Police Recruit

City of Chula Vista; Chula Vista (CA); On-site; USD 98,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance up to $5,000

Employee Referral Program up to $3,000

Job summary

The City of Chula Vista Police Department seeks a Police Recruit to begin a career in municipal law enforcement. Recruits learn through academy-based training, complete required tests, and develop skills in defense, driving, and reporting.

After police academy completion, recruits automatically advance to Peace Officer. The role offers relocation assistance and a referral program to eligible staff.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 20 years old at time of application and 21 at appointment.
• Valid California Driver's License at time of appointment.
• High school diploma, GED, or college degree; verification at time of hire required.

Responsibilities

• Learn and participate in classroom and field activities while attending the police academy.
• Write and type reports and complete assignments.
• Participate in daily physical training and test events including running, sit-ups and push-ups.
• Learn about community policing and build positive working relationships with the public and coworkers.
• Perform other related duties and training activities as assigned.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

English usage

Teamwork

Education

High school diploma or GED

Criminal Justice coursework desirable

Job description

Chula Vista Police Department is a progressive organization that welcomes diversity, encourages innovation, and rewards employee performance. The CVPD promotes employee involvement in decision-making and problem solving. Through this commitment to inclusiveness, the CVPD receives strong support and an exemplary approval rating from the community.

Mission

The Chula Vista Police Department, in partnership with the Community, is dedicated to providing community policing, with the highest level of professionalism and transparency. Chula Vista Police Department Employees will provide fair, courteous, and compassionate service to enhance the quality of life in Chula Vista.

Values

Leadership | Respect | Integrity | Accountability

The Position

Police Recruit is the entry-level position to a career in municipal law enforcement. Police Recruits learn and participate in established curriculum and subsequently pass all tests given by training staff, including academics and manipulative skills such as defensive tactics, firing weapons with accuracy, and driving at high speeds on a set test course while maintaining control. After successfully completing the Police Academy, the Police Recruit will then automatically promote to the classification of Peace Officer.

Compensation

Peace Officer salary range is $8,798 - $11,790 monthly.

Newly-hired employees in this position may receive up to $5,000 relocation allowance for expenses incurred for the relocation of the employee and their immediate family to San Diego County. Additionally, this position is eligible for the Employee Referral Program. Eligible employees that make a successful referral will receive a referral payment of up to $3,000 or 10 hours of base pay (for eligible POA employees in accordance with the POA MOU).

• Reading Component - measures reading comprehension
• Writing Component - measures clarity, vocabulary, and spelling

Essential Functions

Functions may include, but are not limited to, the following: learn and participate in all classroom and field activities while attending the police academy; write/type reports and complete all assignments; participate in daily physical training at the same intensity as the majority of the group, or as directed by academy training staff; run up to six miles at an eight minute/mile pace; perform up to sixty sit-ups straight; perform sixty push-ups straight; spar with training staff and/or fellow recruits; fire weapons; drive vehicles; talk on radio; learn about community-based policing, familiarization between law enforcement and community residents and collaborative problem solving; build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other City employees and the public using principles of good customer service; and perform other related duties and physical training activities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be: must be at least 20 years of age at time of application and 21 years of age at time of appointment; must have a valid California Driver's License at time of appointment; must meet citizenship requirements as defined under California Government Code Sections 1031(a) and 1031.5.

Education

Per Government Code section 1031(e), United States high school graduation, or passage of the General Education Development (GED) test, or attainment of a two-year or four-year degree from an accredited college or university. NOTE: Verification at time of hire is required. Additional college course work in Police Administration and/or Criminal Justice is highly desirable.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of: customer service; modern office practices and procedures; computer equipment and software applications related to assignment; basic mathematics; English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Ability to: participate in all physical training exercises; learn and participate in classroom lectures; prioritize and coordinate several activities/assignments; learn and apply procedures and techniques learned in the police academy, including community-based policing, familiarization between law enforcement and community residents and collaborative problem solving; use initiative and sound independent judgment within established guidelines; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; and work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.

Physical Demands And Working Conditions

The Physical Agility Test (PAT) is designed to be a specific measure of the physical capabilities necessary to perform the duties of a Peace Officer. Test events are designed to simulate actual areas of police work. The events include: 1) a 1.5-mile run to be completed in 14 minutes or less; 2) an agility course. Lift up to 150 lbs. Must be able to see a target up to 50 yards away and focus enough on it to accurately fire a weapon at it. Must be able to hear voices of training staff over other loud noises such as gunfire and yelling. Some of the work is performed indoors in a classroom setting, and some of the work takes place outside while performing the physical training exercises.

Additional Information

Employees in the Police Recruit position are represented by the Association of Chula Vista Employees (ACE) and receive benefits afforded to ACE-represented employees. After successfully completing the Police Academy, the Police Recruit will automatically promote to the classification of Peace Officer, a position represented by the Chula Vista Police Officers' Association (POA) and receive benefits outlined in the POA Memorandum of Understanding.