Police Officer Trainee

Police Officer Trainee

To attend a Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Certified Police Academy and undergo field training within the Police Department. The Police Officer Trainee position is a limited duration position requiring successful completion of a POST Certified Police Academy. This is the trainee level classification of the profession Police Series. Successful completion of a Basic Police Academy course and a Departmental field training program will permit eligibility for the position of Police Officer. Police Officer in law enforcement and crime prevention; controls traffic flow; enforces State and Local traffic regulations; conducts investigative work; participates in and provides support and assistance to special departmental crime prevention and law enforcement programs. Positions assigned to the Police Officer classification may be assigned to one of a number of functional areas within the Police Department. General supervision is provided by a Police Sergeant. Technical or functional supervision may be provided by higher level Police personnel. Assignments may require indirect supervision of sworn and non-sworn personnel.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following: Attend a basic POST certified academy designed to provide an overview of the criminal justice system including laws and training in police procedures, law enforcement techniques, first aid and physical fitness. Undergo training to develop an awareness of functions and responsibilities of Police Officers and how they relate to field operations. Learn laws of arrest and pertinent local and state laws and ordinances. Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge of: The role and function of a law enforcement agency. Computers to research and write reports. Customer service.

Ability to: Learn and understand police department rules, regulations, instructions, laws and policies. Learn to properly handle and safely discharge firearms. Observe and remember names, faces, numbers, incidents, and places, and judge situations and persons accurately. Learn to operate standard police equipment and vehicles. Follow oral and written directions. Write accurate reports. Communicate effectively with people of diverse education, social and ethnic backgrounds. Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience: Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade, possession of a valid California Driver's License. Proof of a T-Score of 42 or greater on the POST Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) and proof of passing any POST certified academy physical agility test (PAT) or comparable agency equivalent. Proof of completion of the PELLETB and PAT must be attached to your application and have been completed within the past 12 months.

How to Obtain a T-Score and/or Participate in the Physical Agility Test: The Napa Valley College Criminal Justice Training Center typically administers the PELLETB and physical agility test (PAT) on the 2nd Saturday of each month; the South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Consortium administers the PELLETB and physical agility test regularly throughout the year; please check their website for specifics. The PAT is also offered throughout the state by several POST academies. Candidates must register directly with Napa Valley Criminal Justice Training Center, South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Consortium, or POST academy to take the exam; City of San Pablo does not register candidates for the exam.

Important Information: PELLETB T-Scores administered by other law enforcement agencies or academies will be accepted, provided the documentation is on official letterhead and dated within 1 year. City of San Pablo only accepts physical agility test results from the Napa Valley College Criminal Justice Training Center or South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Consortium dated within 1 year.