Police Officer (Recruit)

Police Officer (Recruit)

Interested in making a difference in the community? The Vallejo Police Department is seeking highly motivated individuals who can demonstrate sound judgment, have superior decision-making skills, and who are eager to participate in a high level of community collaboration, strategic partnerships, and progressive problem solving.

This recruitment is a continuous recruitment and will be closed when a viable candidate pool has been identified. Employees in this trainee-level, non-safety assignment, will be completing a POST certified Basic Police Academy (POST Academy), or those who are currently enrolled in an academy, and as such are considered temporary, at-will employees serving at the pleasure of the hiring authority. Assignment to this classification is limited to a maximum of one year. A Police Officer (Recruit) who fails to successfully complete the academy will be terminated.

Provide quality service to the citizens of Vallejo using modern 21st Century Policing methods in the department's mission to reduce crime. Make a difference in the community with a progressive, forward-thinking organization in an environment that embraces diversity, creativity, and respect.

The Vallejo Police Department's mission is to provide professional law enforcement services that enhance, protect, and promote the quality of life for people residing, visiting, or doing business in the City of Vallejo. As an integral part of the community the Vallejo Police Department is committed to providing a highly professional, ethical and quality Police service. The proud men and women of the Department are dedicated to maintaining law and order by proactively addressing crime, protecting welfare, property, and the rights of all people. In partnership with the community, community groups and other city departments, the Vallejo Police Department continually endeavors to improve its service, making Vallejo a safe place to live, work and visit.

Important responsibilities and duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

In addition to attending the POST Basic Police Academy to gain training and proficiency in law enforcement terminology, concepts, and techniques, and to gain the requisite knowledge to be eligible to perform the duties of a sworn peace officer, candidates may perform the following duties as assigned:

• Ride with officers to observe and learn peace officer responsibilities and techniques.
• Operate police information equipment, including computer systems, teletypes and telephones to enter and research information at the direction of an Officer or police civilian.
• Assist in processing, packaging, labeling, storing and destroying property and evidence; may provide assistance with photocopies, files, indexes and locating police records and related paperwork.
• Perform errands for the department such as transporting information and paperwork to court and district attorney offices; perform related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of :

• Basic law enforcement grammar, composition, spelling and punctuation;
• Basic mathematics;
• Effective communications and public speaking;
• Effective problem-solving techniques;
• Basic law enforcement terminology and concepts;
• Basic computer operating systems and software applications related to the work.

Ability to :

• Successfully complete the POST Basic Police Academy;
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
• Learn, understand and interpret laws and regulations;
• Learn to implement and enforce laws, policies, regulations, guidelines and orders concerning the protection of life, property and the maintenance of law, order and peace with a 21st Century Community Policing mind-set;
• Observe and accurately recall names, faces, numbers, incidents and places;
• Think and act quickly in emergency situations;
• Analyze situations and adopt effective courses of action;
• Exercise sound judgment, often under pressure;
• Understand and carry out written and oral directions;
• Write at a fast rate of speed to prepare accurate and factual written reports;
• Perform basic math computations;
• Safely operate motor vehicles;
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with co-workers, supervisors, public officials and representative of other agencies;
• Utilize computers and computer software, as required;
• Learn to meet the minimum standards of use with department-issued or approved lethal and non-lethal weapons;
• Perform in specialized assignments as required.

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:

• A High School diploma, GED, or equivalent.
• Completion of 39 semester units or equivalent from an accredited college or university is highly desirable.

Other requirements:

• Possession of a valid California driver's license
• Be 20 years old at the time of appointment, and at least 21 years of age upon POST Academy graduation
• Vision correctable to 20/20 in both eyes with normal color vision
• Must be eligible for U.S. citizenship upon academy graduation
• No felony convictions
• No misdemeanor convictions which mandate weapons prohibitions

The recruitment & selection process includes:

Completed City of Vallejo application

Completed Supplemental/Personal History Questionnaire

If applicable, POST Entry Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLET-B) and Work Sample Test Battery (WSTB) scores

Education, GPA of 2.0 or higher

College enrollment

Academy enrollment or possession of a POST Basic Academy Certificate

Valid California driver license

Citizenship

Criminal history

Oral panel interviews are weighted at 100% of a candidates score.

Background investigation will include live scan fingerprinting, and polygraph examination.

The City of Vallejo is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the City of Vallejo to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.