Police Officer (Entry-Level)

City of San Bruno; San Bruno (CA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

CalPERS retirement benefits

Tuition reimbursement

Medical, dental and vision benefits

Job summary

The City of San Bruno is looking for qualified candidates for the Entry-Level Police Officer position. This is a great opportunity for those interested in starting a career in law enforcement without prior experience.

Candidates will receive full compensation while attending the Police Academy, with duties including city patrols and emergency response. Benefits include competitive retirement plans, health coverage, and vacation days. The ideal candidate is motivated, service-oriented, and excels in communication.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• No felony convictions.
• Valid California Driver’s License.

Responsibilities

• Conduct city patrols to ensure public safety.
• Respond to emergencies and criminal incidents.
• Perform traffic enforcement and community interactions.

Skills

Customer service experience

Strong communication skills

Problem-solving ability

Time management

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

2-year or 4-year degree preferred

Job description

About the Team

Join the San Bruno Police Department, a professional and progressive agency highly respected by the community. Our team is dedicated to public safety, community service, and fostering a positive impact through collaboration and integrity.

About this Role

The Entry‑Level Police Officer position is an exciting opportunity for individuals interested in beginning a meaningful career in law enforcement. This position does not require any prior law‑enforcement experience. Selected candidates will receive full compensation while attending the Police Academy and participating in the Field Training Program. Duties include city patrols, emergency response, criminal investigations, arrests, traffic enforcement, community interaction, and various assignments designed to ensure public safety.

San Bruno Police Department provides opportunities for career advancement and specialization, including roles such as Detective, K9 Handler, Motorcycle Officer, School Resource Officer, SWAT, Hostage Negotiator, Narcotics Officer, DEA Task Force Agent, and more.

How to Succeed in This Role

• Learn and apply laws, ordinances, and department policies effectively.
• Provide exceptional service when assisting the public with inquiries and concerns.
• Work collaboratively with other departments and law enforcement agencies.
• Maintain accurate records and reports with attention to detail.
• Adapt to different situations, from office work to field investigations.
• Stay composed under pressure and handle stress professionally.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a motivated, service‑oriented professional who:

• Has experience in a customer‑facing role and an interest in law enforcement.
• Possesses strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrates excellent problem‑solving and decision‑making abilities.
• Builds positive relationships with community members and coworkers.
• Can manage time efficiently and maintain performance under pressure.
• Embraces diversity and respects different cultural backgrounds.
• Is proactive, detail‑oriented, and able to handle sensitive information with discretion.

Benefits

San Bruno offers competitive benefits including:

• CalPERS retirement formula of 3% @ 50 for classic members or 2.7% @ 57 for new members
• Education incentive pay up to 8.5%
• Annual accruals of 10-23 vacation days based on years of service, 14.5 holidays and 12 sick days
• Opportunity for bilingual incentive pay up to 2.5%
• Annual uniform allowance
• Deferred compensation (457) Plans
• Medical, dental and vision benefits provided with employee contribution
• Life Insurance equal to one year’s annual salary provided at no cost
• Long‑term disability insurance provided at no cost
• Home loan assistance program
• Section 125 Flexible Benefit Plan
• Tuition reimbursement

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent (2‑year or 4‑year degree preferred).
• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• No felony convictions.
• U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Resident Alien eligible and applied for citizenship.
• Valid California Driver’s License.
• Candidates must achieve a minimum score of 48 on the PELLETB and 320 on the WTSB within the past 12 months and pass the 1.5‑mile run.
• Ability to pass a rigorous background investigation.

How to Apply

Interested applicants must apply online at BambooHR. This is a continuous recruitment, and applications will be accepted on a continuous basis. This recruitment may close at any time without notice.

The City of San Bruno utilizes a merit‑based selection system. Such a system is competitive and based on broad outreach efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to participate in a process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the position.

Applicants selected to move forward in the process may be asked to participate in any combination of the following (at any phase of the selection process): a written examination, job‑related exercise, physical test or job simulation, phone interview, in‑person or video interview(s), and/or web‑based testing.

Successful candidates will be required to complete an extensive background investigation, which includes completion of a Personal History Questionnaire, and DOJ and FBI Live Scan clearance.

The City of San Bruno is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities.