Police Officer - Pre Service

Job Title

Position Summary

Salary Note: Although the full salary range for this position is provided, appointments are made at the range minimum. THE CITY: Palm Springs, located in the Coachella Valley, is known for its luxurious yet relaxed lifestyle. Picture waking up to fresh air, surrounded by palm trees, and enjoying stunning mountain views. This city offers a perfect blend of nature and modern living for both residents and visitors. Palm Springs is ideal for families, offering numerous parks, gardens, and nature reserves for leisurely activities and wildlife encounters. With a wide range of attractions and events, there's always something fun for everyone in the family. To see the exciting things going on visit the Engage Palm Springs website. The City of Palm Springs is committed to cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, from policies to inclusive healthcare, and making people of various backgrounds feel welcome and supported. To view our recent Human Rights Campaign, visit the Municipal Equity Index (Download PDF reader) website. THE POSITION: This position works at the Palm Springs Police Department providing services in the enforcement of laws including; the protection of persons and property, the prevention of crimes; the control of traffic flow and enforcement of State and local traffic regulations; and performing a variety of technical and administrative tasks in support of the Police Department.

Examples of Essential and General Responsibilities

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Patrol a designated area of the City to preserve law and order and discover and prevent the commission of crimes; enforce traffic and other laws and ordinances.
• Respond to general public service and crime victim calls, traffic hazards, stray animal reports, and related misdemeanors and felony incidents.
• Plan, execute, write, and serve search warrants; search suspects, vehicles, residences and buildings for evidence, contra band and lost or missing people.
• Serve arrest warrants; make arrests for crimes committed under penal and institute codes; perform booking procedures for new prisoners; contact and interview witnesses to gain additional information.
• Process and store evidence and property found at various crime scenes; maintain records, and enter data into computer as necessary.
• Investigate organized crime and gang activities, subjects, groups, and representatives relative to assigned area of responsibility; collect intelligence information and produce cases and reports for presentation to the District Attorney.
• Review and investigate reports relating to vehicle theft and accidents.
• Conduct a variety of investigations relative to assigned area of responsibility including narcotics, crimes against property and persons; gather information from witnesses and informants; interview suspects; prepare reports, and follow up on investigations.
• Testify in juvenile and civil courts and DMV hearings; prepare and process court reports.
• Maintain and operate specialized police surveillance equipment including transmitters, radios, and cameras.
• Develop, conduct and participate in training exercises and classes; respond to and resolve questions and concerns; stay abreast of current crime trends and innovative policing techniques; implement new information into training programs as appropriate.
• Perform unique duties of assigned area of responsibility including SWAT, K-9, bicycle, and mounted police units.
• Assist other investigators and police divisions in related investigative activities.
• May serve in a lead capacity in the absence of immediate supervisor.
• Provide news releases to the media; conduct television interviews for public awareness.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

Minimum and Preferred Requirements

Minimum requirements must be clearly demonstrated on the application to be considered, however, meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an invitation to compete further in the selection process. Experience requirements must be demonstrated in the "Work Experience" section of the application, other sections of the application will not be used to determine experience qualifications. (One year of work experience is the equivalent of 12 months of full-time work. "Full-time work" means at least 36 hours of work over a period of one week or 1,872 hours of work over a period of at least 12 months.) Qualifications noted as "desirable" or "preferred" are not included as part of the minimum requirements. Experience Completion of (or current enrollment in) a California P.O.S.T. Certified Police Academy, or previously employed as a Police Officer within the State of California, within twelve (12) months of application. Must successfully pass the academy prior to the completion of a background investigation. No experience is required. Training High School Diploma or equivalent education, supplemented by the completion of a California P.O.S.T. Certified Police Academy is required. License or Certificates Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver License with a satisfactory driving record (a driving record may be deemed unsatisfactory for any of the following reasons: three or more moving violations or reportable accident within the last three years; conviction of driving under the influence within the last five years) is required. Completion of in the last 36 months (or current enrollment in) a California P.O.S.T. Certified Police Academy or previously employed as a Police Officer within the State of California, within twelve (12) months of application is required. Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid C.P.R. Certificate is required.

• Cannot be related to any other employee in the Palm Springs Police Department.
• Must be 21 years of age or greater.
• Incumbent will be enrolled in the California Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) Pull Notice Program. The DMV Pull Notice Program provides information on the incumbents driving record and driving record status on a periodic basis to the City.
• Must plan to reside within 1 hour driving distance from the Palm Springs Police Department.
• Must successfully complete a pre-employment background investigation including a criminal history check for job related convictions, fingerprinting, polygraph screening, credit check, psychological screening and a physical and drug screen.

Application and Exam Information

A completed application and supplemental questionnaire are required by the closing date and time. As a candidate for the position, you will want to be sure your application accurately reflects your skills and abilities as they relate to the position to achieve maximum opportunity. Applications will be reviewed carefully, and only those who appear to have the best qualifications will be invited to continue in the selection process. Minimum requirements must be clearly demonstrated on the application to be considered, as this information will be used to determine minimum qualifications. Experience requirements must be demonstrated in the "Work Experience" section of the application; other sections of the application will not be used to determine experience qualifications. Resumes and other documents may be submitted, however, they will not be used to determine minimum qualifications, please do not use phrases such as "see attached" or "see resume" as they will not be considered. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an invitation to compete further in the process. Minimum requirements must be met at the time of application submission unless stated otherwise. Selection Process Information - The selection process for this position may include one or more of the following: application review, qualification review, written exam, practical exam, oral panel exam, physical agility exam and department interview. Candidates must successfully pass each stage of the selection process above in order to continue to the next step. This process may be modified or changed depending on the number of qualified candidates. Please remember to submit all your application materials by the closing date and time. Incomplete or applications received after the closing date and time cannot be considered. All information on the application is subject to investigation and verification. For more information on completing your application materials, click here. If you are ready to join the exciting Team Palm Springs and you meet the requirements detailed above, please click the Apply button. For more information, contact Human Resources at: The City of Palm Springs 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, CA 92262 View phone number on click.appcast.io Applications must be received by 11:59 pm on December 31, 2026, in order to be considered for this opportunity. The City of Palm Springs reserves the right to accelerate or extend the "Closing Date" of open positions at any time, dependent upon the number of applications received. The City of Palm Springs is an equal employment opportunity employer and we encourage all persons to file applications. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, family or marital status, disability, medical condition or pregnancy, genetic information, religious or political affiliation, or veteran status. Disaster Service Worker: In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, City of Palm Springs Employees, in the event of a disaster, are considered disaster service workers and may be asked to respond accordingly.