Police Recruit

City of Pleasanton; Pleasanton (CA); On-site; USD 126,000 - 153,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

CalPERS retirement

Paid time off

Uniform allowance

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

City of Pleasanton seeks motivated individuals to join the Police Department as Police Recruits and train at a state-certified Police Academy. Graduates move into the role of sworn Police Officer, serving the Pleasanton community with a focus on public service and community engagement.

Candidates should be resilient, ethical, and eager to learn, with strong teamwork and a commitment to growth within a dynamic, structured training environment.

Qualifications

• Must possess a high school diploma or GED.
• Must be 21 years of age at the time of appointment.
• Must possess a California P.O.S.T Basic Certificate or obtain it at appointment (as applicable).

Responsibilities

• Attend and successfully complete a state-certified Police Academy program.
• Participate in classroom instruction, physical training, and scenario-based exercises.
• Learn foundational policing skills, including defensive tactics, firearms, traffic enforcement, and community policing.
• Prepare to transition into the role of Police Officer upon graduation.
• Develop strong communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills under supervision.

Skills

Community service mindset

Team collaboration

Discipline

Ethical conduct

Learning mindset

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Are you ready to launch a career that makes a real difference? The City of Pleasanton is looking for motivated and driven individuals to join our Police Department as Police Recruits! In this hands‑on, action-packed role, you’ll attend a state-certified Police Academy where you’ll train in everything from defensive tactics and firearms to community policing and critical decision-making. You’ll push your physical and mental limits, build lifelong skills, and prepare to step into the role of a sworn Police Officer upon graduation. If you’re ready for a challenging, rewarding, and fast-paced journey that puts you on the front lines of serving and protecting the Pleasanton community, this is the opportunity for you!

We’re Looking For Someone Who Is

• Motivated to serve the Pleasanton community.
• Able to meet the physical and mental demands of academy training.
• Honest, ethical, and able to maintain high personal and professional standards.
• Able to work well in a team environment and follow instructions from trainers and supervisors.
• Committed to learning and growing in a challenging, dynamic profession.

In This Role, You Will

• Attend and successfully complete a state-certified Police Academy program.
• Participate in classroom instruction, physical training, and scenario-based exercises.
• Learn foundational policing skills, including defensive tactics, firearms, traffic enforcement, and community policing.
• Prepare to transition into the role of Police Officer upon graduation.
• Develop strong communication, problem-solving, and decision‑making skills under supervision.

A Few Reasons You’ll Love Working With Us

• You will have the opportunity to make a positive impact in the Pleasanton community.
• You will receive comprehensive training and professional development.
• You will join a supportive team environment with experienced officers and mentors.
• You will have the opportunity to experience career growth and advancement opportunities within the Police Department.
• You will begin a rewarding career that blends public service, problem-solving, and community engagement.

A Few Challenges You Might Face

• Rigorous physical and academic demands of the Police Academy.
• Learning to manage high‑stress situations and critical decision‑making.
• Adapting to a structured, disciplined training environment.
• Balancing personal commitments with the time and energy required for training.

The Ideal Candidate Will Be

• Resilient, disciplined, and able to handle stress effectively.
• Committed to ethical behavior and public service.
• Eager to learn, grow, and embrace the responsibilities of a Police Officer.
• Physically and mentally prepared for the demands of academy training and police work.
• Able to work collaboratively with diverse communities and team members.

About The Police Department

The Pleasanton Police Department is committed to protecting life, preventing crime, and enhancing the quality of life in our community. The department is organized into three divisions. The Operations Division, the Investigations Division, and the Support Services Division. The Operations Division includes patrol, the Traffic Unit, and the Alternate Response Unit (ARU). The Investigation Division manages the Criminal Investigations Unit, Youth and Community Services, Personnel and Training, Special Enforcement Unit as well as our Community Outreach and social media. This division is also responsible for in‑service training and certified courses to ensure compliance with Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) and applicable educational mandates for all sworn and civilian police personnel. The Support Services Division includes Dispatch, Records and is responsible for public records management.

The department also offers numerous collateral assignments including SWAT, K‑9, Crime Scene Investigation (CSI), Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT), and many others.

Competitive Pay

• Base Salary Range: $126,152 – $153,254 annually
• Special Assignment Pay: Up to 5% (depending on assignment; not limited to one assignment)
• POST Pay: Up to 7% (depending on certification: 5% for Intermediate and 7% for Advanced)
• Holiday In-Lieu Pay: 7.5%
• Education Incentive: up to 5% (depending on degree: 2.5% for AA, 5% for BA/BS/MA/MS)
• Bilingual Pay: $100 per pay period
• Longevity Pay: 2% at 8 years, 4% at 12 years, minimum 2 and 4 years with Pleasanton PD
• Shift Differential Pay: 3% for select shifts
• Specialty Assignment Pay for Select Assignments: 5% per Assignment, up to 10% (Qualifying assignments: Field Training Officer, SWAT, Hostage Negotiation Team, Motors, Detective and Crime Scene Investigator)
• On-Call Pay: 15% of base salary while on-call

Premium Benefits

• Health Coverage: Generous medical, dental, and vision plans with City contributions, four health plans to choose from
• Retirement: CalPERS Pension of 2.7% at 57, 3% at 55 for Classic Members
• Life Insurance and AD&D Coverage: $50,000
• Short/Long Term Disability Plan
• Deferred Compensation: City contribution of 0.5% to 457(b)

Time Off & Leave

• Vacation: Starts at 80 hours/year (up to 200 hours), increases with tenure. Two weeks Paid Time Off in addition to vacation hours
• Sick Leave: 96 hours/year, 8 hours per month
• Vacation Sell Back Program: Up to 120 hours annually

Career Perks

• Uniform Allowance: $1,500 annually, initial uniforms fully paid
• Tuition Reimbursement: Up to annual registration fees levied by CSUEB
• Training Opportunities: Paid professional development and certifications

Work-Life Balance

• Flexible Scheduling: 3/12 and 4/10 shifts available
• Wellness Support: Employee Assistance Program and peer support

Great police departments are built by people with different experiences, perspectives, and strengths. The City of Pleasanton is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and maintaining a workplace where everyone is respected, supported, and given the opportunity to succeed. We welcome qualified candidates from all backgrounds and are proud to build a team that reflects the community we serve.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Qualified applicants must possess a high school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent.

Age Requirement: Must be at least 21 years of age at the time of appointment.

Certification: Must possess a Basic Certificate from P.O.S.T. at the time of appointment to Police Officer.

Vision/Hearing: 20/100 uncorrected vision in each eye, correctable to 20/30 or better. Must have normal color vision as established from an established color vision test, and no hearing loss over 25 db in the 500, 1000, 2000 frequency range. No loss over 45 db in the 3000 or 4000 range as revealed by standard auditory test.

License: Possession of, or ability to obtain a valid Class C California driver's license and proof of auto liability insurance is required.

Background Investigation: Satisfactory completion of a thorough background investigation. Must have not been convicted for a crime which could have resulted in state or federal imprisonment.

Pre-Employment Testing: Successful completion of drug screen, medical, psychological, and polygraph examinations.

POST Examination: Applicants must possess or acquire a California P.O.S.T. Reading and Writing Test (PELLETB) and Physical Agility Test (WSTB), P.O.S.T-score of 42 or higher issued within the last twelve (12) months.

Recruitment Process

THIS IS A NEW CONTINUOUS EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination may last approximately one year. This examination may be reopened as necessary; additional eligible candidates merged onto the existing list will merge according to examination score.

This examination has been assembled for candidates who are not currently enrolled in a California P.O.S.T academy.

• Effective January 1, 2023, all candidates for peace officer are not required to be a US citizen but must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law. (SB 960)

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN

Deadline For Filing

First Review Deadline: July 31, 2026

Second Review Deadline: August 31, 2026

Second Review Deadline: August 31, 2026. Review of Minimum Qualifications

First Review: August 1, 2026

Second Review: September 1, 2026

Structured Oral Interview

TBD

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN

• Choice of One of Four Comprehensive Health Plans
• Dental and Vision Plan Coverage