Police Officer Recruit

City of Redondo Beach; Redondo Beach (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Redondo Beach is seeking a Police Officer Recruit to enter the POST-certified academy and become a probationary Police Officer upon graduation. The role focuses on learning policing methods, law, reporting, and community safety.

Successful candidates will complete rigorous physical training, firearm handling, and driving under various conditions, while maintaining high standards of ethics and service to the public.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED (or equivalent).
• Be at least 20 1/2 years old upon acceptance to POST academy.
• U.S. citizen or eligible resident alien.
• Possess a valid California driver’s license.
• No felony, domestic violence or certain misdemeanor convictions.
• Able to possess a firearm in California legally.
• Pass a pre-employment physical agility test.
• Complete POST-certified academy within 12 months; basic certificate required.

Responsibilities

• Attend a POST-certified police training academy and complete all required courses and tasks.
• Learn and apply firearms handling, safety and other weapon use.
• Drive a vehicle safely under normal and emergency conditions.
• Write clear, comprehensive reports with proper grammar and spelling.
• Learn to establish effective working relationships and provide excellent customer service.
• Understand and apply criminal and civil laws, court decisions, and department policies.
• Demonstrate continuous learning of policing methods, investigations and scene management.

Skills

Physical fitness

Clear communication

Criminal law knowledge

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Police equipment

Job description

We Are the Community - Leading the Way in Law Enforcement

Are you ready to start your career in law enforcement? We are looking for dedicated individuals to serve our seaside community.

TEST PROCESS INFORMATION:

Tests take place on a rolling basis and are usually scheduled every 90 days. All recruitment notifications are sent via e-mail ONLY. Application status updates will not be provided outside of test invitation notices. It is not necessary to submit multiple applications. It may be necessary to check your junk/spam mail folders to ensure you do not miss e‑mailed notices. All applicants will be notified via e-mail when testing is scheduled. Below are the tentative dates for testing and in‑person oral panel interviews. Applicants will be notified of any changes to the scheduled dates below via email.

The next test date will take place on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.

The in‑person oral panel interviews are scheduled for Thursday, October 29, 2026.

Position Definition:

Under the direction of the Chief of Police, the Police Officer Recruit is a non‑sworn civilian employee and attends a California Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) certified police academy to learn and perform the responsibilities of an entry‑level California Police Officer. Upon graduation from the academy and award of the Academy Basic Certificate, the Police Officer Recruit becomes a probationary Police Officer and performs work under general instructions, but with established policies and procedures. The Police Officer Recruit performs related duties as required to achieve successful results in support of the City's mission, goals, policies and objectives.

This position is accountable to perform the duties, responsibilities and expectations of a Police Recruit assigned to a California P.O.S.T. certified police academy including but not limited to:

• Attends, participates and successfully completes a P.O.S.T. certified police training academy and passes all required classes, scenarios, physical training and other assigned duties and tasks.
• Performs rigorous physical training.
• Learns the use and care of firearms, chemical agents, and other weapons.
• Learns to drive a motor vehicle under normal and emergency conditions safely.
• Understands and carries out oral and written directions.
• Learns to demonstrate command presence in conflict situations.
• Speaks clearly and learns standard broadcasting procedures of a police radio system.
• Learns to write clear, comprehensive and accurate reports, legibly and with correct grammar and spelling.
• Learns to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of employment; learns principles and practices of effective interpersonal communication and good customer service.
• Learns to understand, interpret and apply criminal and civil laws, court decisions, regulations, policies and procedures with particular reference to the laws of arrest, use of force, custody, search and seizure, juvenile laws and procedures, property crimes, crimes against persons, crimes against children, sex crimes, domestic violence, missing persons, weapons violations, alcohol, and controlled substances.
• Demonstrates the ability to learn and implement police methods and procedures including patrol techniques, vehicle stops, response to crimes in progress, apprehension of suspects, defensive tactics, traffic enforcement, control and collision investigation, crowd control, and gang and terrorism awareness.
• Demonstrates the ability to learn and implement crime scene management, forensics, collection, preservation and presentation of evidence; identification techniques; interviewing and interrogation techniques.
• Demonstrates the ability to learn first aid, CPR, hazardous materials awareness, emergency management, and the Incident Command System.
• Responds to major incidents reported to the Police Department; comprehends and uses the Incident Command System/Standardized Emergency Management System (ICS/SEMS) protocol; assumes the role as Incident Commander until relieved by a higher authority or other role as needed for the situation; ensures the safety of responders and others, the achievement of tactical objectives and the efficient use of resources.
• Demonstrates the ability to learn the community policing philosophy, crime prevention, victimology/crisis Intervention, cultural diversity/discrimination, and people with disabilities.
• Maintains a moral, ethical, and legal standard commensurate with the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics; inspires public confidence through personal integrity, leadership, professional appearance and actions.
• Learns to use modern law enforcement equipment, communications devices, computers and information systems.
• Demonstrates computer literacy with the knowledge and ability to use word processing and specialized law enforcement software programs; the ability to communicate using email programs and to understand and adhere to City policies for information technology.
• Works irregular hours including days, evenings, nights and overtime including weekends and holidays; must be available for call‑back and automatic return to work with a reasonable response time during off‑duty hours for major emergencies, disasters, critical incidents and as otherwise required.
• Delivers outstanding internal and external customer service, communicates effectively orally and in writing with the public and fellow employees; solves problems and supports the City's mission, policies, goals, and objectives.
• Exercises initiative, courtesy and independent judgment; establishes and maintains effective working relationships with members of the Department and City staff, other agencies and the public; communicates effectively both orally and in writing.
• Provides sound decision making skills and critical thinking to provide professional recommendations, decisions and completed staff work.
• Works cooperatively with personnel, co‑workers and the management team; exercises tact, self‑restraint and good judgment; takes initiative to achieve positive, timely results for the organization with diplomatic skills and ethical conduct.
• Conducts duties, responsibilities, tasks and assignments with a constructive, cooperative, positive, and professional attitude and demeanor. Supports the City's mission, goals, policies and objectives; delivers outstanding internal and external customer service; solve problems and communicate effectively with the public and fellow employees.
• Supports the City's corporate values of: openness and honesty; integrity and ethics; accountability; outstanding customer service; teamwork; excellence; and fiscal responsibility.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Upon successful completion of academy instruction and graduation, the employee receives further training, as a sworn Police Officer in the Field Training Officer Program and is responsible for performing related duties as required.

The candidate shall have any combination of training, education and experience which demonstrates potential ability to perform the duties of the position. The position's expected competencies are to provide sound decision making skills; critical thinking ability; problem solving and innovation skills; initiative to attain results; analytic skills; interpersonal, customer service and diplomatic skills; ethical conduct; proven top performances.

Applicant must:

• Possess a high school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent
• Be 20 ½ years of age upon acceptance to a California P.O.S.T. certified academy
• Be a United States citizen or a resident alien who is eligible and has applied for citizenship at least one year prior to the date of application
• Possess a valid Class C California Department of Motor Vehicles driver's license
• Not have any felony, domestic violence or misdemeanor assault convictions
• Be able to possess a firearm in the State of California legally
• Pass a pre‑employment physical agility test
• Meet the written, physical, psychological background standards set by California P.O.S.T.
• Complete and successfully pass all aspects of the Department‑designated California P.O.S.T. basic academy within the first twelve months
• Note: An Associates or Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university is highly desirable. Bilingual skills in Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and other languages are highly desirable.

Applications should possess knowledge of:

• Modern law enforcement principles, practices, techniques and equipment
• Federal, state and local laws and court decisions
• Policies, procedures and regulations of the Police Department and the City
• Proper English grammar, spelling and vocabulary
• Use and care of firearms, chemical agents and other weapons
• City geography including streets, parks, schools and critical facilities
• Occupational hazards and standard safety precautions

Applicants should possess the ability to:

• Successfully complete all requirements of a California P.O.S.T. certified academy
• Wear a department approved uniform
• Use firearms, radios and other specialized law enforcement equipment and weapons proficiently
• Understand and follow complex written rules and regulations and polices and procedures
• Accurately observe and remember names, faces, numbers, incidents and places
• Memorize and apply crime codes and case law appropriately
• Meet the physical requirements necessary to perform the essential functions and duties of the job safely and effectively
• Do frequent light lifting and occasional lifting of heavy objects or persons
• Use and apply good judgment in a variety of typical and or unusual situations
• Be exposed to extreme heat or cold, extreme weather conditions, strong odors and/or smoke, dust or pollen
• Apprehend and restrain subjects and defend oneself from attack
• Operate computers, use a variety of law enforcement and business software including word processing, geographic information systems, law enforcement databases, and specialized law enforcement programs
• Type at a speed necessary for successful job performance
• Maintain effective relationships with others and communicate effectively and professionally within the Department and in the community
• Make timely, sound independent judgment within legal and procedural guidelines and demonstrates a significant degree of initiative, reliability, good judgment and discretion to perform a community oriented, problem solving approach to policing

Due to the sensitive nature, high security environment, and value of property and evidence, candidates shall pass the designated City examinations prior to being given a conditional offer of employment. If given a conditional offer of employment, candidates shall also pass medical and psychological examinations prior to appointment.

Job description statements describe the general nature and level of work