Police Officer - Lateral

Salary : $100,588.80 - $122,324.80 Annually
Location : 969 Petaluma Blvd North, Petaluma, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 2025-00451
Department: Police
Opening Date: 09/09/2025


Summary/Class Characteristics
Police Officer - Lateral

Current Base Salary: $100,588.80 - $122,324.80 annually

In addition to a competitive salary, CalPERS Retirement and a generous benefits package this position offers opportunities for special assignments including K9, Hostage Negotiation, FTO, Traffic Motorcycle Officers, SRO, Gang Enforcement Team, Investigations and SWAT. There are also opportunities for career advancement and department funded training opportunities.

Hiring Bonus and Incentives :

• $10,000 signing bonus upon successful hiring process
• $5,000 upon completion of probationary period
• $10,000 upon completion of three years of service
• Vacation accrual rate that matches the total years of service as a Police Officer
• A bank of 40 hours of sick leave at the time of hire
• A bank of 80 hours of vacation leave upon successful completion of the Field Training Program

Lateral Applicant Requirements
To be considered as a lateral applicant you must:

• Be currently employed as a peace officer in good standing by a California-authorized jurisdiction.
• Have successfully completed your Field Training program in your current agency.
• Must possess Basic P.O.S.T. certification.

Special Pays

• Uniform Pay: 1.5% of Step 5 of Police Officer annual salary
• POST Certificate Pay: 5% for POST Intermediate Certificate, 7% for POST Advanced or Supervisory Certificates.
• Bilingual Pay: up to $200 per month
• Field Training Officer, Traffic Officer, Detective, K-9 Officer: 5% as assigned
• SWAT: 2.5% as assigned
• Shift Differential: 3% if assigned to swing shift, 5% if assigned to graveyard shift
• Longevity Pay (eff. 1/1/2024): 2.5% after 5 years, 5% after 8 years, 7.5% after 11 years, 10% after 15 years of service with the City

Benefits

• CalPERS Retirement: 3% at 55 for "classic" members, 2.7% at 57 for new members.
• CalPERS Health Program: City pays 95% of Bay Area Kaiser rate premium for employee and eligible dependents
• Dental/Vision/EAP/Life/LTD Insurance: paid 100% by City
• Holiday Pay: 156 hours per year
• Sick Leave: earn 96 hours per year with unlimited accrual
• Compensatory Time Off Bank: earn hours at 1.5 times actual hours worked up to 240 hours
• Vacation Time: earn 80-200 hours per year depending on years of service as a Police Officer
• Cash in Lieu of Medical/Dental Benefits: receive 50% of Kaiser Bay Area premium and Dental premium as cash payment (with proof of other insurance for employee and eligible dependents)
• Paid Parental Leave - up to 8 weeks (or equivalent hours) of paid time for qualifying family bonding

For more information regarding the benefits associated with this position, visit our website and look at the and .
#petalumaproud

A City that Works for Everyone

Our City has an enormous amount of civic pride which celebrates multiple approaches and points of view. When we say we are a City that Works for Everyone we mean everyone. To do that well, we're creating a workforce that is inclusive and listens to the multitude of voices and views of our employees. Diversity is an integral part of our organizational identity. Inclusion is the way we treat and perceive our differences. Equity is treating all our employees fairly and acknowledging that everyone has value. This drives our innovation, motivation and connects us even closer to our community.
Police Department Petaluma Police Department is dedicated to providing the best law enforcement services to the community and it prides itself on community involved programs. Petaluma has a population of approximately 59,000 and encompasses nearly 13 square miles situated 40 miles north of San Francisco Bay Area on U.S. 101, and 30 miles east of the Pacific Ocean. The Police Department staffing includes 84.5 full time employees, including one Chief, one Deputy Chief, four Lieutenants, nine Sergeants, forty-seven Officers, and other support staff. In addition, the department has three K-9 Officers, Traffic Unit, Motorcycle Patrol, SWAT Team, Investigations Unit, FTO Program, and Reserve Community Service Officer Program (Volunteer). The Petaluma Police Department is proactive in Community Oriented Policing Philosophy.
Summary Perform a wide variety of peace officer duties involving the protection of life and property, enforcement of laws and ordinances, criminal investigation, crime prevention and suppression, case preparation and testimony, and provision of information and assistance to the public; perform special assignments in areas such as traffic patrol, K-9 program, and gang detail.

Class Characteristics General supervision is provided by the Police Sergeant; responsibilities may include the indirect supervision of officers and/or support staff.

This is the working level class in law enforcement, performing all duties required to effectively respond to and resolve the normal scope of peace officer situations. Incumbents may be assigned to patrol, traffic, juvenile, crime prevention or other police-related functions. This class is distinguished from uniformed civilian police-related classes by the responsibility and authority associated with designation as a sworn peace officer under the laws of the state. It is further distinguished from the Police Sergeant class in that the latter is a first-line supervisor responsible for assigned officers and other support staff.

Duties


The duties, skills, and demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with a disability to perform the essential duties, skills, and demands.

• Patrol assigned areas to ensure the security of life and property, observe situations, and deter crime by providing high visibility; respond to suspicious activities and answer emergency calls for service; enforce state, local, and federal laws and ordinances; issue verbal warnings and citations; pursue and apprehend suspects and request assistance as required.
• Investigate criminal activity and incidents as the responding officer; coordinate crime scene control and investigation, including interviews and interrogations and identification of witnesses; oversee collection and preservation of physical evidence; restore order, protect life and property, and maintain the peace at public gatherings and in conflict situations.
• Prepare and document cases, complete reports and records, and prepare and maintain other logs and records.
• Investigate traffic accidents and provide traffic and crowd control as necessary.
• Participate in special details and assignments, including K-9, traffic patrol, narcotics, investigation, and related activities; retrieve, identify, and return found property and/or evidence to owners; provide emergency aid and assistance to incapacitated persons and request additional response; provide information, directions, and other services and assistance to the public; testify in court, as subpoenaed; respond to SWAT team call-outs; may act as hostage negotiator.
• Direct, instruct, train, and supervise recruit officers in areas of traffic enforcement, radar operation, DUI enforcement, and basic traffic accident investigation.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications


Knowledge of:

• Basic law enforcement terminology and concepts.
• Techniques for dealing with people of all socio-economic levels under hostile and emergency situations.
• Safety practices and precautions pertaining to the work.
• Learn the principles, practices, procedures, laws and ordinances, terminology, and operation of equipment used in law enforcement and crime prevention and investigation.

Education:
Equivalent to graduation from high school and completion of a recognized police academy.
Certifications/Licenses:

Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license.
Must possess a basic P.O.S.T. certification and maintain firearms qualification.
Hiring Requirements

Candidates being considered for selection will undergo a thorough background investigation, including by not limited to personal history, employment, education, military, State of California Department of Justice fingerprint search of records, DMV driving record, etc. A polygraph examination will be part of the background examination. Prior to appointment, candidates must also successfully complete a Police Chief interview, pre-employment medical examination, a drug screen, and a psychological evaluation. All statements made on application materials must be correct and will be subject to investigation and verification.

Physical Demands and Working Environment


While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move weight up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles. The employee occasionally works with use of vehicle. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
The City of Petaluma offers a wide-ranging, comprehensive benefit package including CalPERS retirement, medical, dental, vision, life, LTD, etc. For more information regarding the benefits associated with this position, visit our website:
01


Are you currently employed as a Peace Officer in good standing by a California-authorized jurisdiction?

• Yes
• No

02


Have you successfully completed the Field Training Office program in your current agency?

• Yes
• No

03


If you answered no to either question above your application will not be processed. However, you may apply for Police Officer - POST Graduate. Do you acknowledge this requirement?

• Yes
• No

04


Please describe why you are specifically interested in working for the Petaluma Police Department.
05


If you are successful in completing the testing process, you will undergo a comprehensive background investigation, including fingerprinting and a polygraph examination. NOTE: Recent drug usage, theft or other illegal activity may disqualify you. Your record must be free from any felony conviction and/or any misdemeanor conviction involving moral turpitude and excessive traffic violations. After a conditional job offer is made, you must pass a medical examination, drug screen, and psychological suitability examination. Do you acknowledge this requirement?

• Yes
• No

Required Question