Police Officer Recruit (Pre Service/Academy Graduate)

City of Glendale • Glendale, CA

17h • Onsite

About The Position

The Glendale Police Department (GPD) is seeking individuals committed to keeping Glendale safe. This full-service agency offers diverse specialized assignments and career paths. The role emphasizes community partnership, advancement opportunities, and providing a high level of service. This entry-level, non-sworn classification participates in post-academy training. The position requires exceptional customer service and ethical standards, responding to various calls for service, providing public assistance, and emphasizing a Community-Based Policing philosophy. Responsibilities include administering first aid, interviewing witnesses and suspects, preparing reports, apprehending suspects, enforcing traffic laws, investigating accidents and juvenile matters, serving subpoenas and warrants, and testifying in court. Candidates must be attending or have graduated from a California POST approved Basic Police Academy. The salary figure includes incentive pays such as detective pay, longevity pay, and educational (POST certificate) pay.

Requirements

• Graduation from high school or attainment of a State Board of Education issued certificate of proficiency, or attainment of a GED certificate, CHSPE certificate, HiSET certificate, or CPP certificate.
• Academy Attendee: Current enrollment in a California POST Basic Academy. A letter from the academy verifying current enrollment MUST be submitted at the time of application.
• Academy Graduate: Must have completed a California POST Basic Academy within 1 year from the time of application. A copy of a California POST Basic Academy completion certificate MUST be submitted with the application.
• Valid Class C California driver's license.
• Exceptional customer service practices.
• Making independent judgments and decisions based upon standard policy or procedure.
• Provide exceptional customer service to all employees and vendors.
• Model and practice the highest standards of ethical conduct.
• Deal calmly with angry, upset, and frightened people.
• Develop necessary skills from on-the-job training and meet the standards of performance for the classification by the end of the probationary period.
• Establish smooth working relationships and effectively resolve interpersonal conflicts.
• Emphasize a Community-Based Policing philosophy focused on community interaction and collaborative problem solving.
• Foster a teamwork environment.
• Read, write and comprehend directions in English.
• Remain poised and controlled in threatening or violent situations.
• Write clear, accurate, detailed reports based on field notes of events.
• Willingness to assume responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment.
• Willingness to work overtime as requested.
• Applicants must be of good moral character, with no felony or misdemeanor convictions involving moral turpitude.
• Must be a minimum of 21 years of age at the time of appointment as a Police Officer.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law.
• Tattoo Policy: Unless otherwise exempted by the Chief of Police, no employee or volunteer of the Glendale Police Department shall have any visible tattoos, body art, or other skin markings while on duty – in uniform, business attire, or casual dress. Tattoos, body art, and/or other skin markings shall be completely covered by the authorized on-duty uniform (e.g. long sleeve uniform), business attire, or casual dress. Marks or scars from injuries or medical procedures are exempt from these policy restrictions.
• All candidates must pass a pre-placement medical examination and a psychological evaluation.
• Hearing Acceptable as to City standards.
• Within four months of employment, all employees of the Glendale Police Department are required to live within a radius of sixty contiguous land miles of the Glendale Civic Center.
• Must complete the "Law Enforcement - Frontline National" exam through the National Testing Network at www.NationalTestingNetwork.com by October 20, 2026 and no earlier than one (1) year from the time of application. Make sure to select the City of Glendale in order to share your results with our agency.
• Minimum NTN exam passing score: Video Score: 65%, Writing Score: 70%, Reading Score: 70%.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge and/or use of personal computers.

Responsibilities

• Ensures Department services are provided with exceptional customer service and the highest level of ethical standards.
• Responds to calls for service regarding accidents, emergencies, crimes, threats, altercations and/or requests for aid.
• Provides information and assistance to the public.
• Emphasizes a Community-Based Policing philosophy focused on community interaction and collaborative problem solving.
• Administers first aid to injured persons.
• Interviews, interrogates and records statements from witnesses, suspects and victims.
• Identifies relevant facts and prepares written reports on incidents and cases assigned.
• Apprehend suspects by driving safely at high speeds, chasing suspects on foot, climbing over obstacles, physically subduing suspects, utilizing self-defense and arrest control techniques, and utilizing firearms under appropriate conditions.
• Enforces traffic laws, directs traffic, issues citations and warnings.
• Investigates accidents and accident scenes.
• Investigates matters involving juveniles, reports of child neglect and juvenile delinquency.
• Refers juveniles to the appropriate authorities.
• Serves subpoenas, serves warrants, testifies in court, marks and stores evidence, apprehends suspects, makes arrests as prescribed by law, and confers with City/District Attorney's Office to provide information for case preparation.
• Assumes responsibility for ensuring the duties of the position are performed in a safe, efficient manner.
• Performs other related duties as assigned or as the situation requires.

Benefits

• Incentive pays (detective pay, longevity pay, educational (POST certificate) pay)
• Variety of specialized assignments
• Career path opportunities
• Opportunities for advancement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED