Entry Level Police Officer (Public Safety Trainee)

About the role

The Oxnard Police Department is seeking candidates to establish an eligibility list for the position of Entry Level Police Officer (Public Safety Trainee) with current vacancies to fill.

Responsibilities

• Candidates selected for hire will enter into a 23-week Police Academy as a Public Safety Trainee.
• Attend a POST-certified Police Academy designed to provide an overview of the criminal justice system, train in various laws and procedures, law enforcement techniques, first aid, physical fitness and related duties.
• Upon successful completion of the Police Academy, trainees enter the Oxnard Police Department field training program and are assigned to the Patrol Division in a probationary status.

Requirements

• Age: Must be 21 years of age at time of application.
• US Citizen: In accordance with Government Code Section 1031, effective January 1, 2023, peace officers must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law.
• High School Grad/GED: High school graduate, pass the General Education Development (GED) Test indicating high school graduation level, California High School Proficiency Examination, or have attained a two-year, four-year, or advanced degree from a college or university.
• Driver's License: Valid California driver license or ability to obtain one at the time of hire.
• Ability to Read/Speak English: Required.
• Vision: Must meet vision requirements per California POST Medical Standards.
• College: Highly Desirable.
• Prior Experience: No experience required.

Qualifications

• Convictions: Must be of good moral character, with no felony convictions.
• Medical: Must meet California POST medical and psychological standards.

Skills

• Must be able to read and speak English.
• Must meet vision requirements per California POST Medical Standards.
• Must be able to pass the POST Pellet-B exam or NTN test within one year of application submittal.

Benefits

• Retirement Contributions: During academy: 2% @ 62; "Classic" members 2% @ 55. The employee will be required to pay a portion of their annual earnings toward their retirement depending on their relevant MOU.
• Vacation Accrual Rates: Full time employees accrue vacation leave at a rate of 4.39-8.08 hours per pay period based on years of service.
• Sick Leave Accrual Rate: Full time employees accrue sick leave at a rate of 3.70 hours per pay period.
• Deferred Compensation: The City offers a number of deferred compensation programs that employees may participate in.
• Health and Dental: Employees can choose from a variety of medical plans provided by the City. The City's contribution to medical coverage is outlined below:
• Level One: $1,543.00 per month toward medical insurance premiums and an additional $74.21 per month toward dental insurance premiums.
• Level Two: $1,956.00 towards medical insurance premiums with no cash back.

Pay

• Entry Level Police Officer: (during the academy) $34.93 hourly.
• Successful Police Academy Graduates: $47.45 - $71.76 hourly, approximately $98,703 - $149,279 annually.

Schedule

• Upcoming Exam Dates: Friday, July 10, 2026, Friday, August 7, 2026, Friday, September 4, 2026.
• All sessions will offer a morning session and an afternoon session. Dates may be subject to change.

Contact Information

• To learn more about the Police Department, view our department's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8eWAntFN70.
• To visit our website, go to: https://www.oxnardpolice.org/.

Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Review

A review of application and supplemental questionnaire will be conducted and applicants meeting the minimum qualifications and desired background experience for successful performance as a Public Safety Trainee will continue in the next step of the process.

Written Examination

• Applicants must successfully meet the written examination requirement and submit qualifying POST PELLET-B exam results WITH their application or FrontLine National Written examination test results through National Testing Network (NTN).
• Both the POST Pellet-B exam results and NTN test must have been administered within one year of application submittal.
• To view information on the POST Pellet-B test, click on this link: https://post.ca.gov/portals/0/post_docs/publications/poWrittenPracticeTest.pdf.

Personal History Statement Completion

All applicants certified to the eligibility list are required to complete the POST Personal History Statement (PHS). Applicants will be notified by the Police Department via e-mail with instructions and a deadline for the Personal History Statement. Applicants should not submit a Personal History Statement until they are requested to do so. If an applicant fails to return the PHS by the required deadline, they will be eliminated from continuing in the recruitment process.

Department Selection Interviews

Upon review of the completed Personal History Statement, candidates may be invited to an interview with the Police Department.

Physical Agility Test

• Applicants Who Are Successful In The Department Selection Interview May Be Invited To Participate In The Physical Agility Test.
• The Physical Agility Test Consists Of The Following Components:
• Agility Run: Run a 99-yard course with abrupt changes in lateral and vertical movement in 34 seconds.
• Dummy Drag: Lift and drag a 165-pound dummy 25 feet in 10 seconds.
• Fence Climb/Run: Run 5 yards, climb a six-foot high chain-link fence, continue running 25 yards in 15 seconds.
• 1 Mile Run: Run 1 mile with no obstacles in 10 minutes.
• Push-Ups: Complete 15 push-ups in 1 minute.

Final Selection and Hiring Components

• polygraph,
• background investigation,
• post-offer psychological and medical examinations.

Equal Opportunity

The City of Oxnard is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from all qualified applicants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, medical condition, disability or sexual orientation.

Reasonable Accommodation

The City of Oxnard makes reasonable accommodation for people/individuals with disabilities. If you believe you require special arrangements to participate in the testing process, you must inform the Human Resources Department in writing no later than the filing date. Applicants who request such accommodation must document their request with an explanation of the type and extent of accommodation required.

Legal Requirement

On the first day of employment, new employees must provide proof of citizenship or documentation of legal right to work in the United States in compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, as amended. The City participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. For more information on E-Verify, please contact DHS. 888-897-7781 dhs.gov/e-verify For questions, please contact: Raul Almanza at 805-200-5446.

Provisions

The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.