Police Officer/Lateral Transfer

City of Santa Monica•Santa Monica, CA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Police Officer enforces laws and maintains order; protects life and property; prevents crime; and contributes to the welfare of the Santa Monica community. Officers patrol assigned areas in vehicles, on bicycles, motorcycles, horses, all-terrain/beach vehicles, and on foot. They respond to calls for service and emergencies, assist the public, investigate offenses and collisions, prepare reports, make arrests, transport prisoners, issue citations, serve warrants and subpoenas, direct traffic, and testify in court. Officers observe and report hazards and problems with city property and equipment, maintain proficiency with firearms and other police equipment, attend required training, and work with supervisors, peers, and the public to address recurring law-enforcement issues. The role receives technical supervision from a Police Sergeant or higher-level sworn classification and may provide technical supervision to non-sworn personnel. The position is with the Santa Monica Police Department. Applicants for lateral transfer must be currently employed as sworn peace officers in California and meet the stated education, academy, certification, licensing, citizenship or permanent-residency, background, and other requirements. Following the selection process, candidates must successfully complete a medical examination, including a treadmill stress test and drug screen. The job is performed indoors and outdoors in seasonal weather and involves frequent exposure to slippery or oily surfaces, dust, dirt, odors, and noise from traffic and police radios. Weekend, evening, holiday, on-call, and overtime availability is required. The posting lists a five-step base salary range of $116,004 to $143,208, with additional compensation opportunities and incentives. Benefits described include medical, dental, and vision coverage, a flexible spending account, retirement plans, vacation and sick leave, and tuition reimbursement, among other items.

Requirements

High school graduation or equivalent.
Completion of a California P.O.S.T.-approved police academy.
One year of full-time, paid experience as a sworn peace officer with an organized local government agency.
Currently employed as a sworn peace officer in California.
Valid Class C driver's license.
Regular Basic California P.O.S.T. Certificate.
Be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident alien eligible for and having applied for U.S. citizenship; resident aliens must obtain citizenship within three years from the date of application.
Upon hire, be a non-user of tobacco products.
Pass an extensive background investigation; must not have a conviction for a misdemeanor involving domestic violence or a felony.
Maintain California residency and live within a 95-mile radius of the Santa Monica Police Department.
Knowledge of law-enforcement codes, crime-prevention methods, rules of evidence, laws of arrest, investigation and identification techniques, and traffic and crowd control.
Knowledge of grammar and composition principles and effective customer-service techniques.
Ability to follow written and oral instructions and applicable safety rules and regulations.
Ability to make decisions under pressure, including in life-threatening situations.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing and respond tactfully to public inquiries.
Ability to be sensitive to issues affecting the quality of life of residents, guests, and visitors and provide effective customer service.
Ability to establish and maintain effective, cooperative working relationships with City employees and the general public.
Ability to read, write, and communicate at an appropriate level and assess situations to determine the proper course of action.

Responsibilities

Patrol assigned areas using marked or unmarked vehicles, bicycles, motorcycles, horses, all-terrain/beach vehicles, and on foot to prevent crime and enforce laws and ordinances.
Maintain law and order, answer inquiries, assist the public, and respond appropriately to requests for police services.
Investigate offenses, collisions, and other incidents and prepare reports.
Make arrests, transport arrestees and prisoners, issue citations, and serve warrants and subpoenas.
Direct traffic and appear and testify in court, both on and off duty.
Observe and report hazards, abandoned or damaged vehicles or property, and malfunctions of city-owned equipment such as streetlights and traffic-control devices.
Practice and maintain proficiency with firearms and other police weapons and equipment.
Attend training courses as required by P.O.S.T. and the Chief of Police.
Analyze recurring patrol and specialized problems or hazards with supervisors, peers, and service clientele, and participate in developing long-term resolutions to law-enforcement problems and issues.
Respond to calls for police service, major traffic collisions, and other emergencies.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Maintain a qualifying score at the shooting range as established by the Santa Monica Police Department.

Benefits

Medical insurance: choice of 12 CalPERS medical plans; the City pays 89% of the premium for the employee and eligible dependents.
Cash-in-lieu payment for employees who waive medical coverage because of a spouse's medical coverage.
Dental insurance through HMO and PPO plans, with premiums fully paid by the City for the employee and eligible dependents.
Vision insurance, with premiums fully paid by the City for the employee and eligible dependents.
Flexible spending account for qualifying health and dependent-care expenses.
Employee Assistance Program for employees and household members, with premiums fully paid by the City.
CalPERS retirement; employees are vested after five years. The posting also describes a voluntary 457(b) supplemental retirement plan.
Monthly City contribution to a retiree premium reimbursement trust for eligible separated employees.
Vacation leave, with vacation cash-out opportunities based on service.
Sick leave, with cash-out of eligible accrued unused leave under the stated formula.
Tuition reimbursement for eligible full-time employees who have passed probation, up to $2,500 per fiscal year.
Longevity pay.
Educational incentive pay for qualifying P.O.S.T. certificates or degrees.
Bilingual pay.
Uniform allowance.
Holiday pay or pay in lieu of holidays.
Annual sick-leave cash-out.
Additional compensation opportunities including K9, overtime, FTO, film assignments, call-back pay, telephone-calls pay, wellness hour, military leave, paid parental leave, bereavement leave, FMLA, personal-leave cash-out, and employee parking.