Police Officer - Lateral

Town of Mammoth Lakes; Mammoth Lakes (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Signing bonus

Relocation reimbursement

Town-sponsored condo occupancy

RHS health savings support

Employer-paid health insurance

Job summary

Town of Mammoth Lakes seeks a Police Officer to perform patrol, enforce traffic laws, and support community policing. You will conduct investigations, respond to emergencies, and collaborate with other agencies. POST-certified officers with a California license are encouraged to apply.

Compensation includes a base salary with a comprehensive benefits package, a signing bonus, relocation assistance, and potential housing support as part of total compensation.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of police methods, procedures, and investigations.
• Understanding of traffic control, evidence, and report writing.
• Ability to communicate clearly and work with the public.

Responsibilities

• Patrol Town in radio-equipped car and enforce laws.
• Respond to traffic incidents and emergencies; control traffic.
• Make arrests, interview victims and suspects, and preserve evidence.
• Prepare arrest and activity reports for court.
• Coordinate with other agencies and participate in community events.
• Administer first aid and support animal control duties.

Skills

Police methods and procedures

Public and community relations

First aid techniques

Education

POST-certified

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

DEFINITION

To perform law enforcement and crime prevention work; to control traffic flow and enforce state and local traffic regulations; to perform investigative work; to participate in and provide support and assistance to special department crime prevention and enforcement programs; to take an active role in community-based policing and facilitate familiarization between law enforcement and community residents; and to assist the public.

Description

To perform law enforcement and crime prevention work; to control traffic flow and enforce state and local traffic regulations; to perform investigative work; to participate in and provide support and assistance to special department crime prevention and enforcement programs; to take an active role in community-based policing and facilitate familiarization between law enforcement and community residents; and to assist the public.

A Police Officer is considered Lateral if they possess a California Basic Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Certificate and have successfully completed the probationary period at a California law enforcement agency.

Law enforcement officers from other states are invited to apply if they possess equivalent qualifications, have completed the California POST Regular Basic Course Waiver application and training process, and have a letter from the California POST Basic Course Waiver Unit to attend the 161-hour Requalification Course in person in California, which must be attached at the time of application. If these criteria are not met, an application may be rejected as incomplete.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general supervision from sworn administrative and supervisory staff.

Duties Include, But Are Not Limited To

• Patrol Town in radio-equipped car; answer calls for the protection of life and property, and the enforcement of Town, county, and state laws; conduct both preliminary and follow-up investigations of disturbances, prowlers, burglaries, thefts, hold-ups, vehicle accidents, death, and other criminal incidents.
• Respond to calls related to traffic incidents and any other required emergencies; observe, monitor, and control routine and unusual traffic conditions; assist and advise motorists and enforce traffic safety laws.
• Make arrests as necessary; interview victims, complainants, and witnesses; interrogate suspects; gather and preserve evidence; testify and present evidence in court.
• Contact and cooperate with other law enforcement agencies in matters relating to the apprehension of offenders and the investigation of offenses.
• Prepare reports of arrests made, activities performed, and unusual incidents observed.
• Stop drivers who are operating vehicles in violation of laws; warn drivers against unlawful practices; issue citations and make arrests as necessary.
• Check buildings for physical security.
• Search, fingerprint, and transport prisoners.
• Direct traffic at fires, special events, and other emergency or congested situations.
• Maintain contact with citizens regarding potential law enforcement problems; preserve good relationships with the general public to promote and participate in proactive policing.
• Attend, participate, and represent the department at a variety of community, public, and school events, building and maintaining relationships with residents of and visitors to the Town.
• Perform special investigative and crime prevention duties as required.
• Administer first aid, as necessary.
• Animal Control - Contact aggressive or wild animals (i.e. bears, deer); contact and capture domesticated animals (i.e. cats, dogs); use of lethal and less lethal weapons against bears; quarantine animals; write reports; issue citations; register animals; work with animal shelters; euthanize animals.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Police methods and procedures, including patrol, crime prevention, traffic control, investigations, and identification techniques, police records and reports, and first aid techniques.
• Criminal law with reference to the apprehension, arrest, and custody of persons committing misdemeanors and felonies, including rules of evidence pertaining to the search and seizure and the preservation of evidence in traffic and criminal cases.
• Principles and techniques used in public and community relations as they relate to law enforcement activities.
• Modern office practices, procedures, methods, and equipment.

Ability To

• Observe accurately and remember faces, numbers, incidents, and places.
• Learn to use and care for firearms.
• Think and act quickly in emergencies and judge situations and people accurately.
• Learn, understand, and interpret laws and regulations.
• Prepare accurate and grammatically correct written reports.
• Learn standard broadcasting procedures of a police radio system.
• Understand and carry out oral and written directions.
• Meet the physical requirements established by the Department.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Foster and contribute to a work environment that supports and exhibits honesty, diversity, integrity, trust, and respect.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Use physical force in taking uncooperative suspects into custody.

Experience And Training

Education

Completion of POST-approved academy including all physical requirements of academy.

Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade. An associate of arts degree from an accredited college with major course work in police science, criminal justice, or a related field is highly desirable.

Experience

One year of continuous law enforcement experience.

Licenses

Possession of an appropriate, valid California Basic P.O.S.T. certificate.

Possession of, or ability to obtain within the state required timeframe of ten (10) days within residency, an appropriate, valid California driver’s license.

Disclaimer

Should the requalification process for out-of-state officers be approved for Town-sponsorship, officers are compensated at the established Police Recruit rate until successfully requalifying and being appointed to a sworn position with the Town of Mammoth Lakes. Individuals hired under this scenario may not be eligible for certain recruitment incentives.

All Employment is conditioned on the results of any and all applicable pre-employment checks.

Total Compensation Includes Special Compensation And Excellent Benefits, Like...

• Guaranteed 3% increase July 2027
• 6.9% in lieu of holidays off
• Eligibility for:
• Longevity Pay up to 9% for ALL sworn law enforcement experience
• POST Pay up to 7.5%
• Bilingual Pay for Spanish proficiency up to 5%
• Special Assignment Pay up to 7.5%
• Excellent Benefits!
• CalPERS Retirement: Classic 3% @ 50; PEPRA 2.7% @ 57
• $25,000 signing bonus
• Up to $5,000 relocation reimbursement
• Up to 6 months occupancy in Town-sponsored condo
• Employer contributions to Retirement Health Savings (RHS) Account up to $4,500 per year
• 100% Employer-paid Health Insurance premiums, including for eligible dependents
• Vision/Dental Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) up to $1,500 per employee & $800 per eligible dependent per fiscal year
• 100% Employer-paid Life Insurance, including for eligible dependents; 100% Employer-paid AD&D for employees
• 80 hours of Comprehensive Leave at start of employment, plus total accruals up to 180 hours per year
• Sick Leave up to 96 hours per year

Learn more about total compensation and benefits in the Mammoth Lakes Police Officers Association Memorandum of Understanding.

Compensation shown on this posting is the base pay scale, in compliance with the California Equal Pay Act. However, please note that, "An employee will be appointed at the minimum rate for the class...Advancements in salary shall be based on a merit system...Step A [the minimum rate] will be the starting hiring rate...Employees shall be eligible for advancement to steps within the salary range upon satisfactory completion of an annual performance evaluation." (Town of Mammoth Lakes Personnel Rules, Articles 4.5, 4.7, 4.8)