Police Officer Trainee (200A)

City of Oakland; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

CalPERS pension

Vacation leave

Sick leave

Holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Life insurance

Employee assistance program

Deferred compensation

Job summary

The City of Oakland is hiring Police Officer Trainees who are motivated, fair, and committed to serving Oakland’s diverse communities. Candidates must meet all minimum qualifications and be prepared to complete the police academy.

After graduation, Officers join the CalPERS pension system and receive benefits including city-paid health and dental insurance, leave, tuition reimbursement, life insurance, and an employee assistance program.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Must be 21 years old upon graduation from the academy.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.

Responsibilities

• Attend police academy; graduate and become a Police Officer.
• Uphold public safety and fairness in a fast-paced urban environment.
• Assist in community policing and serve diverse Oakland residents.

Skills

Driver's license

Citizenship verification

Education

High school diploma or GED

21 years of age at academy graduation

U.S. citizen

Job description

The City of Oakland is an equal-opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the City's historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.

Why Join Oakland Police Department?

The Oakland Police Department is hiring Police Officer Trainees. The ideal candidate will have the education and experience that demonstrate personal motivation, interest in others, and the ability to deal effectively and fairly with residents and co-workers. The ideal candidate will be able to identify problems and resolve them quickly while under pressure, and want to work in a fast-paced, urban environment. After successful completion of the academy, Police Officers receive step increases on an annual basis and may reach the top step after five years. Immediate benefits include city-paid health and dental insurance for employees and dependents. Upon graduation from the academy, the benefits package includes a pension provided by the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS); vacation leave, sick leave, and holidays; education tuition reimbursement; life insurance; employee assistance program; and deferred compensation plan.

Minimum Qualifications

• Diploma from an accredited U.S. high school or G.E.D. certificate.
• Candidates must be 21 years of age upon graduation from the academy, which is six months in duration.
• Candidates must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License to operate an automobile at the time of application.
• Candidates may not have any felony convictions or other misdemeanor convictions that would prevent carrying a firearm.
• Candidates must be U.S. citizens.

Candidates may be screened out at any point in the process based on the position requirements. The Oakland Police Department reserves the right to waive selection components of individuals based on prior experience or certification.

Benefits

• City-paid health and dental insurance for employees and dependents.
• Pension provided by the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS).
• Vacation leave.
• Sick leave.
• Holidays.
• Education tuition reimbursement.
• Life insurance.
• Employee assistance program.
• Deferred compensation plan.

Oakland Residency and Veteran's Preference Points

Candidates claiming residency preference points will be required to show proof of Oakland residency at the Oral Exam. Acceptable forms of residency verification include a California Driver's License, California Identification Card, or a utility bill. Candidates claiming veteran's preference points must submit a copy of Form DD-214 at the Oral Exam.

Selective Certification

Some positions may require specific bilingual skills in Spanish, Cantonese, or Mandarin. Candidates for those positions would have to demonstrate the required skill to be selectively certified to the positions.

Fee Waiver

NTN charges a nominal fee for its test. Candidates with demonstrated financial hardship may submit a request to have the fee waived by NTN prior to registering for the exam. Fee waiver requests must be submitted by January 1, 2027. Late requests will not be accepted. To complete the Fee Waiver Request Form visit www.nationaltestingnetwork.com. Candidates will be required to mail the waiver to the address on the form. It will be forwarded to the OPD Recruiting and Background Unit for final decision. The process may take several weeks. It is the candidate's responsibility to allow sufficient time for waiver request review and processing. Submitting a fee waiver does not exempt the candidate from meeting testing deadlines. Candidates will be notified by email of the decision. See "Candidate FAQ #25" on the NTN website to learn more about how to apply for a fee waiver.

Additional Information

Candidates should keep copies of all documents submitted, as these will not be returned.

The Oakland Police Department reserves the right to modify the selection process as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessities.