Police Officer (Lateral)

City of Sacramento; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Sacramento is seeking a Police Officer (Lateral) to enforce laws and protect the community. The role requires full arrest powers and adherence to POST standards, with eligibility via Basic Certificate or waived certification within three years of appointment.

Candidates must be currently employed as a full-time sworn officer in a CA POST department for lateral entry, with age 21+ and valid CA driver license. Background checks and training are required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Completion of Sacramento Police Academy or alternative entry path.
• Possession of valid California P.O.S.T. Basic Certificate or Waiver.
• Lateral entry requires current full-time sworn experience in a CA POST department.

Responsibilities

• Patrol designated city areas by foot, motorcycle, or vehicle to preserve order and make arrests.
• Respond to radio dispatches and public requests for police services.
• Conduct investigations, gather evidence, interview witnesses, and write reports.
• Promote community policing and engage with residents.
• Provide first aid at incidents and testify in court when required.

Skills

Hazardous conditions driving

Weaponless defense (non-lethal)

First aid / CPR

Education

High school diploma or GED

CA P.O.S.T. Basic Certificate or Waiver

Job description

THIS POSTING IS FOR POLICE OFFICER LATERAL ONLY

Please Note: a candidate must successfully pass a thorough background investigation, including a criminal history check for job-related convictions, fingerprinting, polygraph test, psychological test, credit check, and a drug use history to be considered for this position.

You must have experience as a Police Officer with a law enforcement agency or be in possession of a valid P.O.S.T Basic Certificate or Basic Course Waiver issued by the State of California received within three (3) years of the date of appointment to qualify for this position.

DEFINITION

To provide services through the enforcement of laws and ordinances.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The classification of Police Officer is a journey level classification assigned full arrest and citation powers under the California Penal Code. Police Officer is distinguished from the Police Officer Recruit classification in that it has full police authority to carry out the enforcement of laws and ordinances while the Police Officer Recruit is a recruiting and training-level classification with no police authority. Police Officer is distinguished from the Police Sergeant classification in that it is a journey level classification which has no supervisory responsibilities except for training new employees while the Police Sergeant has supervisory responsibility and directs work of subordinate personnel on a continual basis. Police Officers receive assignments and special instruction from higher ranking officers who also review the Police Officer's work.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

General supervision is provided by higher level sworn personnel. Depending upon assignments, duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Patrol a designated area of the city on foot, on a motorcycle, or in a patrol car, jeep or van to preserve order, prevent crime discover criminal acts, and make arrests.
• Answer radio dispatched or citizens' request for police services at accident scenes, domestic disputes, law violations, and peace disturbances.
• Conduct investigations, gather evidence, interview witnesses, take statements, make arrests, write citations and/or make written reports at crime or accident scenes.
• Promote and ensure a community-based policing philosophy and strategy, in which collaborative problem solving with citizens and other stakeholders is coveted.
• Attend, participate, and represent the department at a variety of community events; participate in community engagement activities; build and maintain relationships with community members.
• Provide first aid to injured or sick subjects.
• Testify in court at criminal hearings and trials.
• Provide traffic control at accident scenes, fires, and congested areas.
• May work in plain clothes to conduct follow-up investigations, and to suppress vice or narcotics activities.
• Conduct line‑ups for identification of suspects.
• Attend community meetings to discuss crime problems.
• Evaluate and control violent situations and persons; emphasize de‑escalation tactics when appropriate.
• Order and direct emergency equipment at accident and disaster scenes. Search for missing persons.
• Drive vehicles under hazardous and emergency conditions. Train new employees in proper police procedures.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

*SEE LATERAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS*

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Federal, state, and city codes and ordinances relating to law enforcement.
• Modern approved principles and procedures of police work.
• Department rules and regulations.
• General Orders and directives.
• City streets and principal locations.
• Court and evidence procedures.
• Court decisions affecting police practices.
• Radio procedures.
• Crisis intervention and de‑escalation tools.

ABILITY TO:

• Communicate in English in a clear, distinct, and understandable manner when speaking to individuals, to people of different socio-economic levels, before various public and community groups, and when testifying in court.
• Write clearly, accurately, concisely, and legibly using correct English, grammatical construction, and spelling.
• Read and interpret complex technical documents in English.
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Observe, assimilate, remember, record, and recall pertinent facts and details.
• Read maps and mapped information.
• Apply selected knowledge (i.e., laws, statutes, court decisions, department policies, criminal investigation theories, etc.) in collecting, organizing, and analyzing a variety of information to decide on an appropriate and reasonable course of action.
• Effectively work with, serve, and communicate impartially with individuals of a variety of culturally diverse and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Analyze problems and rationally and calmly take effective action in emergency and stressful situations.
• Evaluate and de‑escalate stressful and volatile situations.
• Plan and effectively present material orally to diverse groups.
• Deal courteously but firmly with the general public.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with co-workers and other City employees.
• Use firearms safely and accurately.
• Climb barriers, jump obstacles, and perform strenuous physical activities.
• Control resisting subjects with a minimum of force necessary to effect an arrest.
• Use modern computer equipment including but not limited to in car mobile data computers, in car video and audio recording devices, body cameras, electronic mapping and GPS equipment, and specialized tracking equipment.

SKILL IN:

• Driving a vehicle under hazardous conditions.
• The use of ancillary police weaponry and weaponless defense.
• The use of first aid, including but not limited to Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation techniques.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:

EDUCATION:

High school diploma or GED equivalent.

-AND-

EXPERIENCE:

Successful completion of the Sacramento Police Academy as a City of Sacramento Police Officer Recruit or Community Service Officer.

-OR

Possession of a valid California P.O.S.T. Basic Certificate or Basic Course Waiver issued by the State of California.

For basic academy graduates, the certificate or waiver must be received within three (3) years of the date of appointment.

Lateral entry candidates must be currently employed as a full‑time sworn peace officer in a California P.O.S.T.-recognized law enforcement agency and have two (2) years as a full‑time sworn peace officer in a California P.O.S.T participating law enforcement department or agency.

PROOF OF CERTIFICATION

Proof of the required certificate and/or license should be submitted with your application and will be required at the time of appointment. Unofficial documents and/or copies are acceptable.

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS

Age:

Must be at least 21 years of age by the date of appointment.

Driver License:

Possession of a valid California Class C Driver license at the time of appointment. Loss of the license is cause for discipline.

Respiratory Protective Equipment:

Work in this class requires wearing respiratory protective equipment at times. When assigned to such work, facial hair must be shaven when it interferes with the safe fitting of respiratory protective equipment.

Felony Convictions:

Free of felony convictions under California Government Code Section 1029.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD

Employees hired as a lateral entry must complete twelve (12) months of probation at a satisfactory performance level prior to gaining permanent status. All other employees must complete eighteen (18) months of probation at a satisfactory performance level prior to gaining permanent status.

Please note, the City of Sacramento's preferred method of communication with applicants is via e‑mail. As such, please ensure you verify the e-mail address on your application, and check your e‑mail frequently, including your spam and junk folders. All e‑mail notifications can also be accessed through the governmentjobs.com applicant inbox.