Police Officer Trainee

City of Anaheim Police Department

The City of Anaheim Police Department is seeking highly motivated individuals interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement. Police Officer Trainee is a non-sworn classification, participating in required law enforcement training in order to develop and meet the requirements of the entry-level Police Officer classification.

Upon successful completion of required training and graduation from the P.O.S.T. Basic Police Academy, Police Officer Trainees are eligible to be promoted to the position of Police Officer on a probationary basis. As a condition of continued employment, incumbents must earn and maintain a POST Basic Certificate upon completion of probation as a Police Officer. All non-probationary Police Officers must possess and maintain a valid POST Basic Certificate or higher for continued employment.

The following functions are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed functions and/or may be required to perform additional or different functions from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Attend, participate, and successfully progress through pre-academy training and orientation program(s) and a California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) approved Basic Police Academy. The components of the pre-academy and academy training include, but are not limited to: Leadership, professionalism, ethics, cultural diversity and discrimination awareness, criminal justice system, criminal law and statutes, juvenile law and procedure, laws of arrest, search and seizure, preservation and presentation of evidence, criminal investigation, report writing, emergency vehicle operations, patrol techniques, community policing and collaborative problem solving, vehicle pullovers, traffic enforcement, traffic collision investigation, arrest and control methods, defensive tactics, use of force, handling disputes, crime scene investigation, collection and processing of forensic evidence, care and proficient use of firearms and chemical agents, gang awareness, narcotics recognition and enforcement, and emergency management.
• Participate in training programs in order to develop an awareness of the duties, activities, and responsibilities of a Police Officer.
• Participate in physical fitness, agility, and conditioning exercises and self-defense exercises, first aid and CPR.
• Learn, understand and interpret various laws, police practices, and procedures, including the principles of community-oriented policing.
• Analyze problems and ability to learn how to rationally and calmly take appropriate action in stressful situations.
• Prepare accurate and grammatically correct written reports and solve basic arithmetic problems.
• May be required to work with and around specially trained police dogs.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

Training/Education: Graduation from an accredited High School or successful completion of the G.E.D (General Educational Development) exam.

Abilities: Must be physically fit to perform the essential functions, including corrected or uncorrected vision of 20/20 or better; physical strength and agility to perform foot pursuit and physical restraint of suspects. Must have ability to communicate clearly and accurately, both orally and in writing; exercise tact, self-restraint and good judgment; demonstrate collaborative problem-solving skills; and establish and maintain effective relationships with those contacted in the course of employment.

License Required: Possession of a valid California Driver's License by date of appointment and as a condition of continued employment.

Additional Requirements:

• At least 21 years of age upon completion of the academy training.
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law.
• Employees of the Anaheim Police Department must be permanent and fulltime residents of the State of California and live within a one hundred (100) mile radius of the City of Anaheim.

*** IMPORTANT APPLICATION INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS ***

Applications will be accepted until Monday, August 10, 2026 at 5:00PM. Applicants are encouraged to apply early. Applications will not be accepted after this deadline.

Recruitment Steps:

1. Written Exam – POST PELLETB tentatively scheduled for August 27 & 28, 2026. The City of Anaheim utilizes the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB).

Applicant Preparation Guide for the POST Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery has been developed to provide helpful information about test format and content. This guide explains exactly what is tested in the exam and provides sample questions that can be used for practice. This guide also provides research-based information on the best strategies for answering test questions.

2. Physical Ability Test, Oral Interview & Pre-Background Screening tentatively scheduled for Saturday, September 26, 2026.

Applicants who achieve a passing T-score of T-51 or higher on the written exam or submitted a T-score waiver or submitted a valid academy completion certificate will be invited to the physical ability test. The physical ability test is a series of events and obstacles that candidates must successfully complete.

Applicants who achieve a passing score on the physical ability test will be invited to participate in the oral interview process. Successful candidates will be interviewed by a background investigator after the oral interview.

The following documents are required and must be completed and brought to the oral interview:

• Preliminary Background Information Form / PHS
• Background Investigation Questionnaire (BIQ)
• Required Documents
• Applicant Autobiography

Please provide as many of the required documents along with your Preliminary Background Information Form / PHS, BIQ, and Applicant Autobiography. Items such as transcripts, credit report or other missing documents can be provided upon your receiving them.

Further selection steps include, but are not limited to a background investigation, polygraph examination, psychological evaluation, a medical examination, which includes drug/alcohol screening, and an interview with the Chief of Police. The interview with the background investigator and completion of the background investigation will include, but is not limited to, verification and evaluation of any present and/or past use of drugs, driving and employment history.

Please review the following common disqualifiers. If any items listed pertain to you, you will be automatically disqualified in the background investigation. You may, at this time, want to screen yourself and withdraw prior to starting the recruitment process.

• Any illegal use, sales, or possession of a drug classified as an opiate (heroin, opium, etc.) or PCP.
• Any use of cocaine, methamphetamine, hallucinogens (GHB, MDMA/ecstastasy, ketamine, etc.) within five years of date of application.
• Any illegal use of anabolic steroids within three years of date of application.
• Two or more at-fault traffic collisions within three years of the date of application.
• Conviction of a hit-and-run offense.
• Any driver's license suspension within five years of date of application.
• Conviction of a felony crime.
• Conviction of any misdemeanor crime within five years of application.
• Any conviction as an adult, of any misdemeanor crime involving domestic violence, sexual-related offenses or crimes against children.
• Any conviction as an adult, of a theft or larceny crime.

The following may result in disqualification:

• Use of cocaine, methamphetamine, hallucinogens (GHB, MDMA/ecstastasy, ketamine, etc.) previous to five years of application.
• Prior nitrous oxide use.
• Illegal use of anabolic steroids previous to three years of application.
• Illegal use of a hypodermic needle/syringe.
• A pattern or history of irresponsibility as evidenced by debt collections, civil judgments, failure to pay, late payments, etc.
• More than one moving violation in the past 12 months, and/or three or more moving citations within the past three years, and/or five or more moving citations within the past five years of date of application.

Candidates must be specific and complete in describing their qualifications for this position. Stating "See Resume" is not an acceptable substitute for a completed application. Failure to state all pertinent information may lead to elimination from consideration.

The City of Anaheim uses E-Verify and new employees must provide documentation to establish both work authorization and identity.

Communication regarding your application and/or