Police Officer Trainee

City of Cypress; Cypress (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Cypress is seeking a Police Officer Trainee to participate in a temporary, agency-sponsored POST academy program. The trainee is non-sworn during training and will be reclassified to Police Officer upon successful academy completion.

During training, you will learn practice, procedures and techniques of law enforcement, crime prevention, and community policing, while meeting background, fitness, and driver license requirements. The position advances to sworn officer after academy success.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Public Administration or related field desirable.
• Minimum age 21 at time of appointment.
• U.S. citizenship or filed application for citizenship.
• Valid California Class C driver license with acceptable driving record.
• Bilingual skills are highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Patrol assignments and enforce City, County, and State laws.
• Conduct investigations of disturbances, burglaries, deaths and other incidents.
• Make arrests as necessary and prepare written reports.
• Direct traffic and maintain positive relationships with the public.
• Attend formalized training at a police academy and complete the prescribed program.

Skills

Communication skills

Verbal & written

Teamwork

Public interaction

Education

High school diploma or GED

Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice (desirable)

Job description

The position of Police Officer Trainee is a temporary and non-benefitted, agency-sponsored position during attendance at a California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) approved Police Academy. Upon successful completion of academy training, the Police Officer Trainee will be reclassified to Police Officer.

The Police Officer Trainee is a non-sworn position and attends formalized training at a police academy to learn practices, procedures and techniques of law enforcement, crime prevention, community policing, first aid, physical conditioning and handling of weapons. Under the general supervision of Academy Command Staff and a Cypress Police Sergeant or Officer, a Police Officer Trainee is expected to actively participate, maintain an acceptable class standing at all times during training and successfully complete the prescribed training program with acceptable results in order to effectively perform the duties of a sworn Police Officer.

Police Officer Essential Functions

Under the general supervision of a Police Sergeant or Police Lieutenant, a Police Officer performs a variety of public safety duties in the enforcement of law and order. Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Patrol assignment in police unit, answer calls and act for the protection of life and property, and the enforcement of City, County and State laws.
• Conduct preliminary and follow-up investigations of disturbances, burglaries, deaths and other criminal incidents.
• Make arrests as necessary.
• Interview victims, complainants and witnesses.
• Interrogate suspects/gather and preserve information.
• Testify and present evidence in court.
• Work cooperatively with other law enforcement agencies.
• Prepare legible and accurate written reports on a timely basis.
• Search, fingerprint and transport prisoners.
• Direct traffic.
• Maintain positive relationships with those contacted in the performance of duties.
• Adhere to all safety rules and regulations.
• Perform other duties as required under emergency situations or as assigned.

A Police Officer is eligible for special assignments based on years of experience, skills, abilities, qualifications, and acceptable performance.

Knowledge of

• Basic goals and objectives of law enforcement.
• Correct English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Basic mathematical principles.

Ability to

• Meet the requirement for sworn Police Officer contained in the California State Government Code.
• Learn, understand, interpret and apply laws, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Learn police safety principles and techniques.
• Understand and carry out verbal and written instructions.
• Communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
• Prepare comprehensive records and reports.
• Exercise self-control and good judgment in emergency/hazardous situations.
• Meet the public with courtesy and tact.
• Establish and maintain cooperative work relationships with those contacted in the performance of duties.

Education

High school diploma or G.E.D. A Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Public Administration or related field from an accredited college or university is desirable.

Other Requirements

• Minimum age of 21 at time of appointment.
• Must be of good moral character with no felony convictions.
• Must have a U.S. citizenship or have filed application for citizenship.
• Must have a valid California Class "C" driver license and an acceptable driving record.
• Bilingual skills are highly desirable.

Physical Requirements

Requires heavy lifting, carrying, climbing, running and exposure to potentially hazardous situations and environmental conditions. Applicant's vision must be 20/70 uncorrected and 20/20 corrected. Color vision must be normal. Applicant's hearing must be consistent with POST guidelines. Applicant must be in good physical condition as determined by a medical examination, with weight proportion to height.

Selection Process

All application materials will be thoroughly screened and "the most qualified" applicants will be invited to participate in the testing process which shall consist of, but may not be limited to the following:

• Written Examination (Pass/Fail) – Scheduled for Wednesday, December 9, 2026 at the Cypress Community Center
• Physical Agility Test (Pass/Fail) – Scheduled for Friday, January 8, 2027 at Golden West College in Huntington Beach
• Oral Interview (Weighted 100%)

Acceptable results qualify candidates to be placed on an eligibility list for a period of six months. After a thorough background review, including a fingerprint check, polygraph examination and a Chief's oral interview, a Conditional Officer of Employment is made pending candidates pass a comprehensive physical examination with alcohol and controlled substance screening and a psychological examination prior to appointment as a Police Officer Trainee.

CYPRESS POLICE DEPARTMENT Employment Disqualification Standards

CRIMINAL

• Any felony conviction except as provided in Government Code 1029(b)-(e).

ILLEGAL USE OR POSSESSION OF DRUGS

• Any adult use or possession of a drug classified as an illegal opiate, hallucinogen, stimulant or depressant in the past 7 years. This includes cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, GHB, ecstasy, etc.

FINANCIAL

• A pattern, history, or irresponsibility as evidenced by debt collections, civil judgments, or failure to pay, etc. Exigent circumstances may be evaluated on an individual basis.

MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATIONS

• Any conviction of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs within the past seven years of the date of application or more than one conviction of driving under the influence at any time.

ALL POLICE DEPARTMENT APPLICANTS WILL UNDERGO A THOROUGH BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION TO ENSURE CANDIDATES ARE OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER (GOV'T CODE SECTION 1031). ALL BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY A POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION.