Lateral Police Officer

Lateral Police Officer

The City of Garden Grove is currently accepting online applications for the position of: LATERAL POLICE OFFICER. Join Our Team THE GARDEN GROVE POLICE DEPARTMENT. The Police Department consists of 182 sworn staff including a chief, a deputy chief, two (2) captains, seven (7) lieutenants, 23 sergeants and 148 police officers, in addition to civilian personnel. After sufficient experience in the department, specialization is available in Patrol, Investigations, Juvenile Services, Motorcycle Traffic Enforcement, Accident Investigation, Vice-Narcotic Enforcement, Gang Suppression Unit, Community Impact Unit, or Canine Handler. An outstanding in-service training program provides officers with extensive, continuous instruction in basic and specialized police techniques. Patrol officers work a modified 3/12.5 work schedule.

Under general supervision, police officers perform law enforcement and crime prevention work within a community policing philosophy; control traffic flow; enforce state and local laws and ordinances; and perform investigative work.

Graduation from high school or successful completion of the GED (General Educational Development) exam. Must be currently employed as a sworn peace officer in a California city, county, state or other public agency. Must possess a valid California POST Basic certificate (or higher) pursuant to PC 13510. Must be in excellent condition and physically capable of performing all tasks required of a police officer; fitness standards must be maintained throughout employment as a police officer. Bilateral vision must be at least 20/100, correctable to 20/30, with no evidence of color blindness. Hearing aids are not acceptable; applicants with an average hearing loss of 26 dB or more in the better ear in the 500 to 2000 c.p.s. range, and 46 dB in the 3000 c.p.s. range in the other ear are disqualified (ANSI standard). Applicants must be eligible for employment in the United States under federal law. Applicants must possess a valid California Class C driver's license and an acceptable driving record prior to and throughout employment. An acceptable driving record is one that has three (3) or fewer DMV points issued within the past five (5) years, and no more than one (1) DUI within the past ten (10) years. Observe and remember names, faces, numbers, incidents and places, and to judge situations and persons accurately; operate an automobile and learn to operate a motorcycle; learn standard broadcasting procedure of a police radio system; follow oral and written instructions; complete accurate reports; communicate effectively and work cooperatively with others, especially the public. Applicants possessing the ability to speak Spanish, Vietnamese, or Korean are highly desirable. Applicants must be legally authorized to carry a firearm and have no felony convictions.

Applications may be completed online by visiting Questions regarding this recruitment should be sent to View email address on click.appcast.io. The deadline to apply is Friday, July 3, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. PST. Online application packets must include: a complete and updated online employment application, a copy of a valid California POST Basic certificate or higher attached to the online application, responses to the supplemental questionnaire. The job application must be completely filled out. Please do not refer to a resume. Only applicants who appear to have the best qualifications will be invited to continue in the selection process. Meeting minimum qualifications does not guarantee an invitation. Applicants will receive communication through email only. Applicants should check their email and spam mail for all notices. The selection process includes application screening, physical agility test, panel interview, thorough background investigation, computer voice stress analysis examination, psychological evaluation, and pre-employment medical examination which includes a back x-ray, drug and alcohol screening test. The Physical Agility Test and Panel Interview may take place on the same day. More information will be available as the recruitment progresses. The selection process takes approximately 180 days from initial application to final selection depending on the duration of each step during the selection process. Some of the steps may take longer than anticipated due to availability and scheduling. Applicants who fail any part of the selection process will not be considered for the position. Candidates who may need accommodations during the selection process must contact the Human Resources Department at View email address on click.appcast.io at least one week prior to any test dates. Candidates who applied for the Lateral Police Officer position with the City of Garden Grove in the past and did not pass the following tests in the selection process may re-apply as indicated: Physical Agility Test: May apply as often as given. Panel Interview: Applicant must wait twelve months to reapply. Background Investigation (including CVSA exam): Applicant must wait twelve months to reapply. Psychological Evaluation: Applicant must wait twelve months to reapply. For further questions, please contact Corporal Benjamin Elizondo at View email address on click.appcast.io or Human Resources Analyst Ashleigh Anderson Camba at View email address on click.appcast.io.

City of Garden Grove's Excellent Sworn Police Benefits! VACATION: Accrues at the following rates: 80 hours upon completion of one (1) year, 120 hours after one (1) year – 10 hours per month, 144 hours after nine (9) years – 12 hours per month, 168 hours after fourteen (14) years – 14 hours per month, 207 hours after nineteen (19) years – 17.25 hours per month, 246 hours after twenty-four (24) years – 20.5 hours per month. SICK LEAVE: Accrues at the rate of ten (10) hours with pay for each full calendar month of service. RETIREMENT: Tier I - Police employees hired prior to January 1, 2013, are covered by the "3% at 50" single highest year option of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) plan. Employees contribute twelve percent (12%) of salary to PERS on a tax-deferred basis. Employees hired after January 1, 2013 that have already been enrolled in CalPERS or another reciprocal retirement system and do not have a break in service of more than six (6) months may be hired into Tier I. The plan also includes the 1959 Survivor Benefit (Indexed Level), and $5,000 death benefit. Tier II - Police employees hired after January 1, 2013, are covered by the "2.7% at 57" three highest year average option of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) plan. Employees contribute half of the normal cost on a tax-deferred basis. The plan also includes the 1959 Survivor Benefit (Indexed Level), and $5,000 death benefit. EDUCATION INCENTIVES - Police Officers are eligible for one of the following: 2.5% of base salary for possession of AA/AS degree, 5% of base salary for BA/BS degree, 7.5% of base salary for Intermediate POST Certificate, 10% of base salary for Advanced POST Certificate. LONGEVITY PAY: 2.5% of base salary for 15 full years of full-time sworn law enforcement service, 6.5% of base salary for 20 full years of full-time sworn law enforcement service, 12.5% of base salary for 25 full years of full-time sworn law enforcement service. BILINGUAL PAY: Upon certification, employees may receive compensation for the use of bilingual skills in Spanish, Korean, and Vietnamese. Employees may received 5% of base salary for verbal and written translation, or 3% of base salary for only verbal translation. CAFETERIA PLAN HEALTH INSURANCE: The City provides each eligible employee a fringe benefit allocation to purchase benefits for themselves and their dependents. After employees select health coverage, employees may use any remaining dollars for dental, vision, flexible reimbursement plants (health care or dependent care accounts), deferred compensation plan, or cash. If the employee selects a flexible reimbursement plan, the allocation may be reimbursed throughout the year. If the employee selects the deferred compensation plan or cash, the allocation will be disbursed in mid-December each year. ADDITIONAL FLEXIBLE REIMBURSEMENT PLAN: An employee may deduct money on a pre-tax basis into a medical reimbursement account ($2,500 annual maximum) and/or a child care account ($5,000 annual maximum) in accordance with IRS regulations. OVERTIME: Most overtime is paid at time and one-half under Federal guidelines. Some overtime is paid at straight time.