Public Safety Officer - POST Academy Graduate/Attendee

City of Sunnyvale; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 149,000 - 173,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

2.7% at 57 retirement plan

Job summary

City of Sunnyvale is seeking a Public Safety Officer Academy Attendee/Graduate. This trainee role involves learning to perform a wide range of public safety duties including law enforcement, fire suppression, and emergency medical responses under supervision. Successful completion leads to advancement to Public Safety Officer I.

The position emphasizes ongoing academy attendance and training, with a clear pathway to sworn roles upon graduation and certification. Retirement benefits are included.

Qualifications

• Attendees: 45 semester or 67 quarter units and current POST Basic Academy attendance with POST T-Score 48 or equivalent.
• Graduates: Associate degree or 60 semester/90 quarter units and POST Basic Academy graduation within 18 months with POST T-Score 48.

Responsibilities

• Continued attendance and/or successful completion of the police academy to prepare for Public Safety Officer I.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Customer service

Public safety knowledge

Academy enrollment

Education

45 semester or 67 quarter units

POST Basic Academy attendance

Associate degree or 60/90 units

POST Academy graduation within 18 months

Job description

Description

PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER ACADEMY ATTENDEE/GRADUATE

Typical placement is made at the first step of the salary range

• Upon successful completion of the Public Safety Officer in Training requirements, incumbents promote to Public Safety Officer I ($149,443 - $172,999).
• Upon successful completion of all phases of training, members of the Public Safety Officer I classification promote to Public Safety Officer II ($158,141 - $197,027).
• This position has an excellent benefit package, including 2.7% at 57 retirement plan.

Under immediate supervision of a Public Safety Lieutenant or Captain, either currently attends the California POST Basic Academy and is learning to perform a wide range of public safety work involving the protection of life and property including law enforcement, crime prevention, fire suppression, rescue, and basic life support activities; or has graduated from the California POST Basic Academy within the last 18 months; and performs related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The position of Public Safety Officer Academy Attendee/Graduate is the training level classification for general police and fire work for those incumbents not affiliated with an agency and currently enrolled in a police academy. Incumbents are not sworn personnel and are generally in this classification until successful completion of the police academy. Assignment to this classification is temporary. If incumbents do not successfully complete a police academy, they will be terminated. Incumbents hired after the graduation from the California POST Basic Academy are not sworn personnel and are generally in this classification until they are promoted to Public Safety Officer I.

Public Safety Officer Academy Attendee/Graduate is distinguished from the higher-level Public Safety Officer I in that the latter is a sworn position where incumbents continue training for both police and fire duties. Incumbents must successfully complete the police academy prior to being promoted to the classification of Public Safety Officer I.

Essential Job Functions

(May include, but are not limited to, the following):

• Continued attendance and/or successful completion of the police academy to prepare for position of Public Safety Officer I.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, squatting and stooping in the performance of daily activities. The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement and fine coordination in using a computer keyboard. Additionally, the position requires near and far vision in reading reports and work related documents and using a computer. Acute hearing is required when providing phone and personal customer service. The need to lift, drag and push equipment and bodies weighing up to 165 pounds, the ability to run continuously for 500 yards and climb 6 foot high fences is also required. When in the field, positions are required to walk and stand during emergency situations, including on uneven and slippery surfaces; wear police officer and firefighter clothing and carry equipment; climb ladders and work from elevated positions and enter confined spaces wearing appropriate breathing apparatus. Some of these requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodation.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Attendees

• Completion of 45 semester or 67 quarter units from an accredited college or university, AND
• Current attendance at a California POST Basic Academy with a minimum POST T-Score of 48.

The completion of 60 semester or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university is required by the date of graduation from a California POST Basic Academy.

Graduates

• Associate's degree or 60 semester or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university, AND
• Graduation from a California POST Basic Academy within the previous 18 months with a minimum POST T-Score of 48.

Knowledge Of

• Basic principles of electricity.
• Principles of physics, chemistry of fire, and mechanics.
• Weights, measures and capacities.
• Office methods, procedures, software and equipment.
• Principles and practices of good customer service.
• Principles and practices of effective interpersonal communication.

Ability To

• Learn to apply principles and practices of law enforcement and fire protection.
• Learn to interpret and apply department policies and procedures and related State and Federal laws.
• Learn to perform firefighting, emergency response, and rescue and medical aid duties in response to calls for service.
• Write clearly, accurately, concisely, legibly and with correct English grammatical construction and spelling.
• Learn to safely use firearms and other modern police equipment and communication and information systems related to law enforcement.
• Make basic mathematical calculations as they relate to the essential functions of this position.
• Plan and present material orally to diverse groups.
• Read and interpret complex documents in English.
• Sketch such things as crime scenes and accident scenes.
• Observe, assimilate, remember and recall pertinent facts and details.
• Read maps and mapped information.
• Apply selected learned knowledge in collecting, organizing and analyzing a variety of information.
• Speak with a wide variety of people, using tact, self-restraint, judgment, and strategy.
• Make quick and reasonable decisions under stressful emergency situations.
• Perform routine, repetitive work to completion.
• Exercise self-restraint and good judgment.
• Visually identify and accurately distinguish colors between various visual inputs at long and short ranges and in dark and smoky environments.
• Accurately identify and distinguish between colors.
• Hear and comprehend auditory inputs in radio transmissions, long range conversations, commands, and cries for assistance when obscured by background noises.
• Detect and distinguish the smell of different materials/chemicals, smoke/fires, and toxic gases.
• Speak in an understandable voice during in-person and radio conversations, to project voice, and to be heard over background noises.
• Operate a computer using word processing and business software and other office equipment.
• Understand and follow written and oral instructions.
• Communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
• Establish, maintain and promote positive and effective working relationships with employees, other agencies and the public.
• Demonstrate initiative and exercise good judgment in the performance of duties.
• Exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive, complex and political situations.
• Use a Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
• Observe safety principles and work in a safe manner.

Willingness To

• Adhere to ethics of law enforcement as stated in the "Law Enforcement Code of Ethics".
• Enforce all laws, policies and procedures regardless of personal ethics or feelings.
• Comply with department grooming standards and wear a uniform furnished by the department.
• Carry and use approved weapons, including (but not limited to) firearms and batons, if justified by laws, policies, and procedures.
• Take the life of another, if justified by laws, policies, and procedures.
• Work in, around, or with severely decomposed, burnt, or dismembered bodies.
• Train citizens as well as other employees.
• Work irregular hours, irregular days, overtime, weekends, holidays, variable shifts, evenings, on-call and 24-hour shift.
• Work at any location in the city on short notice.
• Attend meetings or classes both on and off duty.

Licenses/Certificates

Possess and continued maintenance of a valid class C California driver's license and a safe driving record.

Desirable Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in criminal justice or related field.

Special Requirements

• Must be 21 years of age at time of application.
• Must provide letter from California POST Basic Academy verifying current enrollment or graduation.
• Must provide proof of T-Score.
• Must successfully complete a post-offer physical exam paid for by the City.
• Must successfully complete an extensive background check.

Individuals who have been eliminated from a hiring process, either as a result of a background investigation or as the result of any psychological interview, are ineligible to re-apply until an 18 month period has elapsed since the final filing date of the last recruitment for which they have applied.