Police Officer Trainee

Job Summary Police Officer Trainee – entry level position in the City of Escondido Police Department. The role includes patrolling, law enforcement, arrest enforcement, traffic control, first aid, investigations, and other duties required to maintain public safety and uphold city ordinances. Responsibilities Patrol assigned areas by car, bike, motorcycle or on foot. Answer calls for assistance, investigate crimes, deaths, accidents and injuries. Enforce, control and direct traffic when appropriate. Stop drivers violating traffic laws and issue warnings for illegal practices. Make arrests for all criminal violations of law and testify in court. Serve warrants and subpoenas. Administer first aid in emergency situations. Respond to domestic disturbances, obnoxious animals, health code and local ordinance violations. Investigate suspicious circumstances. Take custody of stolen, lost or found property and evidence. Perform crowd control, parade or riot work. Assist in crime prevention and juvenile delinquency control; perform detective work in criminal investigations. Transport prisoners to county jail for booking. Provide information and directions to the public. Submit written reports on all investigated cases. Conduct and participate in required training courses and programs. Exercise supervision over non‑sworn positions. Provide vacation and temporary relief as assigned. Qualifications Knowledge of: The principles, methods, materials, equipment and techniques of peace officers. Crime scene procedures. Recent developments, current literature and sources of information on peace officers. State and federal statutes and case law covering contraband, drugs and physical evidence in court. Police Department policies, procedures, rules, regulations and unit functions. Occupational hazards and standard safety precautions. Office procedures, methods and equipment including computers and applicable software applications. Customer service principles and techniques. English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation. Ability to: Prepare clear and concise police reports. Interpret, apply and make decisions in accordance with applicable federal, state and local policies, laws and regulations. Analyze emergency situations and adopt quick, reasonable and effective courses of action. Respond to requests and inquiries from the general public. Lift and move objects of moderate to heavy weight. Maintain a calm and professional demeanor at all times. Provide a high level of customer service to internal and external customers. Operate office equipment including computers and word processing software. Demonstrate awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity. Communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, vendors and the public. General Standards Fingerprinting and background investigation customary for all police officer positions. No felony convictions. Good moral character determined by polygraph and thorough background investigation. Successful completion of medical and psychological evaluation. Authorized to work in the United States. Must be at least 21 years of age at time of appointment. Education and Experience High school graduate or equivalent. License or Certificate Valid Class C California driver’s license at the time of appointment. Physical Requirements All candidates must pass vision, hearing, color vision, and visual acuity tests as specified by POST regulations. Physical examinations include strength, agility and endurance tests. The majority of duties involve driving at night and require adequate visual function and physical fitness. Testing Dates Written Exam: Friday, August 14, 2026 Physical Agility/PIQ: Saturday, August 15, 2026 Oral Interviews: Monday, August 24, 2026 Veterans' Preference Eligible individuals: served in the U.S. armed forces, received an honorable discharge, did not retire, and are applying for the first time within the city. Equal Opportunity Employment The City of Escondido does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, sex, age, national origin or sexual orientation. The city will attempt to accommodate applicants with disabilities upon request. #J-18808-Ljbffr City of Escondido