Police Recruit

Salary: $43.17 Hourly
Location : Fountain Valley, CA
Job Type: Part-time at-will
Job Number: 2026-38
Department: Police
Opening Date: 09/14/2026


Description
SERVE WITH PURPOSE. TRAIN WITH EXCELLENCE. BUILD A CAREER THAT MATTERS.

The Police Department is currently looking to hire up to four (4) Police Recruits . Please apply immediately as this recruitment may close at any time upon receiving enough qualified applications.
First review of applications: September 24, 2026

Testing Schedule:
Physical Agility Test (PAT)
Tentatively Scheduled for: October 10, 2026Oral Interview Tentatively Scheduled for: October 10, 2026
Fountain Valley Police Department

The Fountain Valley Police Department's mission is to demonstrate the courage to protect life and property in our community; the duty to provide the highest quality of service in a fair, impartial and ethical manner; and the commitment to take a leadership role in providing public safety and quality of life in a manner that will preserve the public trust. The department is headed by Chief of Police Craig Heredia and is structured into two primary divisions: the Patrol Division and the Support Services Division.

Job Overview
We are seeking motivated, service-oriented individuals to join our Police Department as Police Recruits. This is a unique opportunity to begin a meaningful law enforcement career rooted in community trust, professionalism, and teamwork. Police Recruits will attend a California Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) approved Basic Police Recruit Academy at the City's expense. Upon successful completion of the academy and field training program, recruits will be sworn in as Police Officers with the Fountain Valley Police Department. If you are looking to serve a close-knit community where your work is valued and your voice matters, we encourage you to apply.
Why Join Fountain Valley Police Department?

• Community-Focused Policing: We believe effective policing starts with relationships, respect, and accountability.
• Small Department, Big Impact: You won't be just a number - your contributions matter here.
• Supportive Culture: Strong mentorship, teamwork, and leadership committed to your success.
• Career Development: Ongoing training, specialty assignments, and opportunities for advancement.
• Work-Life Balance: A department that values wellness, family, and sustainability in policing.
• We offer a Hiring Incentive Bonus for Police Recruits! $5,000 paid in two (2) installments: $2,500 upon graduation from the Police Academy and Sworn in as a Police Officer; and $2,500 after successfully completing the probationary period.

What You'll Do

As a Police Recruit, you will:

• Attend and successfully complete a California P.O.S.T. approved Basic Police Recruit Academy
• Learn California laws, defensive tactics, firearms, emergency response, and ethical policing
• Develop communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Prepare for transition into sworn Police Officer duties, including patrol, investigations, and community engagement
• To access the full class specification for Police Recruit, including the salary and a comprehensive list of all benefits, duties, responsibilities, and skills required, please click on the following link:

Upon appointment as a Police Officer, you will:

• Protect life and property
• Enforce laws with fairness, integrity, and professionalism
• Build positive relationships with residents, businesses, and community partners
• Respond to calls for service and emergencies
• Participate in proactive policing and crime prevention efforts
• To access the full class specification for Police Officer, including the salary and a comprehensive list of all benefits, duties, responsibilities, and skills required, please click on the following link:

If you're looking for more than just a job - if you want a career build on service, trust, and community - we invite you to apply!

Qualification Guidelines
Education: High School graduation or equivalent or possession of a General Education Development Test (GED) certificate is required.

Required License: Possession of a valid California Class "C" driver's license. (Please note: Candidates are required to have a California Driver's License at time of appointment.)
Required Written Examination: Candidates must take one (1) of the following two written examinations and attach the results to this application:

• FrontLine National exam through the with a score of 70% or above in each of the three (3) components (video-based human relations test, reading ability test and report writing test). The FrontLine exam must be submitted to the City through the National Testing Network's portal. OR
• P.O.S.T. Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) T-Score of 45 or above. P.O.S.T. T-Scores must have been issued within the last twelve (12) months of application submission.

Special Requirements (Pursuant to California POST) :

• Free from any disqualifications for employment, including felony convictions
• Legally authorized to work in the United States by federal law
• At least 21 years of age at the time of appointment
• Fingerprinted for purposes of search of local, state, and national fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record
• Of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation
• 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.
• Candidates must have normal hearing acuity. Refer to
• Candidates must have a vision of 20/70 uncorrected, correctable to 20/20, and normal color vision. Refer to
• Candidates must have height and weight in accordance with age, sex, and frame.
• Police Officers must be able to work rotating shifts, evenings, holidays, and weekends as assigned.

Recruitment Information
To be considered for this excellent opportunity, please complete and submit the online employment application and supplemental questionnaire. Please ensure that all required documents are attached to the application. After documents are scanned and saved as a file on your computer, click on the "Add Attachments" link in the Job Application step of the employment application in order to upload the files. Documents must be entirely legible. Faxes, postmarks and hand delivery will not be accepted. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the application and/or supplemental questionnaire. Incomplete applications will be disqualified.

To ensure timely and successful submission of your online application, please allow ample time to complete your application and consider having your profile created and/or updated before applying for the position. Once your application has been successfully submitted, you will receive an onscreen confirmation and an email. If you require technical assistance, please review the Government Jobs or contact their toll-free Applicant Support line at View phone number on click.appcast.io. Please note that Human Resources is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by the internet connection, computer, or browser used to submit the application.

Selection Process: The selection process will consist of the following:

• Application Review (including successful submission of written examination results)
• Physical agility test
• Oral interview
• Extensive background investigation including credit check, California Department of Justice (DOJ), and Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) criminal history check (Live Scan fingerprinting)
• Polygraph examination
• Medical examination after a conditional job offer is given (including a psychological evaluation and drug screen)

Re-application: Candidates who failed any component of the City of Fountain Valley's selection process for Police Recruit will not be eligible to re-apply for another Police Recruit selection process until six months have passed since the date they were disqualified from the selection process.

EEO / ADA Statement : The City of Fountain Valley is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. Candidates with a disability who may need accommodation during the selection process must notify the Human Resources Department at least 72 hours in advance of the exam date.

Important Selection Information: All employment offers made by the City are contingent upon establishing proof of a prospective candidate's legal authorization to work in the United States and successfully completing all components of the pre-employment process which may include but is not limited to: Background Investigation, reference checks, California Department of Justice (DOJ) criminal history check (Live Scan fingerprinting), post-offer drug test, and pre-employment medical examination.

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS RECRUITMENT SHOULD BE SENT TO
Employment Status: Police Recruits and Firefighter Trainees are classified as part-time, at-will employees.
Social Security: City employees are not covered by Social Security; therefore, they are not required to contribute 6.2% of salary.
Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS) Plan : The City has adopted a qualified social security alternative plan for all part-time, seasonal, as needed employees not covered by CalPERS to comply with Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act 1990 (OBRA 90). Employees will contribute 7.5% of their wages into the defined retirement plan on a pre-tax basis in lieu of Social Security. Most Recruits and Trainees will be enrolled in the Public Agency Retirement Services plan (PARS), unless previous CalPERS membership is established and funds are on deposit.
Sick Leave: Pursuant to the Health Workplaces, Healthy Families Act, part-time employees accrue sick leave at the rate of one (1) hour for every 30 hours worked for a maximum of 40 hours per fiscal year. Part-time employees may begin using accrued sick leave on the 90th day of employment or later and may carry into the next fiscal year, up to 80 hours of accrued sick leave.
Medicare: Employees contribute 1.45% to Medicare.
Health Insurance: Police Recruits and Firefighter Trainees have a choice to select a medical plan under the CalPERS Health Benefits Program. Please visit for more information regarding the various plans offered under the CalPERS Health Benefits Program, as well as the current premium rates.
The City will contribute towards the lowest cost, employee-only premium.

• For those employees who reside in Region 2 (Orange County and San Diego), the City contributes $857.14 per month in 2026 .
• For those employees who reside in Region 3 (Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino), the City contributes $740.11 per month in 2026 .

Employees will be responsible for covering the remainder of the premium in excess of these amounts.
Upon appointment to a sworn position, the compensation and benefits provided under those respective Memorandum of Understanding will be effective. Please click on the following link to access those benefit summaries.
Employee Assistance Program: Employees have access to no-cost confidential 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week personal counseling, financial, and legal advice, through Lincoln Finance Group. This benefit is available to employees and members of their family members.
This benefit summary is intended to provide an easy way for current and prospective employees to access fringe benefit information, including voluntary options. This summary is intended to be accurate, but it is not an official plan document, and has no legal or binding effect as an expressed or implied contract, or otherwise, and does not alter or amend any provision of the Compensation Plan, Memoranda of Understanding, Human Resources Policies and Procedures Manual, Retirement Contract, Insurance Policy Contract, or any other official document of the City of Fountain Valley. All insurance benefits described in the summary are subject to the terms and limitations of the City of Fountain Valley's insurance contracts with individual insurance providers.
Should you have any questions pertaining to information in this summary, please contact the Human Resources Division at View phone number on click.appcast.io.
01


Please check your highest level of COMPLETED education.

• High School Diploma or GED
• Associates Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree

02


Do you possess a valid California Class "C" Driver's License (or equivalent driver's license)? (Please note: Candidates are required to have a California Driver's License at time of appointment.)

• Yes
• No

03


You are required to attach PELLETB POST T-Scores (Score of 45 or above) OR National Testing Network exam test score (70% or above on each component) to this application at time of submission. Applications that do not contain required attachments will be disqualified. Do you acknowledge this requirement?

• Yes
• No

04


This position requires each candidate to pass an extensive background check and to be free of felony convictions and of good moral character. Do you believe you will meet this requirement?

• Yes
• No

05


Are you 20 years and 6 months of age or older?

• Yes
• No

06


Have you previously worked for a law enforcement agency, and if so, what was your job title and responsibilities? If you do not have this experience, please type, "N/A."
07


Are you currently attending a California Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) approved Basic Recruit Academy to become qualified as a Police Officer? If yes, please list the name of the Academy that you are currently attending. If no, please type "N/A."
08


Have you ever been terminated for any reason other than reduction in workforce, layoff, or have you resigned in lieu of termination within the last five (5) years from the date of application? If yes, please provide a brief description. If no, please type "N/A." (If you are selected to advance in this recruitment process, you will have the opportunity to discuss the circumstances with Police Department personnel.)
09


Have you ever been given a citation or arrested for a misdemeanor/felony offense (does not include traffic citations/parking violations)? If yes, please provide a brief description. If no, please type "N/A." (If you are selected to advance in this recruitment process, you will have the opportunity to discuss the circumstances with Police Department personnel.)
10


Have you ever been convicted or plead guilty to any felony to any misdemeanor? Note you do not have to disclose diversions for which you were sent to pre-trial or post-trial diversion programs and you do not have to list marijuana possession, drug paraphernalia and being "under the influence" convictions unless they occurred within the last two years. You may also include infractions such as speeding tickets. Note that a conviction will not automatically disqualify a candidate from further consideration.

• Yes
• No

11


Were you referred by a city employee for this employment opportunity? If yes, please enter the name of the employee below. If not, please type "N/A."
12


Are you related to any current City of Fountain Valley employee(s)? If yes, please identify the relative below including their name and your relationship. Relatives include spouse, parent, child, sibling, parent-in-law, sibling-in-law, child-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, step-parent, stepchild, nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, half-siblings, and first cousins. If not applicable, please type "N/A."
13


Are you legally authorized to work in the United States by federal law?

• Yes
• No

14


Are you a current City of Fountain Valley employee?

• Yes
• No

15


I certify that all of the information provided is accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that I understand purposely providing false information may be grounds for disqualification from the process. I have supplied all the applicable information in my application. Examples of incomplete/inaccurate information leading to disqualification include, but are not limited to: noting incorrect department, leaving dates of employment blank, leaving reason for leaving employment blank, leaving duties blank or noting "see resume", etc.

• Agree
• Disagree

Required Question