Police Officer Trainee

City of Pittsburg • Pittsburg, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The City of Pittsburg in California seeks Police Officer Trainees for the Police Department. The City is seeking candidates for Police Office Trainee who will be sponsored for the 26-week law enforcement academy. The Police Officer Trainee position is an outstanding opportunity for individuals with a desire to begin a career in law enforcement. The Police Officer Trainee is an entry-level, non-sworn training position in the Police Department. Incumbents are assigned to the Basic Peace Officer Academy and must satisfactorily pass all of the requirements that lead to the possession of the Basic Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Academy Certificate before becoming candidates for the sworn position of Police Officer. Police Officer Trainees are provided with medical, dental, and vision benefits while attending the academy. Assignment to Police Officer Trainee is temporary.

Requirements

• Ability to learn operating procedures of a public safety department
• Ability to learn various federal, state, and local laws, codes and regulations; principles of crime prevention and suppression
• Demonstrates a high level of ethical behavior
• Great interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with other City Departments, outside agencies, and members of the public
• Ability to act quickly and calmly in emergency conditions and situations
• Strong attention to detail to remember names, faces and information about incidents
• Demonstrates excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent leadership skills; values teamwork
• Ability to operate a police vehicle, firearms, and other law enforcement equipment
• Demonstrates an understanding of community-oriented policing and problem-solving strategies
• Adaptive, flexible and tolerant of the continued evolution of policing
• Culturally competent and accepting of diverse ideas, thoughts and suggestions
• Successfully complete the P.O.S.T. Basic Police Academy.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Learn, understand and interpret laws and regulations.
• Learn to implement and enforce laws, policies, regulations, guidelines and orders concerning the protection of life, property and the maintenance of law, order and peace.
• Observe and accurately recall names, faces, numbers, incidents and places.
• Think and act quickly in emergency situations.
• Analyze situations and adopt effective courses of action.
• Exercise sound judgment, often under pressure.
• Understand and carry out written and oral directions.
• Write at a fast rate of speed to prepare accurate and factual written reports.
• Perform basic math computations.
• Safely operate motor vehicles.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with co-workers, supervisors, public officials and representative of other agencies.
• Utilize computers and computer software, as required.
• Learn to meet the minimum standards of use with department-issued or approved lethal and non-lethal weapons.
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions and prioritize workload to meet deadlines.
• Read, write and comprehend the English language at a level necessary for effective job performance exercising correct English usage, vocabulary, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Communicate effectively, tactfully and positively in both oral and written form.
• Operate and use modern office equipment and technology, including computers and applicable software.
• Maintain regular attendance and adhere to prescribed work schedule to conduct job responsibilities.
• Utilize appropriate safety procedures and practices for assigned duties.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Contribute effectively to the accomplishments of City goals, objectives and activities.
• Equivalent to graduation from high school and any full or part-time work experience of a length to demonstrate good work habits.
• Possession at the time of hire and continued maintenance of a valid California Class C driver’s license.
• Must be at least 21 years of age at the time of appointment.
• 20/80 vision in each eye without corrective lens, or visual acuity separately correctable to 20/40 or better. Applicants' distant binocular acuity must be at least 20/80 in both eyes with or without corrective lenses.
• Must have normal color vision and normal hearing acuity.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Class C California driver’s license and proof of auto liability insurance is required.
• Satisfactory completion of a thorough background investigation.
• Must have not been convicted for a crime which could have resulted in state or federal imprisonment.
• Successful completion of drug screen, medical, psychological, and polygraph examinations.
• Applicants must possess or acquire a P.O.S.T. T-score of 44 or higher issued within the last twelve (12) months.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in a police environment
• Completion of college-level course work related to law enforcement is preferred.
• Current enrollment in, and attendance at, a California POST Basic Police Academy is required at time of application.

Responsibilities

• Attend the Police Academy to gain training and proficiency in law enforcement terminology, concepts, and techniques, and to gain the requisite knowledge to be eligible to perform the duties of a sworn peace officer.
• Ride with officers to observe and learn peace officer responsibilities and techniques.
• Operate police information equipment, including computer systems, teletypes and telephones to enter and research information at the direction of an Officer or police civilian.
• Assist in processing, packaging, labeling, storing and destroying property and evidence; may provide assistance with photocopies, files, indexes and locating police records and related paperwork.
• Perform errands for the department such as transporting information and paperwork to court and district attorney offices.
• Represent the City with dignity, integrity, and the spirit of cooperation in all relations with staff and the public.
• Foster an environment that embraces integrity, service, inclusion and collaboration.
• Be an integral team player, which involves flexibility, cooperation, and communication.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other City employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• medical, dental, and vision benefits while attending the academy
• CALPERS retirement
• medical/dental/vision insurance
• paid life insurance
• retirement health saving account
• deferred compensation plan with employer match
• paid time off
• tuition reimbursement
• wellness activities
• employee assistance program
• employee development courses
• career advancement opportunities
• Shift Differential: 2% or 4.5% depending on shift
• Call out Pay: 4 hours minimum OT
• POST Certificate: 2.5% for Intermediate or 5% for Advanced
• Educational Degree: 2.5% for Bachelors
• Bilingual Pay: 4%
• Special Assignment Pay up to 5%
• Longevity Pay up to 7.5% (based on years of service with Pittsburg and outside sworn service)
• Uniform Allowance: $1000 per year
• $4,000 Tuition Reimbursement per year
• Vacation Buyback program
• Retirement Health Saving Plan
• 96% to 100% of Medical, Vision, and Dental premium paid by employer

What This Job Offers

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