Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB)

-OR-

The "Frontline National" written exam (NTN)

Applicants utilizing a POST PELLETB exam must meet the minimum T-Score of 42.


NTN and/or PELLETB scores must have been issued within twelve (12) months of the departments testing date. For more information regarding this exam, please visit or


Applicants desiring to waive the written examination are required to submit proof of a valid test score. Results must be on the testing agency's letterhead and attached to your online application.
STEP 3: PHYSICAL ABILITIES TEST (PAT)
This test consists of five elements:

• 1 mile run within 10 minutes (Pass/fail, 1 attempt)
• 165 lb. dummy drag, 33 feet within 11 seconds (Pass/fail, 2 attempts)
• 6-foot chain-link fence within 15 seconds (Pass/fail, 2 attempts)
• 6-foot solid wall within 15 seconds (Pass/fail, 2 attempts)
• 30 pushups within 2 minutes (Pass/fail, 2 attempts)

STEP 4: ORAL INTERVIEWS
Applicants that successfully pass the Physical Agilities Test will be interviewed the same day. The purpose of this interview is to further evaluate an applicant's motivation and success potential, as well as gain insight into an applicant's personal history in an effort to assess his/her ability to pass a rigorous background investigation.
STEP 5: BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION & POLYGRAPH
If successful in the oral examination, the applicant will be given a Personal History Statement (PHS) and a list of required documents that will need to be gathered to begin the background process. The applicant will be assigned to a Background Investigator for a comprehensive, in-depth background investigation to be conducted into all aspects of the applicant's past and current life.
STEP 6: MEDICAL & PSYCH EVALUATION
A thorough medical and psychological evaluation will be conducted. The extent of the exam will be dependent upon the position for which the applicant is being processed for.
STEP 7: ENTER THE ACADEMY
If the candidate is successful in the previous six steps, they are given a date to start employment.
The City of Westminster offers a comprehensive benefit package to Westminster Police Officers Association (WPOA) members, including:

RETIREMENT BENEFITS: The City participates in the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS). The City's contract provides for the following retirement tiers for new hires:

SWORN EMPLOYEES:

• Tier 2 (hired on or after July 28, 2011 and a current CalPERS member): 2% @ 50 formula ; employees contribute 9.0% of salary towards retirement costs.
• Tier 3/PEPRA (hired on or after January 1, 2013 and not a current CalPERS member): 2.7% @ 57 formula ; employees contribute 14.5% of salary towards retirement costs.

NON-SWORN EMPLOYEES:

• Tier 2 (Classic Members hired on or after July 28, 2011): 2.0% @ 60 formula; employees contribute 7.0% of salary towards retirement costs.
• Tier 3/PEPRA (New Members hired on or after January 1, 2013): 2.0% @ 62 formula; employees contribute 8.25% of salary towards retirement costs.

The City of Westminster does not participate in Social Security.

EDUCATIONAL INCENTIVE: Employees may receive an additional 5% of base pay for possessing an AA degree; or an additional 10% of base pay for possessing a BA/BS degree.

SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT PAY: Available to Police Officers, Sergeants, and Commanders.

ADVANCED POST PAY: 2.5% of base pay provided for possession of an Advanced POST Certificate.

BILINGUAL PAY: $150 per month for demonstrated proficiency in specified languages.

LONGEVITY PAY:
10 years of service: $95 per month
15 years of service: $150 per month
21 years of service: $150 per month plus 2% of base salary
22 years of service: $150 per month plus 4% of base salary
23 years of service: $150 per month plus 6% of base salary
24 years of service: $150 per month plus 8% of base salary
25 years of service: $150 per month plus 10% of base salary

INSURANCE BENEFITS: Effective January 1, 2024, the City's cafeteria benefits plan provides $1,600 per month toward the purchase of health, dental, vision and life insurance, as well as additional voluntary products. Employees who participate in the CalPERS health insurance program and are enrolled in a Family plan will receive an additional $400 per month towards the purchase of medical benefits (total of $2,000 per month ).


Medical insurance is provided through the Cal-PERS health insurance program. Unused cafeteria plan dollars may be received by the employee as taxable income. A pre-tax flexible spending account is also available for health care and dependent care expenses. The City also provides a City-paid Long-Term Disability (LTD) benefit of 66.6% of salary to a maximum of $10,000 per month; the City also provides a paid Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

TUITION REIMBURSEMENT: Tuition reimbursement up to $1,000 per fiscal year for approved courses is available.

VACATION: Employees earn 120 hours of paid vacation during their first year of service. An additional eight hours is earned for each additional year of service up to five years (maximum of 160 hours). Additional benefits apply after 20 years of service.

HOLIDAYS: Employees receive eleven (11) paid City 9-hour fixed holidays , and an additional 27 hours of floating holiday time annually to be used at the employee's discretion.

SICK LEAVE: Employees earn 96 hours of paid sick leave per year.

WORK SCHEDULE: Police employees work either a 3/12 or 4/10 work schedule Otheremployees will have the option to work a 9/80, 4/10, or 5/40 work schedule (based on operational needs). The City does not offer a Hybrid work schedule at this time.

Please refer to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Westminster Police Officers Association (WPOA) members for additional details:
01


Are you at least 20 years of age at time of this application and will you be at least 21 years of age at time of appointment?

• Yes
• No

02


Do you possess a current / valid California Class "C" Driver's License?

• Yes
• No

03


Have you ever been convicted of a crime that prohibits the possession or use of a firearm?

• Yes
• No

04


If selected, are you willing and able to undergo a thorough background investigation, including but not limited to review of: legal documents; federal, state, and local law enforcement checks; drivers license and DMV record; high school diploma; college transcripts; proof of automobile insurance; employment verifications; and personal and professional reference checks?

• Yes
• No

Required Question