Police Sergeant

City of Carmel-by-the-Sea; Carmel-by-the-Sea (CA); On-site; USD 97,000 - 109,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent benefits

Job summary

City of Carmel-by-the-Sea is seeking qualified candidates for Police Sergeant, a working, first-line supervisor responsible for leading patrol personnel, supervising operations, and upholding professional standards in our community. The position offers an hourly rate of $70.56–$79.42 DOE, with excellent benefits; deadline December 11, 2026, 5:00 p.m.; testing scheduled January 25–29, 2027.

Applicants must have at least five years as a sworn officer, California POST Intermediate Certificate or

Qualifications

• Five years of full-time sworn police experience.
• California POST Intermediate Certificate or higher.
• Demonstrate prior leadership experience.
• Experience building community trust through engagement and partnerships.
• No sustained disciplinary findings within the last five years.
• Valid California driver’s license.
• Willing to work nights, weekends, holidays, overtime, and varying shifts.
• Successfully complete all phases of the selection and background review.

Responsibilities

• Lead patrol personnel and supervise field operations and critical incidents.
• Develop and evaluate employees; maintain accountability and professional standards.
• Support Department initiatives and community partnerships.
• Demonstrate command presence and sound tactical judgment during incidents.
• Ensure effective report writing and administrative readiness.

Skills

Leadership

Judgment

Decision-Making

Employee Development

Communication

Building Community Trust

Ethics & Integrity

Conflict Management

Problem Solving

Teamwork

Operational Readiness

Report Writing

Education

Two years college

California POST Intermediate Certificate

Military active-duty substitution (4 years)

Job description

Police Sergeant

$70.56 - $79.42 per hour DOE plus excellent benefits

Important Deadlines: December 11, 2026 (5 p.m.): Application Deadline

Testing (Tentative): January 25–29, 2027

The Carmel-by-the-Sea Police Department is accepting applications from qualified internal and external candidates for an upcoming Police Sergeant vacancy. The testing process is tentatively scheduled for January 25–29, 2027. The deadline for all applications is Friday, December 11, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

The Police Sergeant is a working, first-line supervisor and a key member of the Department's leadership team. Sergeants are responsible for leading patrol personnel, supervising field operations and critical incidents, developing and evaluating employees, maintaining accountability and professional standards, supporting Department initiatives, and building strong relationships with the Carmel-by-the-Sea community and regional public-safety partners.

Desired Leadership Competencies

• Leadership - Leads by example, establishes clear expectations, accepts responsibility, and holds employees accountable.

• Judgment & Decision-Making: Makes timely, thoughtful, and defensible decisions, particularly during critical incidents and rapidly evolving situations.

• Employee Development & Coaching: Develops personnel through mentoring, training, feedback, recognition, and appropriate corrective action.

• Communication: Communicates clearly and professionally, both orally and in writing, and actively listens to employees and community members.

• Building Community Trust: Develops meaningful relationships with residents, businesses, community organizations, and regional partners.

• Ethics & Integrity: Demonstrates honesty, fairness, courage, accountability, and adherence to law, policy, and Department values.

• Conflict Management: Effectively addresses workplace, community, and operational conflict.

• Problem Solving & Initiative - Identifies problems, develops practical solutions, and takes appropriate action without unnecessary direction.

• Teamwork: Builds effective working relationships and contributes to a cooperative Department culture.

• Operational Readiness: Demonstrates command presence, sound tactical judgment, and the ability to supervise field operations, emergencies, and critical incidents. Possesses a strong understanding of criminal investigations, investigative priorities, applicable laws, evidence preservation, and appropriate allocation of resources. Demonstrates the ability to direct personnel, coordinate complex investigations, and effectively manage evolving incidents.

• Report Writing and Administrative Readiness: Communicates effectively in verbal and written form; prioritizes and manages multiple assignments within established timelines; prepares clear, accurate, and professional documentation; and demonstrates an understanding of supervisory administrative responsibilities, including applicable Peace Officers' Bill of Rights (POBOR) requirements.

Completed City employment application

• Current résumé identifying relevant assignments, leadership experience, training, and significant workplace accomplishments.

• Letter of interest describing the candidate’s qualifications, leadership philosophy, and experience building community trust.

• Two professional letters of recommendation, preferably from current or former law enforcement supervisors or command-level personnel.

• Copy of the candidate’s Intermediate POST Certificate or higher.

• Copies of relevant leadership or supervisory training certificates.

POST Supervisory Courses/Training

The selected candidate must have successfully completed, or successfully complete within the time required by California POST, the POST-certified Supervisory Course/Training.

Selection Process

1. Written Examination: A multiple-choice examination evaluating law enforcement knowledge, supervisory principles, policy application, and critical decision-making, along with a written exercise assessing report writing, analytical skills, organization, and supervisory communication.

2. Oral-Board Panel: Structured panel evaluating leadership, judgment, communication, supervisory decision-making, critical-incident management, employee development, ethics, and community engagement.

3. Background and employment-history review: Review appropriate to the candidate's employment status and applicable City requirements.

4. Chief of Police Interview: Final interview of eligible candidates.

Candidates will be evaluated on leadership, judgment, communication, ethical decision-making, critical-incident management, employee development, accountability, policy knowledge, community engagement, and readiness to serve as a first-line supervisor.

Advancement through the selection process is competitive. The City reserves the right to determine the number of candidates advancing to each phase based on qualifications, examination performance, and operational needs.

Study Materials

• Carmel-by-the-Sea Police Department Policy Manual

• Police Sergeant job description

• Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times by Donald T. Phillips (1993).

  • Candidates should focus on the book's leadership principles, including communication, building trust, empowering employees, accountability, decision-making, and leading through adversity.

• Applicable Carmel-by-the-Sea Municipal Code provisions

• Applicable California laws and POST requirements

• Incident Command System principles

• Monterey County law-enforcement protocols related to critical incident response, including active-shooter incidents, officer-involved shootings, pursuits, mutual aid, and major incident command. Candidates should understand supervisory responsibilities, incident coordination, and operational decision-making.

• California POST Supervisory Course Topics and Objectives

• Final Report of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, including its six pillars and recommendations concerning building trust and legitimacy, community policing, accountability, officer training, technology, and officer wellness

• Department mission, values, organizational structure, and current operational priorities

• After Action Report on 2026 Car Week

All candidates will receive equal access to the identified study materials. A final study list, including applicable policy and protocol versions, will be provided before the examination.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

Candidates may use artificial intelligence tools for study, research, and preparation. Application materials and responses during the examination process must accurately reflect the candidate's own experience, knowledge, judgment, and abilities. Unauthorized use of AI or other outside assistance during an examination or assessment is prohibited.

Candidates successfully completing the competitive examination process may be placed on a Police Sergeant eligibility list for consideration for the current vacancy and future vacancies during the life of the list (12 months).

Applicants must

• Have at least five years of full-time experience as an active, sworn police officer, including substantial patrol and field experience.

• Possess a valid California POST Intermediate Certificate or higher.

• Demonstrate prior leadership experience. Formal supervisory experience is desirable.

• Demonstrate experience building community trust through engagement, relationship-building, problem-solving, transparency, and partnerships with residents, businesses, and community organizations.

• Have no sustained disciplinary findings within the preceding five (5) years involving misconduct that would reasonably call into question the candidate's integrity, judgment, leadership ability, or suitability to serve in a supervisory capacity.

• Possess a valid California driver’s license.

• Be willing and able to work nights, weekends, holidays, overtime, call-back assignments, and varying shifts.

• Successfully complete all phases of the selection process and any required background review.

Education

Completion of two (2) years of college (60 semester or 90 quarter units) from an accredited college or university.

Acceptable Substitution for Education Requirement

• Have completed at least four (4) years of active-duty service in the United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, or Coast Guard; and

• Have been honorably discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions, as documented by a DD Form 214 or other acceptable military service documentation.

• Applicants currently serving in the military who have completed at least four (4) years of active-duty service may also qualify, subject to verification of service and good standing.

The City of Carmel-by-the-Sea is an equal employment opportunity employer and encourages all qualified individuals to submit an application for this opportunity. The information contained within this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.