Police Officer - Lateral/Academy Graduate

Salary : $91,308.48 - $110,823.72 Annually
Location : 909 Machin Avenue, Novato, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2025-01
Department: Police
Opening Date: 12/17/2024
Closing Date: Continuous


Job Description

Come Join Our Team !
THE CITY OF NOVATO IS RECRUITING
FOR

POLICE OFFICER - LATERAL/ACADEMY GRADUATE
Open and Continuous

Applicants will be considered as they apply.
The City of Novato is seeking experienced and passionate law enforcement professionals to join our team as Police Officer - Lateral/Academy Graduates. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a community-focused department that values collaboration, innovation, and excellence in public safety. If you are eager to make a meaningful impact, utilize your skills, and grow your career in a supportive environment, we invite you to apply and become part of the City of Novato's dedicated team!
Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.
DEFINITION

To perform law enforcement and crime prevention work; to control traffic flow and enforce State and local traffic regulations; to perform investigative work and other special assignments; and to perform a variety of technical law enforcement tasks.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general supervision from higher level police personnel.

Example of Duties
ESSENTIAL AND MARGINAL FUNCTION STATEMENTS --Essential and other important
responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:


Essential Functions:
As a patrol officer, patrol the City in radio-equipped car or on foot; answer calls for the protection of life and property, and the enforcement of City, county, and state laws; may conduct both preliminary and follow-up investigations of disturbances, prowlers, burglaries, thefts, hold-ups, death, and other criminal incidents.


Patrol the City and respond to calls related to traffic incidents and other required emergencies; observe, monitor and control routine and unusual traffic conditions; issue traffic citations; assist and advise motorist and enforce traffic safety laws.


When assigned, serve as a police detective; coordinate and conduct complete and detailed investigations of crimes involving juveniles and adults, crimes against persons and property, and crimes involving vice, gambling, and narcotics violations.


When assigned, serve as crime prevention officer; participate in the development and promotion of crime prevention, activities, such as citizen watch and security survey programs; work with citizens to complement programs; make public presentations; maintain program statistics and reports.


Collect and preserve evidence at scene of crime and/or accident; lift fingerprints; draw sketches; take photographs.


When assigned, serve as school resource officer; provide information and assistance to local school staff and students; make group presentations; maintain program statistics and reports.


Make arrests as necessary; interview victims, complaints and witnesses; interrogate suspects; gather and preserve evidence; testify and present evidence in court.


Serve warrants and subpoenas; keep up-to-date on laws and procedures required for processing warrants; retrieve and request information involving arrests and subpoenas; file complaints and perform other work related to the processing of misdemeanor and felony complaints.


Contact and cooperate with other law enforcement agencies in matters relating to the apprehension of offenders and the investigation of offenses.


Prepare reports of arrests made, activities performed, and unusual incidents observed.


Check buildings for physical security.


Search, fingerprint, and transport prisoners.


Maintain contact with citizens regarding potential law enforcement problems and preserve good relationships with the general public.


Administer first aid as necessary.


Marginal Functions:
Perform related duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

Police methods and procedures, including patrol, crime prevention, traffic control, investigation identification techniques, equipment, police records and reports, and first aid techniques.
Criminal law and criminal procedure with particular reference to the apprehension, arrest, and custody of persons committing misdemeanors and felonies, including rules of evidence pertaining to the search and seizure and the preservation of evidence in traffic and criminal cases.
Offensive and defensive weapons nomenclature and theory.
Ability to:

• Perform self defense tactics.
• Interviewing and interrogation techniques.
• Observe accurately and remember faces, numbers, incidents and places.
• Learn to use and care for firearms.
• Think and act quickly in emergencies, and judge situations and people accurately.
• Learn, understand, and interpret laws and regulations.
• Prepare accurate and grammatically correct written reports.
• Learn standard broadcasting procedures of a police radio system.
• Understand and carry out oral and written directions in an independent manner.
• Meet the physical requirements necessary to safely and effectively perform the assigned duties.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Maintain mental capacity which allows the capability of:
  • Making sound decisions
  • Demonstrating intellectual capabilities.
• Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for:
  • Making observations
  • Communicating with others
  • Reading and writing
  • Operating assigned office equipment.

Experience and Training Guidelines

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Experience:

None required.
Training:

Equivalent to completion of twelfth grade, preferably supplemented by 30 units of college level course work.
License or Certificate

Possession of an appropriate P.O.S.T. certificate.
Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid California driver's license.

Additional Information
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Ability to:

• Understand and follow oral and written directions, speak and write effectively
• Understand various laws, policies, rules, procedures, law enforcement techniques and first aid
• Analyze situations and/or problems and rationally and calmly take quick, effective action in emergency and stressful situations
• Undergo strenuous physical training

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Environmental Conditions:

• Emergency peace control environment
• Travel from site to site
• Exposure to potentially hostile environments

PHYSICAL CONDITIONS:

Essential and marginal functions require maintaining physical condition necessary for running, walking, crouching or crawling during emergency operations, walking, standing or sitting for extended periods of time, and operating assigned police equipment and vehicles.
EMPLOYMENT PROCESS:

Applicants are screened for relevant education, experience and/or licensing requirements as stated on the job announcement. Those persons most qualified may be required to compete in any combination of written, oral, performance and/or assessment center examinations. Candidates who successfully pass the examination process are placed on the eligibility list.

To apply for this position, please visit ovatojobs.org

ACCOMMODATIONS: Applicants with a disability who may require special assistance in any step of the selection process should advise Human Resources by emailing View email address on click.appcast.io upon submittal of application.
THE CITY OF NOVATO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Salary:
Starting salary is generally the first step of the range listed; however, advanced step appointments may be approved based upon qualifications when warranted. Subsequent salary increases within the range are scheduled yearly and may be granted based upon satisfactory service.



Other Compensation:
Specialty Assignments carry an additional percentage of compensation on top of base pay. See the Unit B MOU for a listing of specialty assignments.
Bilingual Pay: 5%



Educational Incentive:
Intermediate POST: 3%
Advanced POST: 5%


A.A.: 4%
B.A./B.S.: 5%
Masters: 6%

If a unit member possesses both a college degree and a P.O.S.T. certificate, the employee may choose either incentive pay but may not receive both. Only degrees earned from a college or university that has been accredited by an organization that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as an accrediting agency will apply.



Uniform Allowance:
$800 at time of hire and $80/month at the 13 month. $20 per month to defray the cost to dry clean uniforms.

Benefits include but are not limited to:

• Health Insurance (Including Medical, Dental, and Vision)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) allows employees to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for dependent care and/or out-of-pocket health care costs. Employee paid.
• Wellness Program; including workout-on-duty, mental health counseling, peer support team.
• Department gym, wellness room, and on-site chiropractic services.
• Mentoring Program.
• Employee Assistance Program - Available for employees and members of their household at no cost to employee.
• Varied Special Assignments and career advancement opportunities.
• Educational expense reimbursement.
• Deferred Compensation Savings Plans (457) are available to employees through a deferred compensation program. Employee paid.
• California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)
• Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability - Employee paid optional benefit plan.

The City participates in the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS). In compliance with AB 340, CalPERS retirement formula is 3% @ 55 retirement for Classic Safety employees and 2.7% @ 57 retirement for New Safety employees.


The City provides a specific dollar amount to each employee based on the employee's benefit enrollment level to apply to medical, dental, life and disability insurance. The dental program and life insurance policy are mandatory. Health, vision and disability options are available. Employees who do NOT enroll in a healthcare plan through the City will receive $250 per month as an addition to their gross earnings. This is taxable income.


Employee must pay an amount equal to 1.45% of salary toward Medicare. An equal amount is paid by the City.

The City does not participate in Social Security.

Paid Time off Includes:

Vacation: A minimum of 80 hours per year are provided at the time of hire. If you are currently working for another agency (state, federal or local), your vacation rate will be adjusted to account for years of service with that public agency.

Sick Leave: 40 hours provided at time of hiring. Accrue one day of sick leave per month.

Paid Parental Leave: 320 hours, after 12 months of employment.

Leaves:
The City offers 14 paid holidays; 88 hours of vacation after 1 year (graduates to 176 hours for 21 years of service); New employees will receive 40 hours of sick leave on their start date (unused sick leave applied to service credit at retirement).

Equal Opportunity Employer

The City is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and Physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions, and sexual orientation.


EEOP Utilization:
Applicants may obtain a copy of the department's EEOP Utilization Report upon request.
01


Do you possess an active certified California P.O.S.T. Basic Course Certificate? If yes, please attach a copy of your certificate.

• Yes
• No

02


If you answered no to the first question, are you currently enrolled in a California P.O.S.T. Basic Police Academy? If yes, please attach a copy of your enrollment in the Academy.

• Yes
• No

03


For LATERAL POLICE OFFICER, if you are currently employed by a P.O.S.T. agency, do you possess a P.O.S.T. Peace Officer Basic Certificate? If yes, please attach a copy of the certificate.

• Yes
• No

04


For LATERAL POLICE OFFICER, have you completed a probationary period with another agency?

• Yes
• No

05


For LATERAL POLICE OFFICER, if you answered yes to question #4, please indicate which agency you completed probation with and the total duration in months of that probationary period.
06


For LATERAL POLICE OFFICER, if referred for employment to the Novato Police Department by a City of Novato employee, please indicate their name here.
07


I understand that this position requires that I successfully complete and pass a pre-employment physical, psychological screening, background investigation, fingerprinting (LiveScan), drug screen, and Chief's interview.

• Yes
• No

08


I certify that all information provided on my application and supplemental questionnaire is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge; and I understand that all information is subject to verification; and that false or incomplete information will result in disqualification from the selection process or dismissal, if hired.

• Yes
• No

Required Question