POLICE SERGEANT (PROMOTIONAL)

City of Montebello; Montebello (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Montebello invites applications for the promotional opportunity of Police Sergeant. The promotional test is open to full-time City employees who meet the qualifications and will be conducted with a written and oral exam.

Application Deadline: Friday, October 2nd, 2026. Tentative exam weeks: Nov 16 for written and Dec 14 for oral, with numerous duties including supervision, investigations, reporting, and court appearances. Possession of a California driver’s license is required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Intermediate POST certification or graduation from an accredited two-year college or university with major course work in police science or closely related field.
• Five years of sworn law enforcement experience; lateral entry requires three years with Montebello Police Department.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and participate in patrol, traffic, investigations, training, administration, crime prevention, and community relations.
• Inspect officers, disseminate current information, maintain discipline, and ensure department policies are followed.
• Assist officers in initial investigations, gather evidence, question witnesses, and apprehend suspects; prepare reports and may appear in court.
• Maintain contact with other law enforcement agencies and provide information to the public; conduct in-service training and prepare evaluations.
• May assume responsibilities of a Police Lieutenant in the Lieutenant's absence and assist in recruiting, training, intelligence, dispatch, and administrative support.

Skills

Problem solving

Decision making

Planning

Supervision

Field operations

Legal principles

Written communication

General law enforcement principles

Education

High school diploma or GED

Intermediate POST certification or 2-year college degree in police science

Job description

The City of Montebello Invites Applications for the Promotional Opportunity of POLICE SERGEANT

Application Deadline: Friday, October 2nd, 2026

Promotional Test - City Employees Only

In accordance with the City of Montebello Civil Service Rule VI, Section 170, this process will be a promotional test and only full-time City employees are eligible to apply and must possess the qualifications of the position as set forth in the position specifications.

Tentative examination dates

Written Exam - Week of November 16th

Oral Exam - Week of December 14th

Job Summary

Under general supervision, supervise and participate in police patrol, traffic, criminal investigation, training, administration, crime prevention, community relations, and other assigned programs or functions; and perform related work as required.

Supervises and participates in field activities during an assigned law enforcement shift; inspects officers and disseminates current information before officers leave for assigned patrol areas; maintains discipline and insures that Department rules and policies are followed; assists officers in initial investigations, including the gathering of evidence, questioning of witnesses, and apprehension and interrogation of suspects; patrols the City and assists officers on all calls when necessary; participates in normal patrol activities, including enforcing local and State laws, issuing citations, making arrests, and booking and transporting prisoners; assists officers in preparing reports and performs initial review of prepared reports; may appear in court to present evidence and testimony; maintains contact with other law enforcement agencies; gives information and directions to the public; conducts in-service training and prepares performance evaluations; prepares general reports of field activities; performs special investigative assignments; supervises and participates in criminal investigation, training, administration, crime prevention, community relations, and other assigned programs or functions; provide information and assistance to the public; checks holding facility and building security during shift; may perform special duties in recruiting and training, intelligence, public safety dispatch, and administrative support; may assume the responsibilities of a Police Lieutenant in the Lieutenant's absence; represents assigned functions with City staff and other governmental agencies as delegated.

Possession of an appropriate California driver's license.

Training and Experience

Any combination of training and experience which would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education

Graduation from high school or G.E.D. is required. Possession of intermediate POST certification or graduation from an accredited "two" year college or university with major course work in police science or closely related field.

Work Background

Five years of sworn law enforcement experience. (Lateral entry officers participating in promotional examinations must have three years of experience with the Montebello Police Department).

LAW ENFORCEMENT SERGEANT WRITTEN EXAMINATION SECTION DESCRIPTIONS

• PROBLEM SOLVING, DECISION MAKING, AND PLANNING 15
• SUPERVISION 20
• FIELD OPERATIONS 20
• LEGAL PRINCIPLES 15
• WRITTEN COMMUNICATION 10
• GENERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PRINCIPLES - CA 20

The references for this examination include

• Hess, K. and Wrobleski H. (2008). For the Record: Report Writing in Law Enforcement, 6th Edition. Innovative Systems.*
• Adams, T. (2014). Police Field Operations, 8th Edition. Pearson Prentice Hall.*
• Garner, Gerald W. (2025). Basic Handbook of Police Supervision: A Practical Guide for Law Enforcement Supervisors, 2nd Edition. Charles C Thomas Pub Ltd.
• California Department of Justice. California Peace Officers Legal Sourcebook. CopWare.

NOTE: For the Record: Report Writing in Law Enforcement, 5th Edition and 6th Edition Revised, can also be used as sources for this test.

The City of Montebello is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws in its employment actions, decisions, policies and practices.