Police Officer - Pre-Service

Police Recruit

Applicants that are enrolled or currently attending a POST approved Basic Police Academy will get paid as a Police Recruit at $7,188.13 per month. Upon graduation from a POST approved Basic Police Academy, applicants will receive the Police Officer salary of $8,572.46 per month. The top salary range for this position currently reaches $131,290.44, PLUS, an excellent benefits package! The position will receive a 6.0% salary increase in July 2026; bringing the top step salary to $139,167.84.

Under direct supervision, will perform law enforcement and crime prevention work to protect public safety, health and welfare; uphold and enforce federal, state and local laws; may be assigned to special assignments; and perform related duties as assigned.

Supervision is provided by Chief of Police or designee.

Essential Job Functions

Essential job functions may include, but are not limited to, the following: Uphold and enforce the law to include: municipal and penal codes, state and local ordinances without malice or prejudice; patrols City in radio-equipped car or on foot; patrols an assigned beat; answer calls for the protection of life and property. Receive, recall, and carry out orders from supervising officers; apprehend and arrest law violators using verbal commands, physical strength and deadly force; issue traffic and other citations; recognize, assess and handle emergency situations; inspect premises; investigate crimes and conduct interviews; and communicate with people of diverse backgrounds. Collect, preserve, package and label evidence at crime scenes; operate a motor vehicle and/or work outside under a variety of weather conditions; identify illegal substances and recognize the symptomology of substances such as drugs and intoxicants; and determine whether a crime is being committed. Check buildings for physical security; search, fingerprint, transport and maintain physical care and/or control over individuals in custody. Handle traffic and/or crowd control; assists outside agencies such as the fire department and other federal, state and local agencies; write reports, citations and warnings; testify in court; tender first aide; attend briefings; recall and interpret directions. Control stressful and emotional situations through verbal commands and/or physical force; and provide information to the public regarding methods for self-protection during emergency situations and disasters. Perform a multitude of activities at one time; be punctual; perform extensive research and background investigations utilizing a variety of resources to include the computer systems of the city, county, state, federal government; communicate and receive information via police radio; communicate with and relay orders to other officers; perform related duties as assigned; maintain regular attendance.

Qualification Guidelines

Education: High School Diploma or GED required. College level coursework in Criminal Justice/ Administration of Justice or related field are desirable.

Licenses And Certificates: Must possess and maintain a valid Class "C" California Driver's License as a condition of employment. Pursuant to Penal Code section 832.4, as a condition of employment, all permanent, non-probationary police officers must possess and maintain a valid and current California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Basic certificate. Ineligibility or decertification from P.O.S.T. will automatically make a person in this position ineligible to serve in the capacity of a peace officer.

• Police Officers must possess a valid and current Basic certificate from the P.O.S.T. at the time of hire or obtain a proof of Eligibility (POE) from P.O.S.T. within ten (10) days of hire.
• Police Officer Pre-Service must either be currently enrolled or have completed a P.O.S.T. certified basic police academy but need not have successfully completed a field training program at the time of hire. Police Officer Pre-Service must possess a valid and current Basic certificate from the P.O.S.T. at the time of hire or obtain a Proof of Eligibility (POE) from P.O.S.T. within ten (10) days of appointment.
• Police Officer Lateral must be currently employed as a full-time sworn Peace Officer in the State of California from a P.O.S.T. participating agency or department and must possess a valid and current Basic certificate from the P.O.S.T. at the time of hire or obtain a Proof of Eligibility (POE) from P.O.S.T. within ten (10) days of appointment.

Knowledge of: Departmental policies, operations and standard procedures; applicable federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations; code principles, law enforcement methods and procedures including patrol, crime prevention and suppression. Business letter writing and other document preparation methods.

Ability to: Think and act quickly in emergencies, and judge situations and people accurately. Learn, understand, and interpret laws and regulations. Prepare timely, accurate and grammatically correct written reports. Learn standard broadcasting procedures of a police radio system. Establish and maintain a cooperative working relationship with those contacted in the course of work. Understand and carry out oral and written instructions. Observe accurately and remember faces, numbers, incidents, and places. Use and care of firearms. Work in physically confrontational and emotionally charged situations. Respond to emergencies. Read maps and legal documents, interpret abstract and concrete variables. Communicate before groups with poise and voice control. Apply logic/data to define problems and draw conclusions. Apply own rationale to solve problems, work within set standards and communicate clearly.

Special Qualifications: Must be at least 21 years of age at the time of appointment. Must meet all of the following requirements: 1.) Be legally authorized to work in the United States by federal law; 2.) Be fingerprinted for the purposes of search of local, state, and national fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record; 3.) Of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation; and 4.) Be found to be free from any physical, emotional, or mental condition, including bias against race or ethnicity, gender, nationality, religion, disability, or sexual orientation, which might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of a peace officer. Must have no felony convictions and/or convictions which would restrict the ability to possess a firearm. Bilingual skills are highly desirable.

Licenses and Certificates

Possession of and ability to maintain a valid Class "C" California Driver's License. MEDICAL STANDARDS: Applicants must be in good physical condition as determined by a medical examination, with weight in proportion to height, and consistent with P.O.S.T. guidelines for hearing and vision.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Ability to lift up to 150 pounds is required. Position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, running, jumping; reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, squatting, and stooping in the performance of daily office activities. The position also requires the ability to get from one location to another in the course of doing business; grasping, repetitive hand movement, and fine coordination in retrieving and entering data using a computer keyboard. Additionally, the position requires near and far vision in reading work related documents and using the computer, and the ability to distinguish colors and acute hearing when providing phone and personal service; drive motorized vehicles; and operate a variety of law enforcement equipment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is performed in a standard office setting and outside in sometimes tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving circumstances. Employee may travel to different locations and may be exposed to inclement weather conditions, noise, vibration, dust, or potentially hazardous chemicals. Noise level in the work environment is usually high and the employee may be exposed to loud talking and frequent interruptions from telephones, City staff, and/or members of the public. The nature of the work also requires incumbents to drive motorized vehicles and work in heavy vehicle traffic conditions.

NOTE: The duties, skills, and demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. When appropriate, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with a disability to perform the essential functions of the position.

A person holding this position is considered a "mandated reporter" under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with this obligation as a condition of employment.

SELECTION PROCESS: Candidates must submit an application online. Applications will be screened for qualifications and appropriate background and only the most qualified will be invited to participate in the examination process. Successful candidates must achieve a minimum passing score in each of the test components. Applicants will be notified by mail as to the test date, time, and location. The examination process will include the following: Oral Interview: Successful candidates will be invited to a panel interview. Dates will be determined in the future for the panel interview. Candidates will be required to pass a City administered pre-employment physical and will be required to pass a thorough background investigation, polygraph examination, psychological evaluation, and medical examination as part of the Selection Process. Candidates who do not pass any portion of the above processes, will be disqualified and removed from the eligibility list. Once backgrounds are complete, applicants will meet with the Chief of Police, prior to proceeding forward