Police Recruit

City of Fountain Valley; Fountain Valley (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hiring incentive bonus $5,000

Job summary

The City of Fountain Valley Police Department invites motivated individuals to apply as Police Recruits. Recruits attend a POST-approved Basic Police Recruit Academy at the City's expense and, upon graduation and field training, are sworn in as Police Officers.

The department emphasizes community trust, teamwork, and ongoing training, with a $5,000 signing incentive paid in two installments. Requirements include education (high school diploma or GED), a valid California Class C driver's license,

Qualifications

• Education: High School graduation or GED is required.
• Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license is required at time of appointment.

Responsibilities

• Attend and successfully complete a California P.O.S.T. approved Basic Police Recruit Academy.
• Learn California laws, defensive tactics, firearms, emergency response, and ethical policing.
• Develop communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Prepare for transition into sworn Police Officer duties, including patrol, investigations and community engagement.

Education

High School diploma or GED

California Driver's License

Job description

First review of applications: September 24, 2026

Testing Schedule:

• Physical Agility Test (PAT) – Tentatively Scheduled for: October 10, 2026
• Oral Interview – Tentatively Scheduled for: October 10, 2026

Fountain Valley Police Department

The Fountain Valley Police Department's mission is to demonstrate the courage to protect life and property in our community; the duty to provide the highest quality of service in a fair, impartial and ethical manner; and the commitment to take a leadership role in providing public safety and quality of life in a manner that will preserve the public trust. The department is headed by Chief of Police Craig Heredia and is structured into two primary divisions: the Patrol Division and the Support Services Division.

We are seeking motivated, service-oriented individuals to join our Police Department as Police Recruits. This is a unique opportunity to begin a meaningful law enforcement career rooted in community trust, professionalism, and teamwork. Police Recruits will attend a California Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) approved Basic Police Recruit Academy at the City's expense. Upon successful completion of the academy and field training program, recruits will be sworn in as Police Officers with the Fountain Valley Police Department. If you are looking to serve a close-knit community where your work is valued and your voice matters, we encourage you to apply.

Why Join Fountain Valley Police Department?

• Community-Focused Policing: We believe effective policing starts with relationships, respect, and accountability.
• Small Department, Big Impact: You won't be just a number - your contributions matter here.
• Supportive Culture: Strong mentorship, teamwork, and leadership committed to your success.
• Career Development: Ongoing training, specialty assignments, and opportunities for advancement.
• Work-Life Balance: A department that values wellness, family, and sustainability in policing.
• We offer a Hiring Incentive Bonus for Police Recruits! $5,000 paid in two (2) installments: $2,500 upon graduation from the Police Academy and Sworn in as a Police Officer; and $2,500 after successfully completing the probationary period.

What You'll Do

• Attend and successfully complete a California P.O.S.T. approved Basic Police Recruit Academy
• Learn California laws, defensive tactics, firearms, emergency response, and ethical policing
• Develop communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Prepare for transition into sworn Police Officer duties, including patrol, investigations, and community engagement
• To access the full class specification for Police Recruit, including the salary and a comprehensive list of all benefits, duties, responsibilities, and skills required, please click on the following link: Police Recruit

Upon appointment as a Police Officer, you will:

• Protect life and property
• Enforce laws with fairness, integrity, and professionalism
• Build positive relationships with residents, businesses, and community partners
• Respond to calls for service and emergencies
• Participate in proactive policing and crime prevention efforts
• To access the full class specification for Police Officer, including the salary and a comprehensive list of all benefits, duties, responsibilities, and skills required, please click on the following link: Police Officer

If you’re looking for more than just a job – if you want a career build on service, trust, and community –

Education: High School graduation or equivalent or possession of a General Education Development Test (GED) certificate is required.

Required License: Possession of a valid California Class "C" driver's license. [Please note: Candidates are required to have a California Driver's License at time of appointment.]

Required Written Examination: Candidates must take one (1) of the following two written examinations and attach the results to this application:

• FrontLine National exam through the National Testing Network with a score of 70% or above in each of the three (3) components (video-based human relations test, reading ability test and report writing test). The FrontLine exam must be submitted to the City through the National Testing Network's portal. OR
• P.O.S.T. Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) T-Score of 45 or above. P.O.S.T. T-Scores must have been issued within the last twelve (12) months of application submission.

Special Requirements (Pursuant to California POST)

• Free from any disqualifications for employment, including felony convictions
• Legally authorized to work in the United States by federal law
• At least 21 years of age at the time of appointment
• Fingerprinted for purposes of search of local, state, and national fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record
• Of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation
• Found to be free from any physical, emotional, or mental condition, including bias against race or ethnicity, gender, nationality, religion, disability, or sexual orientation, which might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of a peace officer.
• Candidates must have normal hearing acuity. Refer to POST Hearing Guidelines
• Candidates must have vision of 20/70 uncorrected, correctable to 20/20, and normal color vision. Refer to POST Vision Guidelines.
• Candidates must have height and weight in accordance with age, sex, and frame.
• Police Officers must be able to work rotating shifts, evenings, holidays, and weekends as assigned.

Selection Process:

• Application Review (including successful submission of written examination results)
• Physical agility test
• Oral interview
• Extensive background investigation including credit check, California Department of Justice (DOJ), and Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) criminal history check (Live Scan fingerprinting)
• Polygraph examination
• Medical examination after a conditional job offer is given (including a psychological evaluation and drug screen)

Re-application:

Candidates who failed any component of the City of Fountain Valley's selection process for Police Recruit will not be eligible to re-apply for another Police Recruit selection process until six months have passed since the date they were disqualified from the selection process.

EEO / ADA Statement

The City of Fountain Valley is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. Candidates with a disability who may need accommodation during the selection process must notify the Human Resources Department at least 72 hours in advance of the exam date.

Important Selection Information:

All employment offers made by the City are contingent upon establishing proof of a prospective candidate's legal authorization to work in the United States and successfully completing all components of the pre-employment process which may include but is not limited to: Background Investigation, reference checks, California Department of Justice (DOJ) criminal history check (Live Scan fingerprinting), post-offer drug test, and pre-employment medical examination.

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS RECRUITMENT SHOULD BE SENT TO [e-mail]