Police Officer Trainee - Open to Applicants seeking Academy sponsorship

Martinez Police Department; Martinez (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Martinez Police Department invites candidates to become Police Officer recruits, with training through a POST-certified academy and field instruction. Graduates may be sworn as officers with full authority.

The department emphasizes community engagement, traffic enforcement, investigations and a 24/7 communications center to serve Martinez and surrounding agencies.

Qualifications

• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• High school diploma or GED certificate.
• Valid California driver's license and a good driving record.
• Must pass medical examination and a psychiatric and background investigation.
• Vision 20/100 or better, correctable to 20/30 in each eye; able to pass a polygraph.
• Ability to learn laws, police procedures and field operations.

Responsibilities

• Attend a POST-certified Police Recruit Academy and complete field training.
• Learn firearms handling, court procedures and reporting requirements.
• Observe communications operations and assist in patrol and community policing.

Job description

***The Martinez Police Department is currently recruiting candidates interested in becoming a Police Officer. Applicants placed on the list can be hired as trainees while still in the academy or as a police officer upon graduation at the discretion of the City***

The members of the Martinez Police Department are dedicated to providing the highest quality police services. The Department has a staff of 53 FTE’s, (37 sworn and 16 FTE professional staff), with an annual operating budget of $16.6 million.

The Martinez Police Department offers a full slate of policing services to the community, including officers dedicated to investigations, traffic enforcement, tactical unit, canine (K-9) units, homeless outreach, crisis intervention, and community engagement/social media. Active reserve officer and cadet programs supplement the Department and further strengthen community involvement.

The Department operates its own communications center, providing 24/7 emergency and non-emergency dispatch services for the Martinez Police Department and other agencies. The Department assigns its officers in Neighborhood Policing Areas to further engage the community.

DEFINITION

To attend a Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) certified Police Recruit Academy and undergo field training within various divisions of the Police Department. Upon graduation from the Academy, the recruit will be sworn in as a Police Officer with full police authority.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

Attends a basic P.O.S.T. certified Academy designed to provide an entire overview of the criminal justice system including knowledge of laws and training in police procedures, law enforcement techniques, first aid, and awareness of the functions and responsibilities of Police Officers and how they relate to field operations. Academy and field training would include: instruction by a Range Master on proper handling of firearms; review of radio codes and applicable Penal Code sections; an overview of the court system; answering telephone calls and dispensing public information; observation of communications operators; assistance with security duties; assistance in booking, searchings, and processing paperwork on prisoners or arrestees; assistance in patrol work to observe law enforcement activities such as maintenance of order, prevention of crime, protection of citizens and property and learning the city's jurisdictional boundaries; review of report procedures and techniques for directing traffic and filing court packages dealing with criminal prosecution; learning computer classification and coding systems; and review of the rules and regulations manual.

Minimum: Must be 21 years of age; must have a high school diploma or G.E.D. certificate; must have a valid and appropriate California driver's license and a good driving record; must pass a medical examination and a psychological and background investigation; must have a 20/100 vision or better, correctable to 20/30 in each eye, ability to pass polygraph examination.

Desirable: Observe and learn various laws, police procedures, law enforcement techniques and first aid; analyze problems and situations accurately and adopt effective courses of action even in emergency or stressful situations; undergo strenuous physical conditioning; maintain positive business and community relationships; ability to read and understand departmental policies, rules, instructions, laws, regulations, and police literature, together with an aptitude for law enforcement work; ability to analyze situations and adopt a quick, effective, and reasonable course of action; ability to write clear and accurate reports; ability to understand and follow oral directions; ability to learn the use and care of automobiles, motorcycles, and small firearms; keen observation and ability to remember names, faces, and details of incidents; good health, physical endurance and agility.

SELECTION PROCESS

1. All applicants are required to submit a PELLETB score of 45 or higher, OR a NTN with the following minimum scores: 65% Video; 70% Written; 70% Reading within the last 12 months to be placed on the eligible list.
2. Eligible applicants will be placed on the list based on their T-Score or NTN score.

EXAM INFORMATION

P.O.S.T. Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB)

The PELLETB is a multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank written exam used to assess a candidate’s reading and writing skills. Please note: candidates may not retake the PELLETB within 30 days of a previous attempt.

The exam lasts 2.5 hours and includes the following five sections:

• Spelling – Choose the correctly spelled word from a list.
• Vocabulary – Identify the correct meaning of a word from given options.
• Clarity – Select the most clearly written sentence between two choices.
• Reading Comprehension – Read a passage and answer related questions.
• CLOZE – Use context clues to fill in blanks within a passage.

To help you prepare, download the official POST PELLETB Preparation Guide. To schedule an exam, register to one of the following:

Exam Registration Options

• Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff- Law Enforcement Training Center
• South Bay Regional Academy
• National Testing Network (NTN) – Frontline Law Enforcement Written Examination

Applicants are required to complete the Public Safety Job Suitability Assessment (PSSA) as part of the NTN Frontline Law Enforcement Written Examination. This exam is administered directly by the National Testing Network, and a testing fee is charged to candidates.

The test can be taken virtually or in person at NTN testing sites located nationwide. To schedule your exam, visit the National Testing Network website.