Police Officer Trainee

City of Escondido; Escondido (CA); On-site; USD 78,000 - 127,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Escondido Police Department invites applications for a Police Officer Trainee. Under supervision, you will patrol and enforce laws, respond to incidents, and assist in investigations to protect life and property in Escondido.

This role supports the department’s mission of delivering high quality municipal services to the North County community. Required education is a high school diploma or equivalent.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of peace officer principles, procedures and safety
• Ability to prepare clear police reports
• Ability to analyze emergencies and act quickly and appropriately
• Ability to communicate clearly with the public and other agencies

Responsibilities

• Patrols assigned areas by car, bike, motorcycle or on foot.
• Answers calls for assistance and conducts initial and follow-up investigations.
• Enforces traffic laws and issues warnings/arrests as needed.
• Prepares written reports on all cases investigated and provides information to the public.

Skills

Patrol methods

Communicate effectively

Decision making under pressure

Education

High school graduate or equivalent

Tools

CRM/office software

Job description

Testing Dates:
Written Exam: Friday, November 13, 2026
Physical Agility/PIQ: Saturday, November 14, 2026
Oral Interviews: Monday, November 30, 2026

Police Officer Trainee: $6,975/month
FLETC Graduate (DOQ): $7,323/month
Academy Graduate/Police Officer: $8,477/month - $11,360/month

If you want to join a hardworking team that shares a commitment to provide top-quality municipal services in a prime North County location, consider a career with the City of Escondido. We have an opening for the position of Police Officer Trainee in our Police Department. For a complete listing of job duties and qualifications, please refer to the corresponding job description, which can be obtained from the Human Resources Department or downloaded from the City's website. Check out the Escondido Police Department.

Under general supervision, patrols a beat or sector; enforces laws and ordinances and makes arrests; protects life and property and performs the necessary related tasks to fulfill these objectives; performs related duties as required.

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.
Patrols assigned areas by car, bike, motorcycle or on foot.
Answers calls for assistance, including investigation of crimes, deaths; accidents and injuries; conducts initial and follow-up investigations.
Enforces, controls and directs traffic when appropriate.
Stops drivers who are operating vehicles in violation of the law and enforces traffic violations; Warns drivers against illegal practices.
Performs arrests for all criminal violations of law.
Testifies in court in connection with the prosecution of offenders.
Serves warrants and subpoenas.
Administers first aid in emergency cases.
Answers complaints on such problems as domestic disturbances, obnoxious animals, health code and local ordinance violations.
Investigates suspicious circumstances.
Takes custody of stolen, lost or found property and evidence.
Performs crowd control, parade or riot work.
Takes crime prevention measures and assists in controlling problems of juvenile delinquency; performs detective work in criminal investigation and identification work.
Transports prisoners to be booked at county jail.
Furnishes information and directions to the public.
Submits complete written reports on all cases investigated.
Participates in required training courses and programs.
Supervision may be exercised over non-sworn positions
Provides vacation and temporary relief as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge of:

• The principles, methods, materials, equipment, and techniques of peace officers.
• Crime scene procedures.
• Recent developments, current literature, and sources of information on peace officers.
• State and federal statutes and case law covering contraband, drugs, and the use of physical evidence in court, the rules of criminal procedures concerning time limits, discovery, evidence, and expert witnesses.
• Police Department policies, procedures, rules, regulations and unit functions.
• Occupational hazards and standard safety precautions.
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications.
• Customer service principles and techniques.
• English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.

Ability to:

• Prepare clear and concise police reports.
• Interpret, apply, and make decisions in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations.
• Analyze emergency situations and adopt quick, reasonable and effective courses of action.
• Respond to requests and inquiries from the general public.
• Lift and move objects of moderate to heavy weight.
• Maintain a calm and professional demeanor at all times.
• Participate in the high level of customer service to internal and external customers.
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing software applications.
• Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and Maintain effective working relationships with other employees, staff, vendors and the public.

General Standards:

Fingerprinted and a search made of local, state and national fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record.
Not convicted of a felony by any State or Federal Government of a crime including imprisonment in a Federal or State prison.
Good moral character as determined by a polygraph examination and a thorough background investigation as prescribed in Specification #1, Personal History Statement.
Successfully complete requirements of medical and psychological evaluation.
Authorized to work in the United States.
Must not be less than 21 years of age at time of appointment.

Education/Experience:

High school graduate or equivalent.

Written test is required.

License or Certificate:

Possession of a valid Class C California driver's license at time of appointment.

POST REGULATIONS

SPECIFICATION #1 PERSONAL HISTORY STATEMENT:

This requirement supplements Section 1002 of the POST Commission Regulations. A personal history investigation must be conducted of each recruit employed pursuant to Part 4 of Title 4, Chapter 1 of the California Penal Code. The purpose of the personal history investigation is to find examples of any character traits in the applicant's life which might prevent the applicant from becoming a successful peace officer.

SPECIFICATION #2 PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:

This requirement supplements Section 1002 (b) (1) of the POST regulations. In order to render proper service to the community, California Peace Officers must be mentally alert, physically sound and free from any physical defect or mental or emotional instability which might adversely affect their performance of duty. The peace officer's safety record and the safety and lives of others may be endangered if the peace officer lacks these qualities. This shall include psychological testing to determine emotional stability.

Vision and Hearing: The hiring authority shall establish minimum standards for hearing, color vision and visual acuity. The following is required: HEARING - must pass a hearing test which will consist of a whisper test of each ear. Candidates must be able to hear and repeat the whispered word(s) at a distance of not less than 15 feet, uncorrected. COLOR VISION – must pass a color vision test which will consist of an Ishihara color plates test. Candidates must properly identify 12 color plates in the series. VISUAL ACUITY – must possess visual acuity corrected not to exceed 20/20 in each eye. It is important that officers possess good eyesight to be able to properly identify victims, suspects and for their safety and the safety of others during the course of their duty. Eyesight shall not exceed 20/100 in each eye, uncorrected.

Waiver: The hiring authority may waive visual acuity not to exceed 20/200 correctable to 20/20, based on outstanding achievements and potential to the department, and provided an examination by an ophthalmologist reports the eyes are free from disease with no indication of an accelerated progression toward further decreased visual acuity.

Porta-Clinic Examination: The majority of a police officer's duty is driving at night. This examination determines glare recovery from lights, depth perception and reaction time – all important in the safe operation of an automobile.

Performance Test – Test of Strength and Agility: During the course of an officer's duties, they are called upon at times to effectively take persons into custody who are combatant and force has to be used. If officers are not in good physical condition, they are in danger as well as others. The applicant must be in good physical condition and display strength and agility before employment. Appointees shall be required to maintain good physical condition and display strength and agility to continue their employment status with the City.

Written Exam: Friday, November 13, 2026
Physical Agility/PIQ: Saturday, November 14, 2026
Oral Interviews: Monday, November 30, 2026

CONTENTS OF AGILITY TEST

The physical agility examination will take each candidate approximately 30 -45 minutes to complete. There are five separate events in this test, which are simulations of actual tasks that a Police Officer would be required to perform. These events are as follows:

1. PUSH UPS – This exercise tests general upper-body and core strength. Start in the arms-extended position, hands below shoulder or slightly wider, and back straight. During exercise arms must break 90-degrees, then return to the extended position, body moving in line, for a complete repetition. The test ends if chest or knees touch the ground. Applicant must complete at least 25 push-ups within 60 seconds.

2. BODY DRAG – This test simulates dragging someone who is physically incapacitated. The dummy, which weighs 165 pounds, must be dragged a distance of 32 feet within 28 seconds.

3. WOOD FENCE CLIMB – This event will test your ability to climb a six-foot-high wood wall. You are to run up to the fence, scale the fence, and continue running to the finish line. You will have 14 seconds to complete this event.

4. ONE MILE RUN – This event test general cardiovascular endurance. Applicant must complete one mile within 10 minutes.

NOTE: For a complete listing of job duties and qualifications, please refer to the corresponding job description, which can be obtained from the Human Resources Department or downloaded from the City's web site. The City of Escondido is committed to a drug and alcohol free workplace.

All applicants will