Police Officer Recruit

City of Glendale (CA); Glendale (CA); On-site; USD 141,000 - 173,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Glendale (CA) is seeking applicants for an entry-level, non-sworn Police Officer Recruit role. Recruits participate in pre-academy training and attend a POST-certified academy with progression to sworn status upon successful completion.

Applicants must meet basic requirements, complete the NTN exam by 12/01/2026, and be able to obtain a California driver's license. The position reports to a Police Sergeant and requires strong customer service, ethics, and teamwork in a 24/7 outdoor work

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent is required.
• No minimum requirements.
• A valid California Class C Driver’s License is required.
• Must be a minimum of 21 years of age at the time of appointment.
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
• Tattoo policy requires tattoos to be covered while on duty unless exempted by the Chief of Police.

Responsibilities

• Provide exceptional customer service to all employees, customers, vendors and other City departments.
• Model and practice the highest standards of ethical conduct.
• Develop necessary skills from on-the-job training and meet standards of performance by the end of probation.
• Ensure the duties of the position are performed in a safe and efficient manner.
• Foster a teamwork environment and maintain effective working relationships.
• Communicate in English, both orally and in writing.
• Operate or use position-related software, equipment and tools effectively and safely.
• Actively participate in maintaining city cybersecurity policies and report suspicious activities.

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Job description

Join the Best! Earn up to $157,000 a year!** We are a full service agency, offering a variety of specialized assignments – from helicopter pilot to K9 handler, we have a career path for you! The Glendale Police Department (GPD) is currently looking for individuals who are committed to keeping Glendale one of the safest big cities in America. Experience what it’s like to partner with a community that supports its Police Department. If you are looking for plenty of opportunities for advancement, and taking pride in providing the highest level of service to the community, Glendale PD is for you!

** This figure includes incentive pays, e.g., detective pay, longevity pay, and educational (POST certificate) pay.

In order to be considered for this position, you must submit an application AND complete the "Law Enforcement - Frontline National" exam through the National Testing Network at www.NationalTestingNetwork.co by December 1, 2026 and no earlier than one (1) year from the time of application. Make sure to select the City of Glendale in order to share your results with our agency.

Job Description: This entry level, non-sworn classification prepares candidates for promotion to the sworn classification of Police Officer. Incumbents participate in pre-academy training and attend a law enforcement academy certified by the California Commission on Police Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.). Promotion to the classification of Police Officer is contingent upon successful completion of academy training and fulfillment of all established requirements. Police Recruits shall not perform duties within the scope of active law enforcement services prior to appointment as a sworn officer.

Classification Code: 7200

Reporting Relationships:

This position reports to a Police Sergeant.

Common Responsibilities:

In the City of Glendale, all positions are responsible for excellent performance in the following areas:

• Customer Service: Provide exceptional customer service to all employees, customers, vendors and other City departments.
• Ethics: Model and practice the highest standards of ethical conduct.
• Performance: Develop necessary skills from on-the-job training and meet standards of performance for the classification by the end of the probationary period. Work the necessary hours and times, including overtime as authorized for non-management staff, to complete goals, tasks, and objectives.
• Safety: Ensure the duties of the position are performed in a safe and efficient manner. Assume responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment.
• Teamwork: Foster a teamwork environment. Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Communications: Give and receive direction in English. Communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing.
• Equipment: Operate or use all position-related software, equipment and tools effectively and safely.
• Cyber Security: Actively participate in maintaining a secure computing environment by adhering to and implementing City cybersecurity policies, procedures, and best practices. This includes understanding common cyber threats such as phishing and malware, and promptly reporting suspicious activities.

The following functions are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all listed functions and/or may be required to perform additional or different functions from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

An equivalent combination of experience and education sufficient to perform the essential job functions and provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.

Education:

High School diploma or equivalent is required.

Experience:

No minimum requirements.

Transportation:

A valid California Class C Driver’s License is required.

Other Characteristics:

Must be a minimum of 21 years of age at the time of appointment.

Applicants must be of good moral character.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law.

TATTOO POLICY: Unless otherwise exempted by the Chief of Police, no employee or volunteer of the Glendale Police Department shall have any visible tattoos, body art, or other skin markings while on duty – in uniform, business attire, or casual dress. Tattoos, body art, and/or other skin markings shall be completely covered by the authorized on-duty uniform (e.g. long sleeve uniform), business attire, or casual dress. Marks or scars from injuries or medical procedures are exempt from these policy restrictions. For further information regarding this policy, please contact the Professional Standards Bureau at [phone].

Medical/Psychological Standards

All candidates must pass a pre-placement medical examination and a psychological evaluation.

https://post.ca.gov/medical-screening-manual

Hearing

Acceptable as to City standards.

Residence Within four months of employment, all employees of the Glendale Police Department are required to live within a radius of sixty contiguous land miles of the Glendale Civic Center.

Working Conditions

Work is primarily performed outside in a variety of field and weather conditions.

Work is performed on a 24‑hour rotating shift.

Evening work may be required.

Weekend or holiday work may be required.

Emergency response may be required 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, including nights, weekends and holidays.

Exceptional Customer Service Policy

The City of Glendale places a high importance on quality customer service and prides itself for the high level of services it provides by every employee of the organization. As employees of the City of Glendale, we are committed to providing our diverse community and each other with courteous, considerate, and personal attention. Exceptional Customer Service Policy.

WRITTEN EXAM:

Must complete the "Law Enforcement - Frontline National" exam through the National Testing Network at www.NationalTestingNetwork.com by December 1, 2026 and no earlier than one (1) year from the time of application. Make sure to select the City of Glendale in order to share your results with our agency.

When you visit the www.NationalTestingNetwork.com website:

• Select "Exams"
• Select "Law Enforcement Jobs"
• Under "California", check "Glendale, Police Officer Recruit"
• Select "Continue"
• Review information about the testing process and agency and follow instructions as prompted.

The minimum NTN exam passing score for the City of Glendale is:

Video Score: 65%

Writing Score: 70%

Reading Score: 70%

Upon completion of your scheduled exam, scores are automatically forwarded to the City of Glendale. Candidates who attain a passing score on the entry level exam will be referred to the City of Glendale’s candidate list. The City of Glendale will contact candidates AFTER THIS BULLETIN CLOSES and will invite them to participate in further stages of the selection process.

EVALUATION OF APPLICATION:

Submitted Police Officer Recruit application will be reviewed to ensure applicants meet the minimum requirements. All qualifying applicants will be invited to participate in the selection process.

PHYSICAL AGILITY TEST: (PASS/FAIL) This Physical Agility Test includes: a stair climb with equipment, obstacle climb over, obstacle climb under, obstacle jump over, 165 pound dummy drag, trigger pull, beam walk, and stair descent with equipment.

Physical Agility Test November 21, 2026

PRELIMINARY BACKGROUND QUESTIONAIRE: (PASS/FAIL) To determine whether the candidate meets the background investigation standards of the Glendale Police Department.

ORAL INTERVIEW: (Weight of 100%) To evaluate the applicant's experience, education, and general background for the position. Candidates must pass the exam component with a minimum score of 70.00% in order to be placed on the eligible list.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A comprehensive background investigation will be conducted on all finalists, which will review and verify personal history including, but not limited to financial responsibility, criminal history, drug use history, driving record, and verification of application materials. Significant issues or omissions in the above-stated areas may be grounds for disqualification. Background investigation will include a polygraph and Livescan fingerprinting. For further information, please contact the Professional Standards Bureau at [phone].

ENTRY-LEVEL EXAMINATION: Veteran's Credit Awarded.Proof of honorable discharge (DD214) from U.S. Armed Forces must be attached to your application.

TIME AND PLACE OF THE EXAMINATION WILL BE ANNOUNCED. Evaluations will be based on the candidate's education and experience relevant to the position. Examinations will assess evaluate the candidate's education, experience, knowledge and skills related to the job. The City of Glendale reserves the right to modify the examination components or their weighting. If changes are necessary, candidates will be informed of the specific examination components and their weight before the examination is administered. The selected candidate will undergo a background check, including Livescan fingerprinting. The City of Glendale complies with state and federal obligations to provide reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with special needs are encouraged to inform the Human Resources Department at least five days before the first examination to ensure reasonable accommodations can be arranged. The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an express or implied contract.