Police Officer; Lateral​/Academy Graduate

Position Summary

City of La Mesa – “The Jewel of the Hills”. Apply for the Police Officer (Lateral/Academy Graduate) role in La Mesa.

Future scheduled salary increases: 4.0% effective July 1, 2026. Up to $15,000 hiring incentive bonus for lateral candidates: $2,000 upon completion of hiring process, $3,000 upon successful completion of the LMPD Field Training Program, $5,000 after two years of service with successful performance and possession of Basic P.O.S.T. Certification at time of hire, or $10,000 for two years of service with Intermediate or Advanced P.O.S.T. Certification.

Additional pay incentives and benefits:
Educational POST incentive pay, bilingual pay, tuition reimbursement, computer loan program, competitive benefits package.

• Patrol designated areas of the City by car, foot, or other means; maintain awareness of desired suspects, stolen vehicles, missing persons, traffic violators, and crimes in progress; issue warnings and citations.
• Respond to calls for protection of life and property, enforcement of laws, general public service calls, and complaints including automobile accidents, traffic hazards, misdemeanor and felony incidents, domestic disturbances, property control, civil complaints, animal control, and related incidents.
• Conduct investigations at scenes of incidents; identify, collect, preserve, process, photograph, and book evidence; locate and interview victims and witnesses; identify and interrogate suspects.
• Prepare and serve search and arrest warrants; apprehend and arrest offenders; control and mitigate people under the influence of drugs or alcohol or other potential hostility.
• Direct traffic at fires, special events, and other emergency situations; provide traffic and crowd control at parades, festivals, riots, and other events.
• Serve as liaison and public‑relations officer for the assigned area; establish and preserve good relationships with the public; develop informants and provide intelligence to divisional and departmental personnel.
• Contact and cooperate with other law‑enforcement agencies; respond to requests for assistance.
• Participate in continuous training to enhance law‑enforcement skills.
• Perform administrative duties in support of law‑enforcement services, programs, and activities; attend meetings; prepare and submit news releases; maintain and calibrate specialized equipment.
• Prepare reports on activities, operations, arrests, unusual incidents, investigative reports, and case information.
• Testify in juvenile, civil, traffic, municipal, and criminal courts; prepare and present evidence; respond to mandatory court calls during irregular hours.
• Answer questions from the public regarding local and State laws, procedures, and department activities.
• Assist in receiving, searching, booking, fingerprinting, and transporting prisoners.
• When assigned, make presentations before public groups to promote crime prevention activities; serve as liaison to neighborhood watch groups and schools.
• When assigned to the Traffic Bureau as a Collision Investigator Motorcycle Officer, patrol assigned areas on a police motorcycle; perform traffic enforcement duties; investigate traffic accidents; conduct special enforcement details; maintain the motorcycle.
• When assigned to investigations, coordinate detailed investigations of crimes involving juveniles and adults, crimes against persons and property, vice, gaming and narcotics violations; perform undercover and surveillance activities; collect and preserve evidence; prepare search warrants and investigative reports.
• When assigned as a Master Officer/Field Training Officer, train new recruits and lateral officers; document trainee progress; serve as acting field supervisor as assigned.
• When assigned as a C.R.U./School Resource Officer, serve as law‑enforcement officer, counselor, and instructor for drug‑abuse prevention programs; supervise truancy sweeps; assist with special juvenile enforcement details; supervise security for school functions.
• Perform related duties as required.

• General
  :
  Must be at least 20½ years of age at time of application; must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident alien…