Entry Level Police Officer (Public Safety Trainee)

City-of-Oxnar; Oxnard (CA); On-site; USD 99,000 - 149,000; Full time

Job summary

The Oxnard Police Department is seeking applicants to establish an eligibility list for the position of Entry Level Police Officer (Public Safety Trainee). Selected candidates will enter a 23-week POST-certified Police Academy and, upon successful completion, proceed to the field training program as a probationary Police Officer in the Patrol Division.

Pay rates: during the academy $34.93 hourly; after graduation, $47.45–$71.76 hourly (about $98,703–$149,279 annually).

Qualifications

• Must be 21 years of age at time of application.
• High school graduate, pass GED/CA Proficiency or have higher degree.
• Valid California driver license or ability to obtain one at hire.

Skills

English proficiency

Education

High School Diploma/GED

College desirable

Job description

The Oxnard Police Department

The Oxnard Police Department is seeking candidates to establish an eligibility list for the position of Entry Level Police Officer (Public Safety Trainee) with current vacancies to fill!

PAY RATES: Entry Level Police Officer: (during the academy) $34.93 hourly. Successful Police Academy Graduates: $47.45 - $71.76 hourly, approximately $98,703 - $149,279 annually.

UPCOMING EXAM DATES

• Friday, August 7, 2026
• Friday, September 4, 2026
• Friday, October 2, 2026
• Friday, November 13, 2026
• Friday, December 11, 2026

All sessions will offer a morning session and an afternoon session.

*Dates may be subject to change. You will receive an email communication inviting you to the written exam with the exact test dates.

To learn more about the Police Department, we welcome you to view our department's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8eWAntFN70

We also encourage you to visit our website at Join the Oxnard Police Department

Candidates selected for hire will enter into a 23-week Police Academy as a Public Safety Trainee. As a trainee, you will attend a POST-certified Police Academy designed to provide an overview of the criminal justice system, train in various laws and procedures, law enforcement techniques, first aid, physical fitness, and related duties. Upon successful completion of the Police Academy, trainees enter the Oxnard Police Department field training program and are assigned to the Patrol Division in a probationary status.

Age

Must be 21 years of age at time of application.

US Citizen

In accordance with Government Code Section 1031, effective January 1, 2023, peace officers must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law. There are no specific citizenship requirements.

High School Grad/GED

High school graduate, pass the General Education Development (GED) Test indicating high school graduation level California High School Proficiency Examination, or have attained a two-year, four-year, or advanced degree from a college or university. The high school shall be a United States public school, an accredited United States Department of school, or an accredited or approved public or non-public high school.

Driver's License

Valid California driver license or ability to obtain one at the time of hire.

Ability to Read/Speak English

Required.

Vision

Must meet vision requirements per California POST Medical Standards.

College

Highly Desirable.

Prior Experience

No experience required.

Additional Requirements

Convictions: Must be of good moral character, with no felony convictions.

Medical: Must meet California POST medical and psychological standards.

Other: Candidates are required to undergo an extensive background investigation, polygraph examination, post-offer psychological evaluation, and post-offer medical examination, including screening for drugs and alcohol.

NOTE

After you apply, all future correspondence from the City will be via e-mail. Please check your messages, including your spam, regularly and be sure to update the contact information contained in your on-line application.

APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE REVIEW

A review of application and supplemental questionnaire will be conducted and applicants meeting the minimum qualifications and desired background experience for successful performance as a Public Safety Trainee will continue in the next step of the process.

WRITTEN EXAMINATION

Applicants must successfully meet the written examination requirement and submit qualifying POST PELLET-B exam results WITH their application or FrontLine National Written examination test results through National Testing Network (NTN).

Both the POST Pellet-B exam results and NTN test must have been administered within one year of application submittal.

To view information on the POST Pellet-B test, https://post.ca.gov/portals/0/post_docs/publications/poWrittenPracticeTest.pdf

FrontLine National Testing Network (NTN) Exam

There are three components to the written examination: a video-based human relations test, a reading ability test, and a written language ability test. Testing takes approximately 2 ½ hours.

Upon completion of the written examination, NTN will provide applicant scores to the City of Oxnard Human Resources Department. Applicants who attain a passing score on the written examination will be placed on the City's eligibility list.

Applicants are encouraged to take the written exam and submit an application as soon as possible as recruitment may close at any time.

ELIGIBILITY LIST

Applicants that meet the written examination requirement by providing NTN test scores or passing the NTN written examination will be certified to an eligibility list, which will be sent to the Police Department for further consideration.

PERSONAL HISTORY STATEMENT COMPLETION

All applicants certified to the eligibility list are required to complete the POST Personal History Statement (PHS). Applicants will be notified by the Police Department via e-mail with instructions and a deadline for the Personal History Statement. Applicants should not submit a Personal History Statement until they are requested to do so. If an applicant fails to return the PHS by the required deadline, they will be eliminated from continuing in the recruitment process.

DEPARTMENT SELECTION INTERVIEWS

Upon review of the completed Personal History Statement candidates may be invited to an interview with the Police Department.

PHYSICAL AGILITY TEST

Applicants who are successful in the department selection interview may be invited to participate in the physical agility test. The Physical Agility Test consists of the following components:

• Agility Run: Run a 99-yard course with abrupt changes in lateral and vertical movement in 34 seconds
• Dummy Drag: Lift and drag a 165-pound dummy 25 feet in 10 seconds
• Fence Climb/Run: Run 5 yards, climb a six-foot high chain-link fence, continue running 25 yards in 15 seconds
• 1 Mile Run: Run 1 mile with no obstacles in 10 minutes
• Push-Ups: Complete 15 push-ups in 1 minute

FINAL SELECTION AND HIRING COMPONENTS

The final selection hiring components include: polygraph, background investigation, post-offer psychological and medical examinations.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

The City of Oxnard is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from all qualified applicants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, medical condition, disability or sexual orientation.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

The City of Oxnard makes reasonable accommodation for people/individuals with disabilities. If you believe you require special arrangements to participate in the testing process, you must inform the Human Resources Department in writing no later than the filing date. Applicants who request such accommodation must document their request with an explanation of the type and extent of accommodation required.

LEGAL REQUIREMENT

On the first day of employment, new employees must provide proof of citizenship or documentation of legal right to work in the United States in compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, as amended. The City participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. For more information on E-Verify, please contact DHS. 888-897-7781 dhs.gov/e-verify.

CONTACT FOR QUESTIONS

For questions, please contact Vivian Morales at [e-mail].

NOTE

The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.