Police Officer Trainee

Police Officer Trainee

Be amongst the brave men and women who make up the Richmond Police Department. If you are interested in a career in law enforcement, there is an opportunity for you to become a Police Officer Trainee in the City of Richmond Police Department. If selected, you will be appointed full-time to a Police Officer Trainee position, and you will attend a California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certified Police Recruit Academy. A Police Officer Trainee is a non-sworn, full-time employee of the City and receives a monthly salary of $7,924.64. Police Officer Trainees are eligible to receive the status of a sworn police officer after they have successfully completed the POST Academy and have been processed through the procedure to become a classified Police Officer. As a sworn Police Officer they will undergo field training within the Police Department. This is an exempt classification. Employees in exempt classifications do not have protected status under the City's merit system, but serve at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority. City of Richmond Police Officers work under the philosophy of community policing, and are responsible for protecting persons and property; maintaining order; preventing crime; controlling traffic, conducting specialized administrative or investigative duties; and writing reports. The current base annual salary range for a sworn Police Officer is $123,588.00 - $142,558.00. To learn more about Police Officers please go to: Join Richmond Police Department - Be the Difference. Additionally, City-paid benefits may include medical, dental, vision, paid vacation, holidays, administrative leave days, sick time, CalPERS retirement contribution, life insurance, disability insurance, tuition reimbursement, annual professional development reimbursement, four weeks of paid parental leave, and more! All benefits information can be found here.

A Police Officer Trainee attends a California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)-Certified Police Academy full-time. Upon successful completion of the POST Academy, trainees are eligible for immediate appointment to the position of Police Officer.

Officers, working under the philosophy of community policing, are responsible for protecting persons and property; maintaining order; preventing crime and juvenile delinquency; controlling traffic; specialized administrative or investigative duties; and writing reports.

Application and Selection Process

• Possess a high school diploma or equivalent;
• Be at least 21 years of age;
• Have completed the equivalent of ten (10) semester or fifteen (15) quarter units at a college or university OR completion of basic and advanced training in the armed forces and receipt of an honorable discharge with a copy of the DD214 (must provide proof);
• Have no felony convictions;
• Possess a T-Score from the POST Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLET-B) of 48 or above*, obtained within 12 months of application OR current attendance at a CA POST-affiliated Police Academy (must provide proof)
• Possess a valid California driver's license and a satisfactory driving record;
• Have vision uncorrected 20/100 in each eye, corrected to 20/30 in each eye;
• Have normal color vision;
• Have normal hearing.

*NOTE: Applicants must provide a copy of a valid T-Score of 48 or above from the POST PELLET-B, taken within 12 months of application. Applicants may contact The Academy, South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Center ( or other local agencies or training academies to determine if they are administering the PELLET-B. Additional information may be obtained by visiting the CA POST website at

Automatic Disqualifiers:

• Felony Convictions
• Domestic Violence Convictions
• Crimes of Moral Turpitude
• Drug Use – Within Last Three (3) Years:
• Hallucinogens
• Psilocybin (Mushrooms)
• LSD
• MDMA (Ecstasy)
• Cocaine
• Methamphetamine
• Heroin

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: The City's policy is that all persons hired on or after October 18, 2021, must be fully vaccinated, including the booster, for COVID-19. New employees will be required to provide proof of complete vaccination or have an approved medical or religious accommodation before employment may commence. If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact Human Resources.

Application and Selection Process

1. All applicants must submit a complete City of Richmond Employment Application online. Applicants can apply by visiting the City of Richmond employment page at Please fill out the Employment Application completely (including places of employment with complete addresses; i.e., number and street name, city and state, names of supervisors with telephone numbers, etc.), answer the Supplement Qualifications Questionnaire, and if applicable, attach required documents. Incomplete applications will be rejected.
2. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on an unranked Employment List. The Employment List is valid for four (4) months, unless extended an additional four (4) months. Placement on the employment list does not guarantee selection to proceed in the recruitment process.
3. Candidates will be selected to complete a Writing Sample (essay), participate in an oral board interview, submit a Personal History Statement (PHS), and complete a Physical Agility Test, mirroring the California POST Work Sample Test Battery (WSTB):

• Solid Fence Climb and Chain Link Fence Climb (Two Trials)
• Maximum time allowed – Solid: 15.1 seconds, Chain: 19.3 seconds
• Body Rescue/Drag (Two trials)
• Maximum time allowed: 28.9 seconds
• Obstacle Course/Agility Run (Two Trials)
• Maximum time allowed: 33.9 seconds
• 500 Yard Run (One Trial)
• Maximum time allowed: 199.9 seconds (3 minutes 33 seconds)

• The Physical Agility Test will be waived for candidates who provide proof of successful completion of the POST Work Sample Test Battery, provided by a POST accredited agency, with a minimum passing score of 384, within 6 months of application
• 4. The PHS will be reviewed and evaluated based on hiring requirements.
• Candidates will be selected to proceed in the hiring process, consisting of the following:

• Livescan Fingerprinting
• Polygraph Examination
• POST-Certified Background Investigation

• 6. Select candidates may receive a conditional offer of employment upon completion and review of the background investigation report, and be scheduled for:

• Medical Evaluation
• Psychological Assessment

• 7. Candidates who successfully pass the medical evaluation and psychological assessment will enter the final review phase of the hiring process. Candidates may be scheduled to meet with the Police Chief for an interview.
• 8. The Police Chief will make the final hiring decision. Candidates who are selected for hire will receive a final offer letter from the Human Resources Management Department.