Police Officer Trainee

Police Officer Trainee

Salary: Police Officer Trainee: $21.84 - $27.87 per hour

Location: Lake County, CA

Job Type: Full Time - Open to all applicants

Department: Police

Opening Date: 10/24/24

Closing Date: 11/21/24 5:00 PM Pacific

About the Position

Police Officer Trainees are those individuals who have not completed a Basic Police Academy. The City of Lakeport will pay those individuals hired as Police Officer Trainees while they attend the Basic Police Academy, as well as, pay the cost of the Academy. Upon graduation, they are sworn in and appointed to Police Officer and are assigned to the Field Training Program.

Selection Process

All City applications reviewed will be reviewed for accuracy, completeness and job-related qualifications. A limited number of the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in an oral interview. Physical agility and written testing may be required. Finalists then must successfully pass a thorough background investigation, medical, polygraph, and psychological examinations. Fingerprints are required. Appointment to the position is contingent upon successfully passing all examinations. Applicants who successfully complete the examination process will be placed on an eligibility list.

Application Process

Applications will be reviewed for minimum qualifications:

1. 1. Minimum education requirements: U.S. high school diploma, GED, or California High School Proficiency. College education is desired.
   2. 21 years of age at time of graduation from the Police Academy
   3. Valid driver license
   4. A felony conviction as an adult is disqualifying
   5. U.S. citizen or currently have a citizenship application in process
   6. Meet standards for visual acuity, illegal drug use, and driving history
2. Applicants must meet the minimum standards as outlined in the City of Lakeport Police Officer Employment Standards. Please review these standards on the City of Lakeport website.
3. Applicants meeting minimum qualifications will proceed to the four-part examination process.
4. Completed POST Personal History Statement (to be submitted at the oral interview)
5. Must live within a reasonable response time of the Police Department.

Part I - Interviews

The Appraisal Interview is designed to measure your education, training, experience, problem solving, interpersonal skills, community involvement/cultural awareness and job-related qualifications for the position. A completed Personal History Statement (PHS) must be submitted at the time of the appraisal interview. Forms can be found at:

Candidates with the highest scores, will be scheduled for the Chief's Interview.

Part II – Background Investigation

1. Police records check. (A felony conviction as an adult is disqualifying)
2. Thorough review of illegal drug use and DMV driving record.
3. Personal History Statement consists of inquiries into the following areas: Education, Employment, Financial, Legal, Military, Motor Vehicle Operation, Personal References, and Residences. For more information on the Personal History statement:
4. Polygraph Examination
5. Conditional Offer of Employment
6. Psychological Examination
7. Medical Examination

Part III – Physical Agility Test

Part I Testing is designed to evaluate your physical agility and includes the following:

• OBSTACLE COURSE Run a 99-yard obstacle course consisting of several sharp turns, a number of curb-height obstacles, and a 34-inch high obstacle that must be vaulted
• BODY DRAG Lift and drag a 165-pound lifelike dummy 32-feet
• CHAIN LINK FENCE Run 5 yards to a 6-foot chain link fence, climb over fence, continue running another 25 yards
• SOLID FENCE CLIMB Run 5 yards to a 6-0foot solid fence, climb over fence, continue running another 25 yards.
• 500-YARD RUN Run 500 yards

Part IV – P.O.S.T Written Exam

Part II Testing consists of the P.O.S.T. Written Examination. The P.O.S.T. (Peace Officer Standards and Training) Entry Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) is a written examination designed to measure your reading comprehension skills and your ability to spell and understand commonly-used vocabulary words. The City of Lakeport will accept testing scores from other agencies that are less than one year old. (Minimum qualifying score: T-Score of 42).

For the P.O.S.T. Preparation Guide go to:

Part V – Department Written Exam

Part III Testing is designed to evaluate your interpersonal skills, critical thinking ability, judgment and problem-solving effectiveness, and written communication skills.

Employment Offer

1. Upon successful completion of the background investigation phase and affirmative recommendation from both the City's designated psychologist and medical examiner, a formal offer of employment is made.
2. Police Officer Trainees are hired into this civilian (non-sworn) position for the period they are enrolled in the Basic Police Academy (20 weeks).
3. Police Officer Trainees receive retirement benefits under the Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS). For more information: calpers.ca.gov.
4. Police Officer Trainees receive uniforms for the Basic Police Academy
5. For Trainees attending College of the Siskiyous Academy, the work location is Weed, California and the Trainee shall receive housing and meals at the Academy.
6. For Trainees attending Santa Rosa College Academy, the work location is in Windsor, California and the Trainee shall receive mileage and meal allowance as prescribed by POST.

Basic Police Academy

1. The 20-24 week intensive academy teaches Criminal Law, Laws of Search and Seizure, Laws of Evidence, Traffic Laws, Investigative Techniques, Patrol Procedures, Firearms, Defensive Driver Training, Defensive Tactics, Police Report Writing, First Aid and CPR. In addition to providing academic instruction and evaluation, your physical strength and agility will be tested. There are 800 total classroom hours (21 semester units). For more information regarding the police academy: Santa Rosa College:

1. During the Police Academy, Police Officer trainers meet weekly with Police Officer Trainees to monitor their progress and address any concerns.
2. Police Officer Trainees are sworn in and appointed to the classification of Police Officer at the time of graduation from the Police Academy at Step 1 of the salary range with full Police Officer benefits.
3. Upon graduation, Police Officers commence a 12-month probationary period.

Field Training Program

1. Police Officers are assigned to the Field Training Program prior to assuming full responsibility in a solo officer assignment. Experienced Field Training Officers serve as trainers, coaches, and role models to guide officers through the learning experience. Field Training Officers provide daily coaching, guidance, and counseling.
2. The primary objectives of the Field Training Program are to develop and enhance an officer's learning from the Academy within the community environment through real-life activities, and to provide consistent evaluations of skills, knowledge, application, and ability to problem-solve effectively. Officers will learn to perform normal police activities, respond to calls for service, and analyze complex problems.
3. The Field Training Program is 17 consecutive weeks. This includes 2 weeks of department orientation and training, 1 week of field orientation, 14 weeks of training and evaluation, which includes 1 week of solo officer assessment. The training program includes training in:

• Firearms
• Defensive tactics
• Policies and procedures
• Officer safety
• Ethics
• Use of force