Police Officer - Lateral

Police Officer - Lateral

The City of San Gabriel and San Gabriel Police Department (SGPD) are seeking Police Officer Laterals to join our dynamic organization and community. We are seeking high character individuals with qualifying law enforcement experience who want to join the SGPD. We offer excellent pay and benefits, career mentorship and support, professional training and development, an outstanding organization and department, a supportive community, and a great location for living and working in Southern California. Please note:

• Senior Officer Pay – Lateral hires with five (5) years or more experience as a sworn police officer may earn an additional 5% of established base salary, pursuant to the POA MOU.
• Education Pay – Lateral hires may earn an additional 3% - 8% of established base salary for education certifications, pursuant to the POA MOU.

The SGPD is staffed with 54 sworn and 18 civilian personnel. SGPD provides an outstanding public safety platform that is founded on community access, engagement, and collaboration. Our department works in partnership with all citizens to establish and maintain a healthy environment and excellent quality of life for all. Trust is at the heart of our mission. We endeavor to protect all and preserve the public trust by advancing goodwill and adhering to the highest standards of integrity, honesty, and compassion in our work.

Our ideal candidate for Police Officer Lateral is an experienced public safety professional who has proven to be adaptable, understanding, and successful with innovative and community-based approaches to public safety. The ideal candidate is also an outstanding and impactful team member who possess the experience, technical skills, training, and qualities necessary to be successful in this position. And most importantly, the ideal candidate has outstanding character, judgment, work ethic, oral and written communication skills, interpersonal tact, empathy and compassion, proven law enforcement/public safety experience, and a strong commitment for public service.

To be considered for hire as a Police Officer Lateral, candidates must meet the following conditions at the time an offer of employment with the SGPD is made:

• Candidate possesses a valid POST Basic Certificate.
• Candidate is an active Police Officer with a POST law enforcement agency with more than 12 months of continuous service.
• Candidate is in good standing with their current POST law enforcement employer.

Police Officer Lateral candidates who satisfactorily pass the pre-employment process and are hired onto SGPD shall be eligible for a $15,000 bonus. Bonus is paid in the following increments:

• $2,500 upon hire and appointment to Police Officer.
• $5,000 upon successful completion of 24 months of satisfactory and continuous service from date of hire as Police Officer.
• $7,500 upon successful completion of 48 months of satisfactory and continuous service from date of hire as Police Officer.

Examples Of Duties

Under general supervision, the Police Officer performs law enforcement duties in an assigned area; protects public health, safety, and welfare in accordance with all applicable laws and ordinances; carries out special assignments as necessary; and performs other related duties as assigned. For more detailed information regarding the job duties and minimum requirements for this position, please click the link below for the Police Officer class specification. Police Officer

Typical Qualifications

To qualify for Police Officer Lateral, candidates must possess and/or meet the following at the time of employment:

• Be at least 21 years of age at time of appointment.
• Possess a valid California Class "C" Driver's License at time of appointment.
• Possess a valid POST Basic Certificate.
• Must be an active Police Officer with a POST law enforcement agency with more than 12 months of continuous service with the agency.
• Must be in good standing with current POST law enforcement employer.
• Must not have any felony convictions.
• Must not have any misdemeanor offense which reflects lack of character, lack of judgement, or moral turpitude.
• Must have vision correctable to 20/40 in both eyes.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law and pursuant to California Government Code 1031(a).
• If applicable, military discharges other than "Honorable Discharge" will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and may be cause for disqualification.

Supplemental Information

Applications for Police Officer Lateral will be screened for minimum qualifications, detail and organization, written communications, responsiveness, quality, and completeness. The most competitive applications will be invited to the testing process. Candidates must attain a passing/qualifying score on each step in the testing process to continue. Failure to pass any step in the process is disqualifying. The testing and selection procedures for Pre-Service Police Officer are typically administered in the following order:

1. Oral Appraisal Examination (structured panel interview). Candidates must attain a score of 70% or higher on the oral appraisal interview.
2. Eligibility List. Candidates who successfully pass Step 1 shall be placed on the Eligibility List for Police Officer Lateral. Candidates on the Eligibility List may be invited to participate in the pre-employment process. The Eligibility List for Police Officer Lateral is generally exhausted within 2-3 months but may be valid for up to one year.
3. Pre-Employment Process. Candidates placing on the eligibility list may be invited to participate in the pre-employment process. The pre-employment process consists of the following elements:

• Selection interview with the department (Chief's interview).
• POST background investigation.
• Polygraph examination.
• POST medical examination, including drug screen.
• POST psychological evaluation.

• Hiring. Candidates who successfully complete and pass all pre-employment requirements outlined in Step 3 may be hired as Police Officer Lateral.

Candidates must complete an online application. Applications must be thoroughly prepared and include the following items as attachments to the online application: (1) cover letter, (2) professional résumé, (3) copy of a valid Basic POST Certificate, and (4) copies of all other professional certifications required and/or applicable for the position. DO NOT SUBMIT DRIVER'S LICENSE with item #3. Driver's license will be validated during the pre-employment process.

Application Filing Deadline: This recruitment is scheduled to close at 11:59pm on Sunday, July 19, 2026. Please do not hesitate to apply.

Tentative Recruitment Schedule: The following is the tentative schedule for this recruitment. Please prepare your schedule in advance to accommodate the anticipated recruitment schedule. Note that this schedule may be changed at any time if deemed necessary. Please call Kimber Gutierrez, Human Resources Management Assistant at View phone number on click.appcast.io or regularly check the posted recruitment bulletin for updates.

Filing Deadline - July 19, 2026

Oral Appraisal Interviews (Panel) - TBD

Pre-Employment Process - Approximately 10-12 weeks

Target Hire Date - TBD

The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provisions contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice. Applicants with legal disabilities, who require special testing accommodations, must contact the City of San Gabriel Human Resources Department at least five days prior to the examination date. The City of San Gabriel is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.