Police Officer Recruit

This is a continuous recruitment. Testing will take place on a rolling basis, and is usually scheduled twice per year, in January and again in June. Testing dates and all recruitment notifications will be announced via e-mail ONLY. Notices will only be sent once a date is scheduled. Application status updates will not be provided outside of test invitation notices. Notices are typically sent about one month prior to the test date.

Prompt application is encouraged as this post may close at any time without further action.

Under the direction of the Chief of Police, the Police Officer Recruit is a non-sworn civilian employee and attends a California Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) certified police academy to learn and perform the responsibilities of an entry-level California Police Officer. Upon graduation from the academy and award of the Academy Basic Certificate, the Police Officer Recruit becomes a probationary Police Officer and performs work under general instructions, but with established policies and procedures. The Police Officer Recruit performs related duties as required to achieve successful results in support of the City's mission, goals, policies and objectives.

•  Attends, participates and successfully completes a P.O.S.T. certified police training academy and passes all required classes, scenarios, physical training and other assigned duties and tasks
• Performs rigorous physical training.
• Learns the use and care of firearms, chemical agents, and other weapons.
• Learns to drive a motor vehicle under normal and emergency conditions safely.
• Understands and carries out oral and written directions.
• Learns to demonstrate command presence in conflict situations.
• Speaks clearly and learns standard broadcasting procedures of a police radio system.
• Learns to write clear, comprehensive and accurate reports, legibly and with correct grammar and spelling.
• Learns to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of employment; learns principles and practices of effective interpersonal communication and good customer service.
• Learns to understand, interpret and apply criminal and civil laws, court decisions, regulations, policies and procedures with particular reference to the laws of arrest, use of force, custody, search and seizure, juvenile laws and procedures, property crimes, crimes against persons, crimes against children, sex crimes, domestic violence, missing persons, weapons violations, alcohol, and controlled substances.
• Demonstrates the ability to learn and implement police methods and procedures including patrol techniques, vehicle stops, response to crimes in progress, apprehension of suspects, defensive tactics, traffic enforcement, control and collision investigation, crowd control, and gang and terrorism awareness.
• Demonstrates the ability to learn and implement crime scene management, forensics, collection, preservation and presentation of evidence; identification techniques; interviewing and interrogation techniques.
• Demonstrates the ability to learn first aid, CPR, hazardous materials awareness, emergency management, and the Incident Command System.
• Responds to major incidents reported to the Police Department; comprehends and uses the Incident Command System/Standardized Emergency Management System (ICS/SEMS) protocol; assumes the role as Incident Commander until relieved by a higher authority or other role as needed for the situation; ensures the safety of responders and others, the achievement of tactical objectives and the efficient use of resources.
• Demonstrates the ability to learn the community policing philosophy, crime prevention, victimology/crisis Intervention, cultural diversity/discrimination, and people with disabilities.
• Maintains a moral, ethical, and legal standard commensurate with the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics; inspires public confidence through personal integrity, leadership, professional appearance and actions.
• Learns to use modern law enforcement equipment, communications devices, computers and information systems.
• Demonstrates computer literacy with the knowledge and ability to use word processing and specialized law enforcement software programs; the ability to communicate using email programs and to understand and adhere to City policies for information technology.
• Work irregular hours including days, evenings, nights and overtime including weekends and holidays; must be available for call-back and automatic return to work with a reasonable response time during off-duty hours for major emergencies, disasters, critical incidents and as otherwise required.
• Delivers outstanding internal and external customer service, communicates effectively orally and in writing with the public and fellow employees; solves problems and supports the City's mission, policies, goals, and objectives.
• Exercises initiative, courtesy and independent judgment; establishes and maintains effective working relationships with members of the Department and City staff, other agencies and the public; communicates effectively both orally and in writing.
• Provides sound decision making skills and critical thinking to provide professional recommendations, decisions and completed staff work.
• Works cooperatively with personnel, co-workers and the management team; exercises tact, self-restraint and good judgment; takes initiative to achieve positive, timely results for the organization with diplomatic skills and ethical conduct.
• Conducts duties, responsibilities, tasks and assignments with a constructive, cooperative, positive, and professional attitude and demeanor.
• Supports the City's mission, goals, policies and objectives; delivers outstanding internal and external customer service; solve problems and communicate effectively with the public and fellow employees.
• Supports the City's corporate values of:  openness and honesty; integrity and ethics; accountability; outstanding customer service; teamwork; excellence; and fiscal responsibility.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Upon successful completion of academy instruction and graduation, the employee receives further training, as a sworn Police Officer in the Field Training Officer Program and is responsible for performing related duties as required.

Qualified applicants must:

• Possess a high school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent
• Be 20 ½ years of age upon acceptance to a California P.O.S.T. certified academy
• Be a United States citizen or a resident alien who is eligible and has applied for citizenship at least one year prior to the date of application
• Possess a valid Class C California Department of Motor Vehicles driver's license
• Not have any felony, domestic violence or misdemeanor assault convictions
• Be able to possess a firearm in the State of California legally
• Pass a pre-employment physical agility test
• Meet the written, physical, psychological background standards set by California P.O.S.T.
• Complete and successfully pass all aspects of the Department-designated California P.O.S.T. basic academy within the first twelve months

Desired qualifications/skills:

• An Associates or Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university is highly desirable.
• Bilingual skills in Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Arabic, American Sign Language, and Vietnamese are also highly desirable.

All applicants should possess knowledge of:

• Modern law enforcement principles, practices, techniques and equipment
• Federal, state and local laws and court decisions
• Policies, procedures and regulations of the Police Department and the City
• Proper English grammar, spelling and vocabulary
• Use and care of firearms, chemical agents and other weapons
• City geography including streets, parks, schools and critical facilities
• Occupational hazards and standard safety precautions

Due to the sensitive nature, high security environment, and value of property and evidence, candidates shall pass the designated City examinations prior to being given a conditional offer of employment.

If given a conditional offer of employment, candidates shall also pass medical and psychological examinations prior to appointment.

Employees hired after July 1, 2012, as a condition of continued employment, shall refrain from smoking tobacco or any other non-tobacco substance at any time on duty. Violations of this condition of employment shall be deemed good cause for dismissal.

SELECTION PROCESS:
The selection process may include but is not limited to: application review and evaluation, written examination, performance test and interview. All employment offers made by the City are contingent upon establishing proof of a prospective candidate's legal authorization to work in the United States and successfully passing all components of the pre-employment process, such as: reference check, background investigation, fingerprint criminal history check, post-offer drug test, post-offer psychological and post-offer medical examination, the cost of which will be borne by the City.