Police Officer (Non-Certified)

City of Yuma; Yuma (AZ); On-site; USD 43,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Yuma seeks an entry-level police officer to attend an AZ POST-certified academy and complete the comprehensive hiring process. The role requires demonstrating integrity, physical fitness, and the ability to interact respectfully with the public.

Candidates must meet the minimum qualifications, including U.S. citizenship, age 21 by graduation, and a high school diploma or GED. The process includes written exams, POPAT, and background investigations.

Qualifications

• Be a United States citizen.
• Must be 21 years of age by the academy graduation date.
• Must have a high school diploma or GED equivalency.
• Be in sound medical, physical, and mental health.
• Meet AZ POST and Yuma Police Department drug standards.
• Must pass a comprehensive background investigation including a polygraph.

Responsibilities

• Acquire knowledge of police methods and apply them in accordance with regulations.
• Interact with diverse populations; maintain public order; enforce laws and ordinances.
• Learn through lectures and written material; perform physical conditioning and testing.
• Maintain confidentiality of work-related issues and City information.
• Promote City goals, values and the Yuma Way in public interactions.

Skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Problem solving

Critical thinking

De-escalation

Calm under pressure

Teamwork

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

PAY INFORMATION

The City of Yuma follows a 10-step pay plan ranging from $31.3601 to $44.19 per hour. Non-certified applicants will start at the entry-level rate of $31.3601 per hour.

SELECTION PROCESS

All applications will be screened by Human Resources for the minimum requirements. All applicants will be notified of their status by email. Candidates that meet the minimum requirements will be required to complete a Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ).

HIRING PROCESS

The following steps must be successfully completed prior to hire. Steps may not occur in the order listed. Applicants will receive email notification prior to each step:

• Written Examination
  • Candidates will be invited to complete an online Police Entry Level Exam.
  • Candidates may purchase a study guide and/or practice test.
• Peace Officer Physical Aptitude Test (POPAT)
  • Information regarding the POPAT and minimum standards for certification can be found on the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZ POST) website. The Yuma Police Department may utilize agency discretion regarding the AZPOST minimum qualifications.
• Oral Interview
• Background Interview - PHQ required for this step (See link in the Selection Process section).
• Background Investigation
• Polygraph Exam
• Psychological Exam
• Medical/Drug Screening
• Police Academy

Under close supervision, attends an approved Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board basic training academy to obtain Arizona Peace Officer Certification.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: --

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed below; reasonable accommodations will be made as required. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change at any time by the employer. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Acquire knowledge of police methods, practices, procedures and techniques, and apply them in accordance with established regulations.
• Learn and perform the responsibilities of an entry-level Arizona peace officer, including interacting with diverse populations; exercising discretion; maintaining public order; preventing crime; enforcing laws and ordinances; conducting investigations; making arrests; and assisting the public.
• Learn job-related material through structured lectures and written material.
• Participates in physical conditioning training and testing and maintains required levels of physical fitness.
• Adheres to AZ POST academy rules and regulations.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Supports the relationship between the City and the general public by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with citizens, visitors, and City staff; promotes the City goals and priorities, vision, values and the "Yuma Way", and complies with all City policies and procedures.
• Maintains absolute confidentiality of work-related issues and City information.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Be a United States citizen.
• Must be 21 years of age by the academy graduation date.
• Must have a high school diploma or GED equivalency.
• Be in sound medical, physical, and mental health.
• Have at least 20/20 vision uncorrected; or 20/20 vision corrected by glasses or hard contact lenses if uncorrected acuity is 20/80 or better; 20/20 vision corrected by soft contact lenses if uncorrected acuity is 20/200 or better. Vision capable of distinguishing basic color groups against a favorable background.
• Must meet AZ P.O.S.T. and Yuma Police Department drug standards.
• Must have good moral character and personal integrity.
• Must successfully pass a comprehensive background investigation including a polygraph.

Knowledge of:

• City policies and procedures.
• Safe work practices, occupational hazards and safety precautions.

Skill in:

• Maintaining academic and professional standards in accordance with YPD policies
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong problem-solving and critical- thinking skills
• Ability to learn, understand, and apply training materials and instructions.
• Remaining calm and composed in stressful situations.
• De-escalating situations and preventing harm.

LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

A valid Arizona State Driver's License is required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in both classroom and field training environments and requires strenuous physical effort. Candidates must meet all physical standards of the AZPOST Academy and demonstrate physical, mental and emotional capability to perform the essential duties of a police officer.

Police officers are expected to be well-groomed, possess high moral standards, work effectively in a team environment, communicate clearly both verbally and in writing, and work a rotating shift schedule.

AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFIERS

The City of Yuma Police Department and/or Arizona POST will automatically disqualify any individual who has at any time; be aware that Arizona POST follows federal guidelines for drug usage:

• Been convicted of a felony or any offense that would be a felony if committed in Arizona
• Been dishonorably discharged from the United States armed forces
• Been previously denied certified status, have certified status revoked or have current certified status suspended
• Illegally sold, produced, cultivated, or transported for sale marijuana or dangerous drugs/narcotics
• Used marijuana for any purpose within the past six (6) months
• Illegally used marijuana, dangerous drugs/narcotics while employed or appointed as a peace officer
• Illegally used a dangerous drug or narcotic, other than marijuana, for any purpose within the past seven years
• Ever illegally used a dangerous drug or narcotic other than for experimentation. Experimentation is defined as not exceeding a total of 5 times lifetime or exceeding one time, since attaining the age of 21. This includes, but not limited to, cocaine/crack, heroin, opium, morphine, LSD/acid, methamphetamine/speed, peyote, mescaline, or derivatives thereof
• Have a pattern of abusing prescription medication
• Convicted of or adjudged to have violated traffic regulations governing the movement of vehicles with such an frequency so as to indicate disrespect for the traffic laws and disregard for the safety of other persons on the highway within the past three years
• Been previously employed with a law enforcement agency and since has committed or violated federal, state, or city laws pertaining to criminal activity
• Lied during any stage of the hiring process, falsified any information on the application or background questionnaire
• Conviction of domestic violence crime, misdemeanor, or felony or conviction of a lesser charge, which at the time of occurrence was a domestic violence crime

For additional information regarding the Yuma Police Department, please visit Yuma Police Department Hiring and Recruiting.