Police Officer Trainee

City of Upland; Upland (CA); On-site; USD 64,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Upland Police Department is seeking qualified applicants for entry-level law enforcement positions. The recruitment process includes an online application, a POST Pellet B written examination (score 46+), a physical agility test, oral interviews, and a comprehensive background investigation including a polygraph.

Applications are reviewed via the City’s website, and scores may be submitted from other agencies.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of federal, state, and municipal ordinances.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Strong customer service skills when dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.
• Ability to analyze situations and take appropriate action.
• Familiarity with laws, search and seizure, and evidence handling.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare accurate reports and maintain records.

Responsibilities

• Patrol designated areas to prevent crime and maintain order.
• Respond to public service calls, disturbances, and incidents.
• Gather, preserve, and document evidence; interview victims, witnesses, and suspects.
• Conduct preliminary investigations and support follow-up investigations.
• Participate in training and maintain fitness standards as required by POST.
• Enforce city, county, and state ordinances and laws.
• Communicate with the public and collaborate with other agencies.

Skills

Knowledge of laws

Customer service

Communication

Report writing

Firearm handling

Stress management

Observation and memory

Problem solving

Job description

Recruitment Process:

Step 1: Online Application: In order to be considered for a law enforcement position with the Upland Police Department, applicants must submit an online application in response to a current job opportunity listed on the City's website.

Step 2: Written Examination and Physical Agility Test: Qualified applicants will be required to successfully pass the written POST Pellet B Examination with a T-score of 46 or higher and complete a physical agility test as part of the recruitment process.

Pellet B written exam date to be determined. (Pellet B waived if currently in a POST academy.) Qualified applicants will be invited via email to the written examination. Successful candidates will be invited to participate in the PAT (physical agility test). Applicants may submit written t-scores from other agencies for examinations taken within the last 12 months. T-scores shall be sent to [e-mail] for consideration.

APPLICANT PREPARATION GUIDE FOR THE POST ENTRY LEVEL LAW ENFORCEMENT TEST BATTERY IS AVAILABLE BY ATTACHING THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENT: poWrittenPracticeTest.pdf (ca.gov)

Step 3: Oral Interview: Qualified applicants will be required to complete oral interviews as part of the recruitment process.

Step 4: Background Investigation and Administrative Interviews: Qualified applicants will undergo a complete, comprehensive, POST approved Background Investigation including a Polygraph Examination. Upon completion of the background investigation, applicants may be invited to an Administrative Interview.

Step 5: Conditional Job Offer: Following the successful completion of all prior steps, candidates may be made a conditional job offer. Job offers are conditional upon the successful completion of a psychological and medical examination.

Step 6: Psychological and Medical Examinations: Qualified applicants shall undergo a psychological assessment by a qualified professional to determine their suitability for the position. In addition, applicants will complete a full medical examination, including drug screening.

Knowledge of:

• Federal, state, and municipal ordinances.
• Relevant and updated case law regarding law enforcement procedures.
• Principles and practices of modern law enforcement, including crime prevention, identification, and investigation techniques.
• Use of police records and identification methods and their applications.
• Laws and constitutional guarantees governing the custody of persons, search, seizure, and evidence.
• Laws and procedures relating to juvenile welfare, traffic control, and safety.
• Laws and policies concerning police authority.
• Proper care and maintenance of property and equipment.
• City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.

Ability to:

• Understand and interpret laws, ordinances, departmental policies, and regulations.
• Analyze situations and adopt a quick, effective, and responsible course of action.
• Explain a variety of parking and traffic regulations when required.
• Cope with stressful situations firmly, courteously, tactfully, and with respect for the rights of others.
• Effectively use and care for firearms.
• Remember names, faces, facts, and details of incidents.
• Draft reports clearly and accurately.
• Drive an automobile skillfully.
• Follow oral and written instructions.
• Use written and oral communication skills.
• Read and interpret data, information, and documents.
• Analyze and solve problems.
• Use math and mathematical reasoning.
• Observe and interpret situations.
• Learn and apply new information or new skills.
• Learn basic functions, principles, and practices of law enforcement agencies.
• Learn police terminology and law enforcement codes.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Attends and participates in a comprehensive law enforcement training program for entry level Police Officers.
• Receives, learns, and understands instruction in basic criminal investigation procedures and techniques.
• Receives and participates in firearm training, classroom instruction in enforcement psychology, enforcement tactics, effective writing, and speaking.
• Learns radio operations and methods of traffic, riot, and crowd control.
• Participates in and trains for physical strength and agility.
• Enforces city, county, and state ordinances and laws.
• Patrols a designated area of the City on foot or in a radio car to prevent crime and maintain law and order.
• Responds to general public service calls and complaints including domestic disturbances, civil complaints, property control, automobile accidents, robberies, and related misdemeanor and felony incidents.
• Inspects premises at night; assists in the investigation of crimes; conducts preliminary investigations of disturbances, burglaries, thefts, armed robberies, vehicle accidents, deaths, or other matters involving possible law violations; discovers and/or prevents the commission of crimes; enforces traffic and other laws and ordinances; issue warnings and citations.
• Provides first aid, CPR, and/or Narcan for injured persons prior to arrival of advanced medical support; requests medical attention when required.
• Directs traffic at fires, special events, and other emergency or congested situations; conducts traffic analyses and general traffic surveys; obtains traffic accident statements; examines conditions of accident scenes; takes written statements; clears scene of obstructions and wreckage; notes and reports traffic hazards; conducts investigations of serious injury and fatality traffic accidents.
• Reports abandoned or damaged vehicles; inspects establishments providing alcoholic beverages and entertainment.
• Intervenes in private or public disputes to protect the public and maintain order.
• Conducts preliminary and follow-up investigation of disturbances, suspicious vehicles or persons, burglaries, thefts, robberies, homicides, deaths, or other matters involving possible law violations to determine the proper cause of action.
• Carries out special assignments related to departmental operations or law enforcement in general.
• Contacts and cooperates with other law enforcement agencies in matters relating to the apprehension of offenders and the investigation of offenses.
• Gathers and preserves evidence; interviews victims, complainants, and witnesses; identifies and interrogates suspects; apprehends and arrests offenders; testifies and presents evidence in court.
• Prepares reports on arrests made, activities performed, and unusual incidents observed; serves warrants and subpoenas; remains current on laws and procedures required for serving warrants.
• Takes custody of prisoners including but not limited to transportation, receiving, searching, fingerprinting, photographing, and booking.
• Participates in police training courses and programs; provides escorts or guard services for parades, various public activities, or meetings; participates in staff development; attends briefings and training sessions; performs routine maintenance on assigned patrol vehicle, firearms, and other equipment.
• Maintains contact with citizens regarding potential law enforcement problems and preserves good relationships with general public; takes an active role in areas of public education relative to crime and crime prevention.
• Observes and complies with all City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; and to maintain P.O.S.T. physical standards, including mobility, physical strength, and stamina; to operate a motor vehicle in all conditions; to maintain firearms qualification and to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone or radio. Finger and manual dexterity are needed to operate police services equipment and firearms, and to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard. Positions in this classification frequently bend, stoop, kneel, reach, and climb to perform work. Employees must possess the ability to apprehend, lift, carry, push, and pull victims, suspects and equipment as determined within P.O.S.T physical standards, which may include the use of proper equipment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

Employees also work in outdoor conditions, and are exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, moving vehicles, and hazardous physical substances and fumes.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.