Police Officer (Recruit Level)

Police Officer (Recruit Level)

Join the San Diego Police Department team today! See notes below for future wage increases and/or additional compensation opportunities. Please read through the entire bulletin for important information. 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 (Recruit Level): 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

Police Officers (Recruit Level) attend the Police Academy classroom lectures on subjects including criminal law, laws of arrest, traffic laws, juvenile law, principles of law enforcement, rules of evidence, rules of search and seizure, patrol theory and methods, and report writing; observe demonstrations on arrest and control methods and the care and use of firearms; participate in physical conditioning and self-defense exercises; practice the use of firearms; and take examinations.

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: P.O.S.T. Disqualifiers.

Minimum Requirements

You must meet the following requirement on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated. Age: 20 years of age on the date you apply; 21 years by date of Academy graduation. Citizenship: Be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law. Education: You must meet one of the following options:

• Graduation from a public high school located within the United States.
• Graduation from an accredited nonpublic high school located within the United States.
• Graduation from a United States Department of Defense high school.
• Passage of the General Education Development (G.E.D.) test or passage of the California High School Proficiency Examination.
• Possession of a two-year, four-year or advanced degree from an accredited college or university (accreditation must be from an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education of the United States of America).

License: A valid California Class C Driver License is required at the time of hire.

Required documents (must submit with application):

• Associate degree (or higher) diploma and/or transcripts showing degree conference, if used to waive the written test.
• California P.O.S.T. approved Police Academy Peace Officer's course certificate, if used to waive the written test.
• California P.O.S.T. basic Peace Officer certificate, if used to waive the written test.
• Letter from the organization that administered the California P.O.S.T. entry-level law enforcement test battery (Pellet-B), if used to waive the written test. The letter must indicate candidates name, date of exam and T-scores for the reading, writing and overall sections.

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. Written Test: IF YOU MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND YOUR APPLICATION IS APPROVED, you will be scheduled for the written examination date you select on the supplemental questions of your application. The email confirmation notice that you will receive a day or two after your application is approved will grant you admission to the examination date you select. The written test consists of multiple-choice questions that measure general aptitudes needed to be a Police Officer. A Study Guide with test taking tips and sample questions is available in the following link: STUDY GUIDE. No prior law enforcement knowledge is necessary to pass the test. If your waiver request is approved, your application will bypass the written test selection process and be moved to the performance test selection process. You will be scheduled and notified of your performance test date. If your waiver request is not approved you will be notified and scheduled for the written test based on your responses to the supplemental questions on your application.

Re-Examination Eligibility: If you fail the written test, you may reapply immediately, but you will need to request a written test date that is at least ONE MONTH after your most recent TEST DATE. 3. 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. Candidates who pass the written test and performance test will be placed on a list which will be used to fill position vacancies during the next two years. 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: Pre-Investigative Questionnaire: On the day of the performance test, candidates will also complete a Pre-Investigative Questionnaire. Personal History Statement: Candidates will be required to complete and submit a Personal History Statement to the Police Department. Information regarding this step of the process will be provided to candidates at a later date. Medical Examination: A City medical examination including drug screening and documentation of medical history that meets City of San Diego and/or P.O.S.T. guidelines will be conducted following a conditional offer of employment. Medical conditions must enable the applicant to perform the essential duties of the position. The City of San Diego is committed to a drug and alcohol-free work place.