Police Recruit (Internal Recruitment)

City of Fountain Valley • Fountain Valley, CA

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Fountain Valley Police Department is seeking motivated, service-oriented individuals to join our Police Department as Police Recruits. This is a unique opportunity to begin a meaningful law enforcement career rooted in community trust, professionalism, and teamwork. Police Recruits will attend a California Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) approved Basic Police Recruit Academy at the City's expense. Upon successful completion of the academy and field training program, recruits will be sworn in as Police Officers with the Fountain Valley Police Department. The department is headed by Chief of Police Craig Heredia and is structured into two primary divisions: the Patrol Division and the Support Services Division. The department's mission is to demonstrate the courage to protect life and property in our community; the duty to provide the highest quality of service in a fair, impartial and ethical manner; and the commitment to take a leadership role in providing public safety and quality of life in a manner that will preserve the public trust.

Requirements

• High School graduation or equivalent or possession of a General Education Development Test (GED) certificate is required.
• Possession of a valid California Class "C" driver's license.
• Must be a current City of Fountain Valley Employee.
• Candidates must take one (1) of the following two written examinations and attach the results to this application: FrontLine National exam through the National Testing Network with a score of 70% or above in each of the three (3) components (video-based human relations test, reading ability test and report writing test). The FrontLine exam must be submitted to the City through the National Testing Network's portal.
• OR P.O.S.T. Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) T-Score of 45 or above. P.O.S.T. T-Scores must have been issued within the last twelve (12) months of application submission.
• Free from any disqualifications for employment, including felony convictions
• Legally authorized to work in the United States by federal law
• At least 21 years of age at the time of appointment
• Fingerprinted for purposes of search of local, state, and national fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record
• Of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation
• Found to be free from any physical, emotional, or mental condition, including bias against race or ethnicity, gender, nationality, religion, disability, or sexual orientation, which might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of a peace officer.
• Candidates must have normal hearing acuity. Refer to POST Hearing Guidelines
• Candidates must have a vision of 20/70 uncorrected, correctable to 20/20, and normal color vision. Refer to POST Vision Guidelines.
• Candidates must have height and weight in accordance with age, sex, and frame.

Responsibilities

• Attend and successfully complete a California P.O.S.T. approved Basic Police Recruit Academy
• Learn California laws, defensive tactics, firearms, emergency response, and ethical policing
• Develop communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Prepare for transition into sworn Police Officer duties, including patrol, investigations, and community engagement
• Protect life and property
• Enforce laws with fairness, integrity, and professionalism
• Build positive relationships with residents, businesses, and community partners
• Respond to calls for service and emergencies
• Participate in proactive policing and crime prevention efforts

Benefits

• Hiring Incentive Bonus for Police Recruits! $5,000 paid in two (2) installments: $2,500 upon graduation from the Police Academy and Sworn in as a Police Officer; and $2,500 after successfully completing the probationary period.
• Ongoing training
• Specialty assignments
• Opportunities for advancement
• Wellness programs
• Family support
• Sustainability in policing

What This Job Offers

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