Police Officer Trainee

City of Santa Cruz; California (MO); On-site; USD 81,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hiring bonus

Educational incentives

Bilingual pay

Job summary

The City of Santa Cruz invites applicants for Police Officer Trainee. Trainees attend a POST basic academy to gain essential skills to serve the community and advance within the department.

The position offers excellent benefits, including a hiring bonus, educational incentives and bilingual pay. Trainees become sworn officers after academy completion with a starting salary of $7,231 per month, rising to $8,578 per month for sworn officers.

Qualifications

• Trainee level does not require prior law enforcement experience.
• Excellent benefits including hiring bonus, educational incentives and bilingual pay are part of the package.
• Trainees attend an approved POST basic police academy to gain required knowledge and skills.

Responsibilities

• Under direct supervision, attend POST academy and perform related duties as required.
• Support community safety and department operations as a trainee while progressing to sworn officer status.

Job description

The Position

Update: Effective the pay period that began on March 14, 2026, the salary for all classifications in the Police Officer Association increased by 4%. This job posting has been updated to reflect this increase. Join the Santa Cruz Police Department team for a career that offers excitement, growth opportunities, great coworkers and the chance to make a positive impact in your community.

Why SCPD?

See The Best People. Core values are people with positive attitudes, integrity, energy, and problem solvers. Our officers are trained leaders who value teamwork, care about the community and work daily to keep it safe.

Under direct supervision, the Police Officer Trainee attends an approved Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) basic police academy to be trained in the technical knowledge, skills and physical capabilities required to perform police service; performs related duties as required.

The City of Santa Cruz is now recruiting for Police Officer Trainee candidates. Come join a department that has received national and international acclaim for our innovative community-based policing strategies. We believe in fostering an environment of strong critical thinking and collaborative problem-solving. You will work alongside great team members and interact with our diverse community. We have state-of-the-art training combined with an opportunity to make a difference in our community.

Trainee level does not require previous law enforcement experience. Excellent benefits including hiring bonus, educational incentives and bilingual pay are just part of the package you will have access to. Trainees attend an approved Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) basic police academy to be trained in the technical knowledge, skills and physical capabilities.

The salary for Police Officer Trainees is $7,231 per month. Upon successful completion of the academy, Trainees become sworn police officers. The starting salary for sworn Police Officers is $8,578 per month.

Each and every officer in our department embodies a commitment to change and improving the quality of life in Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz Police Department serves a community of over 65,000 citizens. During the summer months, the population may swell to over 100,000. There are over 90 sworn officers assigned to such areas as patrol, traffic, parks, community services, downtown, investigation, and undercover task force assignments. The City of Santa Cruz has a strong interest in and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in our recruitment, hiring and retention practices. We actively seek and encourage applications from talented individuals with diverse backgrounds.

Applicants must complete and submit passing 1