Police Officer

We Are the Community - Leading the Way in Law Enforcement

Are you ready to start your career in law enforcement? We are looking for dedicated individuals to serve our seaside community.

The POA will receive a 3% increase in salary effective February 2026 based on the new Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU).

For more information on the recruitment and selection process, visit our Police Department Recruitment website.

Tests take place on a rolling basis and are usually scheduled up to twice per year. All recruitment notifications are sent 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. It is not necessary to submit multiple applications. It may be necessary to check your junk/spam mail folders to ensure you do not miss e-mailed notices.

All applicants will be notified via e-mail when testing is scheduled.

The next test date will take place on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

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.

This position is accountable to perform the duties, responsibilities and expectations of a Police Recruit assigned to a California P.O.S.T. certified police academy including but not limited to:

• 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…